SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Manufacturing
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the expected loss of between 3,000 and 10,000—
Order. I have told Mr Gibson before that he must read the question accurately.
That was exactly what is in the business bulletin.
No it was not. Read the question again.
We get told to be more spontaneous and look what happens. [Laughter.]
I am delighted to announce that the Scottish Executive will allocate a further £2 million to Scottish Enterprise Glasgow to develop an industrial site in the city.
I welcome the minister's reply, but she will be aware that, although manufacturing employment is expected to fall by 13 per cent throughout Scotland in the next five years, it is expected to fall by 27 per cent in Glasgow. Given that Glasgow has the highest level of resident unemployment of any city in Britain, what additional steps will the Executive take on infrastructure development to secure increased investment and employment in Glasgow's hard-pressed manufacturing sector and to reverse the continued haemorrhage of full-time manual jobs? I am sure that the minister will agree that an additional £2 million is not enough.
I thank the member for welcoming the additional resources that we have made available.
I, too, welcome the minister's reply and note the reduction in Glasgow's unemployment figures, which is welcome. However, does the minister agree that the situation might be improved if she advised the other members of the Executive that more jobs could be attracted to Glasgow by proper devolution of Scottish Executive departments?
I speak only for myself, but I spend every moment that I can in the west. As Mr Gibson knows, a relocation programme is under way. In addition, the Executive is committed to assisting Glasgow to rebuild every secondary school in the city and clear Glasgow's housing debt. That will make possible substantial reinvestment in housing and it will support the Glasgow science centre and assist the city in a wide variety of other areas, including extending the Glasgow royal maternity hospital. Glasgow is a significant priority—as is appropriate—for the Executive.
Children's Diet (Milk)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that milk is part of children's diets. (S1O-2621)
The Scottish diet action plan provides the framework for improving children's diets, to which milk makes an important contribution.
Does the minister agree that further encouragement should be given to local authorities, health trusts and health boards to work in partnership to provide a balanced approach to meeting children's dietary requirements, as do East Ayrshire Council and its health partners?
The diet action plan provides an excellent statement of policy, but the task is to drive forward implementation. I am delighted to hear that progress is being made in Ayrshire through partnership. Extra resources have been put in from the health improvement fund and from the milk subsidy scheme to drive forward this important aspect of health policy. A range of initiatives is on the go. We want to encourage in particular the development of initiatives such as the excellent community food initiatives that exist in so many parts of Scotland.
Is the minister aware that, in the past few days, the Cabinet in the National Assembly for Wales promised that by summer next year, every child in every nursery and primary school in Wales will enjoy free milk every day? If that can be done in Wales, can it be done in Scotland?
Last week, the Executive announced £380,000 to provide milk to a large number of people in nursery and primary schools in Scotland. I am sure that that has been welcomed throughout Scotland, but I am disappointed that it has not been welcomed by Fergus Ewing.
Central Heating
To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made to date of the resources for central heating installation announced on 19 September 2000. (S1O-2637)
No resources have yet been allocated, as the programme starts in April 2001. We are in discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Scottish Homes about the allocations to local authorities and housing associations. We are also considering the resources that will be made available in the first year of the scheme for the private sector. An announcement will be made in due course.
Does the minister acknowledge that it has been a long two and a half months since the original announcement? What reassurances can she give to local authorities, manufacturers and gas contractors that the proposal will be carried out to time? Can she give reassurances about where the £350 million is coming from? Some of the concerns of the groups that I mentioned relate to the fact that only £120 million of the money has been allocated. There are concerns that the announcement was premature and has not been thought through. It is vital that it be delivered and—more important—delivered safely.
I hope that Fiona Hyslop welcomes the £350 million initiative. She will recognise that it is a five-year initiative. We have indicated publicly the resources that are available in the first three years, which will be £204 million. I have already indicated that the private sector utilities are considering what their contribution to the overall programme will be. Because of the nature of our budget arrangements, the figures for the fourth and fifth years have not been announced yet.
Many pensioners and others will welcome the central heating scheme. However, why will it not begin until April next year and why will it take as long as five years to complete? Will the minister please reconsider the timetable, bearing in mind the fact that many pensioners who are suffering from the effects of fuel poverty might not be around when the scheme is completed in 2006?
We will install central heating in 141,000 homes throughout Scotland—homes which, prior to the announcement, would not have had the benefit of that central heating. I acknowledge that we want to do that as quickly as possible but, as Mr Canavan will recognise, these things take time. We are committing resources and we will have a rolling programme that will assist pensioners immediately. They are the first priority in the scheme.
Drug Misuse
To ask the Scottish Executive what action on drug misuse awareness is being taken in rural communities. (S1O-2611)
There is, in rural communities throughout Scotland, a wide range of initiatives that are designed to raise awareness of drug misuse. Drug action teams and their constituent agencies plan and co-ordinate drug awareness work in each area in line with the national drug misuse strategy and taking account of local circumstances.
Will the minister join me in congratulating Media Education on its Scotland Against Drugs project, which has been working with schools in the Highlands? I attended a presentation by pupils from Alness Academy and Invergordon Academy recently and was impressed by the pupils' responses. Will the Executive continue to support the initiative?
I am happy to join Maureen Macmillan in drawing attention to that media project, which is an excellent example of how the business sector—in this case, Moray Firth Radio, I think—and the contributors to the Scottish challenge fund can engage in action against drug misuse. We need more of that throughout Scotland. A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Scotland Against Drugs business breakfast in Elgin, which pulled together 60 businesses from Moray to get them engaged in such activity.
The minister will be aware that in Dumfries and Galloway, as throughout rural Scotland, one of the most abused drugs is alcohol. Is he aware of the considerable lack of funding for training alcohol abuse counsellors? If he is, what does he intend to do about it?
We recognise, as was made clear in previous debates on our drug misuse strategy, the significant problem of alcohol abuse, which must be addressed. For that reason, we have taken steps towards an alcohol strategy. My colleague, Malcolm Chisholm, is chairing the Scottish advisory committee on alcohol misuse. Parliament will, I think next week, debate our approach to alcohol. Although we believe that we must take a separate national strategic approach, many local drug action teams are actually drug and alcohol action teams. That helps to ensure that services are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Is the minister aware that many organisations in rural areas of north-east Scotland are looking forward to the establishment of drugs courts, which will help tackle drug misuse in rural areas? When will the first drugs court in Scotland be established? Will the north-east be one of the first areas to enjoy the benefits of these new courts?
In the debate that we had on drugs courts recently, I made it clear that the next stage of introducing this measure as effectively as possible is the development—with the Scottish Court Service and the Crown Office—of a Scottish model of drugs courts. Work has begun on that. In that debate, Richard Lochhead made clear his belief that there is a particular interest in developing that initiative in the north-east. I am happy to note that point again.
BCG Vaccination
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will resume the BCG vaccination programme in schools. (S1O-2595)
The routine schools programme was restarted in schools in the London area on 19 July, following some limited improvement in the supply of BCG vaccine. The programme will recommence in schools elsewhere in the UK when a secure, sufficient supply of vaccine is assured.
I am sure that the minister will share my concern that there has been an interruption to that successful programme. What steps is the Executive taking to monitor the incidence of tuberculosis in Scotland, to detail any special plans to tackle identified problems and to ensure that steps will be taken throughout the United Kingdom to avoid shortages in future?
I share Hugh Henry's concern about the interruption to vaccine supply. I can assure him that the Scottish Executive is working closely with the Department of Health, which has the lead on the matter, and with other UK health departments, to do what can be done to ensure that full supplies of the vaccine are restored as soon as possible. The vaccine has been effective in greatly reducing the incidence of TB over a number of years. That is something that we wish to maintain.
In relation to another important vaccine—for measles, mumps and rubella—can the minister comment on the growing demands from many parents, who are seeking individual administration of the vaccines instead of the triple vaccination—
I am sorry, Mr Sheridan, but that is out of order. You must follow the question that is on the business list.
Youth Parliament
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for the discussions of the youth parliament to inform the Executive's deliberations. (S10-2603)
Although Ministers are keen to support the youth parliament and to hear its views, there are currently no formal mechanisms for such dialogue. I recently met the chair, Steven Jack, and I hope to bring forward proposals to develop and support the youth parliament's plans soon.
I thank the minister for replying to a question that was put to me by a school student from Lockerbie Academy, when I was on a series of school visits around my constituency. Does the minister share my concern that young people often feel disfranchised from the democratic process, to the extent that only one in four voters under the age of 25 cast their vote at the last general election? I am pleased to hear what the minister said, but does the Executive have any other plans to encourage citizenship and the participation of young people?
The work of the youth parliament would be enhanced by work at a local level. We should encourage such work, perhaps in conjunction with local authorities. It is important that we do not see that as an end in itself, but that we encourage citizenship education in schools and a range of other forms of participation so that, before they reach voting age, young people want to take part in society's deliberations.
In our former incarnations as councillors, both the minister and I were involved in the establishment of bodies such as the youth parliament. Does he agree that it is important to involve health boards in different parts of Scotland in this type of activity? In the Highlands, they certainly provide very useful input.
I encourage any local youth forums, councils or meetings of the youth parliament to comment on a wide range of public services and legislative issues—the wider, the better. I am sure that ministers could find areas in their portfolios in which young people could be given a voice, have their concerns taken on board and be shown that their influence could make a difference.
Fishing
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to improve monitoring of fishing in international waters. (S1O-2619)
This year, Scottish ministers received new powers to appoint Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency inspectors to enforce international regulations. In relation to the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the Fisheries Council recently agreed to roll over the current ad hoc arrangements for enforcement for the next two years on the understanding that it will agree a longer-term control plan by June 2001. The Scottish Executive will continue to be involved in those discussions.
Is the minister aware of the importance of the Rockall fishery to the Highlands and Islands? Is she aware that that fishery is threatened by significant overfishing by unregulated Russian vessels? What steps are being taken to address that serious situation?
We are well aware of the reported fishing for haddock off Rockall by Russian vessels. Scottish Executive officials were in discussion with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission at its annual meeting last week. We have achieved a commitment by the NEAFC to establish regulation of the Rockall haddock fishery for the first time. Proposals for that will be introduced in March.
Does the minister share my concern about the level of cod stocks in our traditional fishing grounds? Is she also concerned about the current rate of extraction of sand eels? Does she think that that affects the level of cod stocks? What monitoring of that is taking place?
I may be ignorant about this, but I do not think that the fish that were being discussed were sand eels in international waters. Does Rhona Brankin wish to answer that question?
We are well aware of the problem with cod stocks and are working closely on that with fishery organisations. Clearly, important discussions will take place at the EU Fisheries Council in December, when I will be fighting for the interests of the Scottish fishing industry.
What assessment has the rural affairs department made of the need for fishery protection vessels to patrol these waters in the event of agreement being reached in the NEAFC? Given that we will certainly need to replace the older fishery protection vessels in the Scottish agency's fleet, will she use all possible endeavours to ensure that the replacement vessels are built in Scottish yards?
As the member knows, there is a commitment to replace one of the vessels. At the moment, there is an ad hoc arrangement to patrol NEAFC areas, which has been rolled over for the next two years on the understanding that the commission will produce a longer-term plan. We think that the regulation of the areas is sufficiently important that the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency should be involved in policing them.
I am glad that so much attention is being paid to fishing in international waters. When might we expect the sea area off the south-east coast of Scotland to return to Scottish jurisdiction and control?
I saw that question coming.
That is a hoary old chestnut. We are happy with the current boundary.
Does the minister accept that the problem of the Rockall fishery is a consequence of the Westminster Government signing up to that fishery's transfer from EU to international control? Does she believe that the Scottish Executive has the power to ensure that any future treaty changes that relate to fishing will be in its hands?
International fisheries issues are discussed fully with Westminster colleagues and within the EU. That will continue to be the case.
Slate Industry
To ask the Scottish Executive what future discussions are planned within the Executive regarding the creation of a slate industry in Scotland. (S1O-2615)
The Scottish stone liaison group, which is supported by the Executive, is proposing a pilot study to quarry an amount of Scottish slate. The Executive will await the outcome of the feasibility project before further discussions are held.
Is the minister aware that some of the very finest slate in the world came from Ballachulish and that several hundred thousand houses in Scotland that are roofed with slate will need re-roofing? Does she accept that it would be seen as an enlightened policy for her to give maximum support to any initiative to quarry slate in Scotland again?
We are well aware that there has been no Scottish slate in production since the 1950s. Therefore we very much welcome the proposed pilot study to look at the possibility of reopening a Scottish slate quarry on an economic basis.
Opencast Developments
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a moratorium on new opencast developments while new planning enforcement regimes are developed. (S1O-2629)
There are no plans to do so.
Why? [Laughter.]
The one thing that the nationalists are good at is not thinking up anything for themselves. That was Tam Dalyell's question. I was present the first time he asked it—it was funny at the time, but the second time it is merely boring.
I am glad to hear the minister say that the existing planning regime is robust. Will he take note of the fact that many local communities depend on the opencast mining industry for a significant part of their economic development, but does he recognise the need to balance that with environmental concerns? Will he assure me that he feels that the existing planning regime is strong enough to do that and that the existing consultation process through local authorities is adequate?
I think that it is. As Cathy Jamieson knows, we tightened all that up recently in national planning policy guideline 16. Two factors must be taken into consideration: the environmental effects and the benefits to the community. Those benefits must be so great that they outweigh the environmental concerns. It is a very tough regime and gets the balance right.
E coli 0157
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it is currently taking forward to combat
I appointed a task force in September to review our knowledge and existing controls in the light of recent research findings. The joint Food Standards Agency and Scottish Executive team is to report to me with an action plan by the end of May 2001.
As the minister knows, E coli is a vicious bacterium that preys on the very old and the very young, including—in my constituency—taking the life of two-year-old Amy Jones this year. Is the minister concerned that there has been a 36 per cent increase in cases of E coli 0157 in Scotland over 1999 figures, but an £85,000 decrease in research funding? Is not there a danger that the momentum behind the research initiatives is being lost? Will she give an undertaking that all the recommendations of Professor Reilly's task force will be implemented and that the Executive will not sit on the recommendations as it did with those of the Sutherland, Kerley and McIntosh committees?
It is interesting that Alex Salmond did not mention the Pennington report, which was the major inquiry into the issue and which was taken forward fully by the Labour Government before 1999 and has been taken forward by the Executive since devolution. Only this year, we implemented its final recommendation—a butchers licensing scheme for Scotland—because we are concerned about the incidence of E coli 0157 and about its effect and the effect of food poisoning more generally on those who are frail and vulnerable. We will continue to invest resources and to take action in this area to ensure that lives are saved.
The comment about the danger of a loss of momentum on the research effort came directly from Hugh Pennington. Now that the minister knows that, will she answer the question? Will the Executive undertake to implement fully the task force's recommendations when they are published next year?
At the time when Hugh Pennington produced his report, no minister would have made an unquestioning commitment to implement all its recommendations—no Government would do that. We know, of course, that the Scottish National Party has never been in government and therefore does not know the realities within which Governments must operate. This Executive has established a Food Standards Agency, it has taken forward the recommendations of the Pennington report and it has established a task force. We will consider carefully the recommendations of that task force when they arrive.
Scottish Charity Law Review Commission
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the independent charities law commission. (S1O-2630)
The Scottish Charity Law Review Commission took formal evidence from Scottish Executive officials on 13 July and from the director of the Scottish charities office on 14 September.
Will the minister tell us what progress has been made in developing a proper charity law structure for Scotland? As I am sure he is aware, many charitable organisations throughout Scotland are deeply concerned about a situation that gives them great budgeting problems. They are also concerned about the likely financial impact of Scottish Criminal Record Office charges. It is essential that we reform our charity law immediately, before the imposition of SCRO charges.
I have worked in the charity sector and I understand the concerns that Mr Quinan has described. The Scottish Charity Law Review Commission is working to a time scale. Its membership was announced in March 2000 and April 2001 is its deadline for reporting to ministers. It is on schedule. Considerable progress has been made. Two hundred consultation papers have been sent out and 1,000 responses have been received. There have been six road shows. We expect to receive the report on time in April 2001.
Will the minister assure members that any changes in the charity laws will take account of the huge difference between the really big charities—which are multinational corporations in all but name and which do good work on a very large scale throughout the world—and the very small local organisations that Mr Quinan and many others are concerned about? If the law is too standardised, it causes great problems for the smaller organisations.
The commission will be well aware of that point. It has been asked to look into the whole charity sector in Scotland, which—as Mr Gorrie suggests—is extremely diverse. I am sure that, in its recommendations, the commission will take account of the great differences between small local charities and the much larger organisations. We look forward to hearing those recommendations.
University Access (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Executive what extra funding is being made available for projects aimed at encouraging young people to go to university. (S1O-2632)
We are determined that every young Scot who tries hard should have their best ever chance to go to university. We are making available an additional £18 million, which is earmarked for access-related initiatives. That will support an additional 800 places at Scottish higher education institutions and will support schools and colleges in providing taster programmes, summer schools and a plethora of initiatives to encourage people to go on to take up their chances.
Will the minister confirm that a reduction in educational inequalities in relation to making progress towards university is a major plank of the Executive's social justice programme? Will she expand on the ways in which the Executive is working in partnership with universities and local authorities to that end?
We are determined to change the situation in which fewer than one in 10 of those who go to university come from semi-skilled or unskilled backgrounds and in which more than half of those who go on to higher education come from families with professional or technical backgrounds. That sort of inequality must end. We need to create a level playing field. There has been much unhelpful talk that has suggested that this is about special treatment. It is not about special treatment, but about creating a level playing field and about recognising the fact that people come from different backgrounds and that there is a need for things such as summer schools, taster programmes and study support, all of which cost money. It is right that we should recognise that in the funding regime.
I declare an interest as a member of the court of the University of Strathclyde. Will the minister assure us that in allocating the sum to which she referred, fairness will be exercised in respect of the institutions, some of which already operate highly successful summer schools? Those institutions should not suffer prejudice. The minister's second point made it clear that she is very sensitive to the fact that certain people regard her announcement as favouritism towards some institutions. Can she explain why her colleague, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has seen fit to favour only certain institutions in Scotland with his recently advertised scheme?
I respond as a former member of the court of the University of Glasgow. It is important that a variety of access schemes are introduced, and we want to encourage charitable, corporate and other giving to support access. All schemes that support access are to be encouraged; we regard them as preferable to the sponsoring of graduation ceremonies, which is one way in which corporate Scotland seeks to support our higher education institutions. Through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, we are supporting access through different schemes for different institutions. The important thing is to maximise support for access initiatives.
Can the minister tell us why, since Labour came to power, student awards have fallen from 112,595 to 106,215—a drop of 5 or 6 per cent? Despite the minister's rhetoric, the fact of the matter is that the number of students in receipt of awards is down.
I will deal with that directly. There were problems surrounding student financial support and the regime to which those figures relate no longer pertains. We are incredibly proud of the package of student financial support that we have put in place. Some people scream that we should have gone with Cubie, but I am very proud that, as of the autumn, the coalition is implementing a scheme that means that the poorest 10 per cent of students experience a regime of financial support that is more generous even than that proposed by Cubie.
Caledonian MacBrayne
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will delay competitive tendering of current CalMac ferry routes on the west coast to enable a regulatory agency for Scotland's ferry network to be set up. (S1O-2616)
No. We already have a strong UK-wide statutory framework for regulating safety standards for all ferry operators. Safety standards on ferries are the responsibility of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
It is depressing that the minister sounds very like the Tories trying to defend rail privatisation—and we are all aware of the safety record that has resulted from that. Many people in the industry disagree with the minister. Will she carry out an inquiry involving people from the private sector and the ferry safety sector to ensure that we do not put people on our ferries in jeopardy? Does she recognise that, before proceeding further with competitive tendering, there should be an inquiry—involving marine experts and privatisation and regulation experts—into how best to address safety and consumer interests?
No. Bruce Crawford should do his homework. We already have a statutory process. Every year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency must issue a passenger certificate of safety for every ferry; it also carries out periodic checks. That regime applies not only to CalMac ferries, but to every ferry that carries passengers in the UK. That is a long-established process which also applies to P&O, which has been operating routes to the northern isles for more than 30 years. We must ensure that the statutory regulatory framework works and we must never be complacent, but the UK has a very good ferry safety record.
Will the minister assure us that she will not be deflected from her major task by the continued scaremongering of the nationalists? Will she reaffirm her commitment to the continuation of services such as the Gourock-Dunoon ferry and will she ensure that CalMac remains within the public sector?
I am happy to assure members that we have no plans to privatise CalMac. In the tendering process we will listen to local communities, trade unions and local authorities to ensure that we get the specifications absolutely correct. That is the process that we have followed for the northern isles. It is important that we listen to people to make sure that lifeline services meet their needs.
European Year of Languages
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in preparing for the European year of languages in 2001. (S1O-2605)
We are making a lot of progress. A Scottish committee has been established to promote Scottish involvement in the year through education, business and cultural networks, and a series of events is already planned in school and community facilities throughout Scotland. A report of plans will be placed in the Scottish Parliament information centre in January when the year is formally launched.
The minister will be aware that the Nuffield inquiry into modern language teaching called for the creation of specialist teachers and the introduction of languages to pupils in primary schools at the age of seven. Does the minister have any plans to introduce immersion teaching of modern languages in primary schools in 2001? Further, I invite the minister to my area to see how schools there are taking forward language teaching in our primaries.
I am happy to accept Irene Oldfather's invitation, and to inform members that there are now more than 5,000 new primary teachers trained to deliver foreign language teaching in primary 6 and primary 7. A report from the working group that was established on modern languages is due out either before Christmas or shortly after the new year. I encourage members to ensure that during the European year of languages we promote the taking and teaching of modern languages. I hope that members may even take the opportunity next year to learn a language, so that we can be truly European.
Does the minister agree that the most appropriate way to mark the European year of languages would be for the Executive to persuade the UK Government to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in respect of Scots, under article 3, and develop the policy initiatives that are necessary to meet such an obligation?
Gaelic and Scots organisations are represented on the committee that I mentioned, which is planning activities for next year. The views of those organisations will be taken into account in respect of those events.
Given that for many Scots, British Sign Language is their first language, and that the inability of many of the people they meet in their daily lives to converse with them in their own language is a significant problem which leads to their social exclusion, will the minister consider proposals to include British Sign Language in the curriculum of Scotland's schools next year?
Making announcements about the curriculum on the hoof in the chamber is not the best way to help morale in the Scottish education system. However, the British Deaf Association is also on the committee and I will certainly look closely with the committee at how we can use the European year of languages to promote British Sign Language in the chamber, in schools, and elsewhere.
Rockall Fisheries
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission regarding the future of the Rockall fisheries. (S1O-2641)
As I said in answer to Rhoda Grant's earlier supplementary question, last week we had discussions with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission at its annual meeting, and we have obtained a commitment from the NEAFC to establish regulation of the Rockall haddock fishery in March next year.
Will the minister confirm that progress in those talks would not have been possible without the active support for Scottish fisheries interests of both the British Government and the European Union? Does she accept that the Rockall fisheries are of vital interest to the fish processing, as well as fish catching, sectors? Will she indicate the steps that she will take to secure future supply and job security in fish processing factories in my constituency and elsewhere?
Of course. We work closely with our Westminster colleagues and colleagues in Europe. I assure Lewis Macdonald that we view seriously the situation that has arisen off Rockall. There are knock-on effects for the fish processing sector in Scotland and last week I announced that a working group led by Scottish Enterprise Grampian would be set up to study the future of the Scottish fish processing sector. I will report to the Parliament on its progress.
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