Plenary, 30 Nov 2006

Meeting date: Thursday, November 30, 2006

Official Report 784KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Finance and Public Services and Communities

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Rural Sub-Post Offices

I welcome Des McNulty to his new role of answering questions on behalf of the Executive.

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it or Communities Scotland has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding financial assistance for the provision of services from public post offices to ensure the future of the rural sub-post office network. (S2O-11255)

The Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland regularly contribute to discussions that inform decisions taken by the United Kingdom Government on the post office network.

I appreciate that the issue is reserved, but there would be serious implications for the economy and quality of life in rural Scotland if there were widespread closures of rural sub-post offices. Will the minister ensure that the Department of Trade and Industry is made aware of the high level of concern throughout rural Scotland about the impact of the removal of sub-post offices? Will the Executive commit to working with the DTI to see what solutions might be put in place to safeguard those vital local services?

The Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, has been involved in meetings with the DTI and has expressed clearly the interests of rural Scotland in connection with the problems that Murdo Fraser mentions.

Under the Scotland Act 1998, our powers allow us to support only the provision of non-postal services through post offices. Between 2003 and 2006, we helped a number of post offices in deprived urban areas with a capital grants scheme, which enabled 47 post offices to improve their shop business and their security. We have also developed a programme to support specialist business improvement training for sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in deprived urban and rural areas, which will be delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, utilising a £250,000 investment from Communities Scotland.

I, too, welcome the minister to his new post. Does he agree that one of the problems is that, although the Governments here and at Westminster are very good at paying lip service to the idea of preserving rural post offices, they seem to have no coherent idea of what services should or should not be delivered via rural post offices and therefore no strategy for how the network can be preserved?

We understand that we need sustainable arrangements that are adapted to the needs of consumers, including those who live in rural areas. We also need to recognise the network's wider social and economic value and take account of the distinct needs of Scotland's remote areas. I am sure that Ross Finnie and the Development Department, in their talks with the DTI, will continue to make those points on behalf of rural Scotland.

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Central Heating Programme

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Communities last met representatives of Scottish Gas to discuss the progress of the central heating programme. (S2O-11252)

A ministerial meeting with Scottish Gas is being arranged in the near future to discuss the central heating programme and the warm deal. Officials in Communities Scotland are in frequent contact with Scottish Gas.

I hope that when the minister meets representatives of Scottish Gas he will make them aware that, due to the popularity of the programme, the company has inherited a waiting list of approximately 10,000 people. That means that many applicants, who include the most vulnerable in society, will be lucky to have central heating installed under the scheme before 2008. Anyone who contacts Scottish Gas today will almost certainly be told that they—

Is there a question here, Ms Mitchell?

Yes.

They will be told that they face a long wait before their present system can be assessed, let alone a new system installed.

In the light of that, can the minister offer any comfort to my constituents Mr and Mrs Messur, an 80-year-old couple from Strathaven—

No. There should be a question. I do not want a story.

I want to know whether the minister can do anything to help my 80-year-old constituents from Strathaven, whose central heating system has just been condemned by Transco and who are left with one small heater to heat their entire home.

As I have emphasised on more than one occasion in the chamber, there is an issue about increasing demand for what is a very successful and popular programme. However, now that all the people who were inherited from the Eaga Partnership have been surveyed, the number who are eligible is significantly less than the 10,000 to which Margaret Mitchell refers. Therefore, not nearly as many people are waiting as was thought until fairly recently. Of course, there is an issue of demand, which is why we announced about 10 days ago the injection of extra money into the programme for this year. I am also seeking to get extra money into the programme next year.

Let us recognise how successful the programme has been. The target of installing 12,000 systems that was set for this year will be met; indeed, under the warm deal, we will install more systems than we did last year.

When the minister meets Scottish Gas, will he ask whether it is not about time that some sort of priority system was introduced? I have been contacted by a number of constituents, one of whom has chronic heart failure, diabetes and osteoarthritis. He and his wife, who are both 68 years old, have been given no date for a survey or for the installation of central heating. There needs to be—

Can I have a question, Ms Marwick?

Does the minister agree that there needs to be some sort of priority system and, if so, will he take the matter up with Scottish Gas when he meets the company?

The guidance makes provision for prioritisation, but we are seeking to build on and formalise that to a greater extent. Members will realise that because all the people whom we are talking about are older people, a significant number of them will have health and other problems, so it would be extremely difficult to implement a wide-ranging priority system. I accept that provision ought to exist for dealing with extreme cases. The current guidance contains such provision and we are seeking to build on that.

Like me, many members will have been contacted by older constituents on the issue and my question, too, concerns prioritisation. I hear what the minister says, but in his next discussions with Scottish Gas, will he ask what element of prioritisation there could be so that we avoid the situation that has arisen in the cases that I have dealt with, whereby constituents can get action if they contact me, but not if they contact Scottish Gas directly? That cannot be right or fair.

That issue will be raised at the ministerial meeting. The principle of a degree of prioritisation is certainly accepted; I am merely pointing out that it would be difficult to have a wide-ranging priority system.

In many ways, the fact that the central heating programme was set up as a universal programme has been the secret of its success. It was set up as a universal programme because we knew that the majority of people who did not have central heating systems were people who found it difficult to afford them. That is why so many people who have had central heating systems installed have been lifted out of fuel poverty as a result. Indeed, the central heating programme is one of the main reasons why the number of households in fuel poverty has fallen from 35 per cent in 1996 to 14 per cent at the latest count.

The programme has been successful, but of course we want to develop it. Starting in January, people on pension credit will have extra entitlements and, beyond that, we will review the whole system and how it will develop in time for the next spending review.

The minister will be aware that many of the people on the waiting list have been on it for almost a year. As recently as yesterday, Scottish Gas told me that the number of people on the list was well in excess of 12,500 and might have been approaching 15,000. What advice can the minister give the people on the list, many of whom have faulty and dangerous systems, as we go into the colder part of the winter?

I do not want to be too party political, but I could begin by saying that there would not be a list at all if the Tories had remained in government.

As I have said, the surveys that have been done indicate that a significant number of the people who were on the list are not eligible, so the figure is smaller than John Scott suggests. We are taking every action that we can to ensure that people get the systems to which they are entitled as quickly as possible. Most of the increased demand has been for replacement systems. That was not foreseen in the first days of the programme, when the priority was to provide systems to people who did not have them. The fact that the programme is universal means that any eligible person whose system breaks down—even if they live in the largest house in Scotland—is entitled to a new one. That situation is new. We are responding to the new demand as quickly and effectively as possible.

In the event that someone's heating breaks down and they are told that it will be many months before it can be repaired under the programme, will they be reimbursed if they pay to have it repaired themselves?

New repair arrangements are coming in and one of the new conditions that will be introduced in January is that, if a system can be repaired up to a value of £750, it will be. That did not happen in the past.

I should point out that the system has never worked on the basis of reimbursement. There is a great deal of demand, which we are trying to deal with as quickly and as effectively as possible; in fact, so many people are applying to the scheme because it has been so successful. However, it will improve in several significant ways from January onwards, especially with the introduction of entitlement to repairs where they can be carried out. Of course, any such repairs will be carried out quickly.

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Communities (Funding and Support)

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that funding and support are reaching those communities with the greatest need. (S2O-11275)

We are committed to tackling poverty and disadvantage by closing the opportunity gap, which means increasing access to services and opportunities for all and tackling inequalities between our most disadvantaged communities and the Scottish average. We are also regenerating the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods; taking account of deprivation in the distribution of funds to local authorities and health boards; and providing support and advice to communities on the community right to buy.

The minister is aware of my concerns about areas of deprivation in my constituency, which have been borne out by the recently published multiple deprivation statistics. What advice and support can the Executive provide to local agencies working in partnership in my constituency to ensure that sustainable solutions are urgently brought forward?

I am interested in the causes of persistent deprivation in Marilyn Livingstone's Fife constituency and am quite keen to meet her to discuss her view of the problems and how we might take the matter forward in conjunction with the different agencies in Fife.

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Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer <br />(Second Stage)

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce a timetable for the second-stage transfer of Glasgow housing stock. (S2O-11257)

At the time of the original transfer, it was envisaged that second-stage transfers would take place over a period of about 10 years. Ministers remain committed to second-stage transfer and want some transfers to move forward in the near future. However, as we recognised at the outset, the bulk of transfers might well take place over a longer period.

We should also remember that, while issues around second-stage transfers are under discussion, the investment that we have released is transforming the living conditions of thousands of Glasgow Housing Association tenants.

I thank the minister for his reply, but I think that my question was more to do with when the second-stage transfers would start. As for the 10-year timetable that he mentioned, surely he is not suggesting that none of the second-stage transfers will take place before those 10 years are up.

I repeat the question: when will second-stage transfers begin? Moreover, when will the minister acknowledge that the failure to start second-stage transfers in Glasgow is causing the no votes in housing stock transfer ballots throughout Scotland?

If Tricia Marwick is going to repeat part of her question, I will repeat part of my answer. We want some second-stage transfers to move forward in the near future. Indeed, that will be an absolutely central priority for me over the next few weeks, and I am having on-going meetings with the different players in Glasgow to ensure that that happens. The joint team report, which was commissioned to unravel and analyse some of the genuine financial complexities associated with disaggregating the GHA business plan, will be published before Christmas and will help us to map a way forward. I make it clear again that we are determined to see progress on some transfers in the near future.

Question 5 has been withdrawn.

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Social Work Services (Funding)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortfall in the local government finance settlement in respect of the financing of social work services. (S2O-11304)

No. The Executive is currently funding local government at record levels. Against the 1999-2000 baseline, the increase will be about 55 per cent and, with regard to social work services, the increase will be around 89 per cent. Of course, it is the responsibility of each local authority to consider the allocation of finances based on its own needs and local priorities.

Given that Aberdeen City Council's spend on social work services is now outstripping grant-aided expenditure by £20 million, will the minister consider targeting the additional £100 million promised for 2007-08 at the spending pressures on needs-led services that Aberdeen and other councils are facing?

I do not know who promised £100 million, but I am sure that the member can ask them to consider how they will distribute it. It is important to say yet again to the chamber that grant-aided expenditure is a spending guideline; it is not the minimum or the maximum spend. It is always for local authorities to look at their priorities and allocate money to the areas that they think are in greatest need. That is why they are democratically elected, and we do our best, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, to enhance their democratic credentials.

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Local Government Finance Review Committee

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its official response to the recommendations of the local government finance review committee prior to April 2007. (S2O-11292)

We will need to take the necessary time to study the committee's conclusions and findings and to give the report the careful attention and consideration that it deserves. It is in no one's interest to set an arbitrary date for producing a response on a matter of such importance.

I think that the answer is no. Perhaps the minister learned a lesson from giving dates for his consideration of the Howat review.

Given that we have had a non-response to date, will the minister confirm that the local property tax recommended in the Burt committee's report as a replacement for council tax is similar in concept to the local property tax on homes in Northern Ireland that was introduced by the Labour Government? Will he further confirm that that recommendation of the Burt committee has not been rejected by the Scottish Executive and remains under active consideration?

I certainly confirm that the report as a whole remains under active consideration. I have said that it is only right and proper that we take the time to consider that important work. We will do that in due course, and when we are ready to announce our views, we will do so. It is for Mr McLetchie to draw his own conclusions on the comparison between some aspects of the report and some of the things that go on in different parts of the United Kingdom.

Does the minister agree that the independent review of local government finance dealt a knock-out blow to those who advocate an income-based local government tax? Does he further agree that the new taxation system—whatever it is—will provide an opportunity to widen the tax base by expanding property tax, with the potential to include the taxation of land?

The report certainly offers an opportunity to introduce greater fairness into the tax system, but the caveat is that we will never find a tax that is universally popular. However, it is important that we find a tax that is proportionate and can be spread as evenly as possible over those in our community who have the means to pay tax.

The report's conclusions are certainly critical of certain methods of taxation that were suggested, which is why my colleagues on the nationalist benches have been so silent. Some people anticipated some parts of the report and that is why they tried to cap their aspirations, but the cat was already out of the bag and it was simply too late.

Far from being silent, I am happy to join the debate, no doubt to the minister's enjoyment. I follow up Mark Ballard's point and ask whether the minister will acknowledge that his proposals for a council tax revaluation and rebanding were described by the Burt review as unfair. If he accepts that the compelling argument must be the ability of individuals to pay local taxation, as he just said to Parliament, does he not find the arguments for a local income tax worthy of further exploration and debate?

I find them as worthy of further exploration as the Burt committee did, which does not say much for them. My party has already made clear its position: we see merit in expanding the number of bands and looking at the gearing between them. Whatever conclusion is reached, I repeat that it has to be proportionate and, as with any tax, it must be seen to be as fair as it can be.

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Affordable Housing (Rural and Remote Communities)

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop affordable housing in rural and remote communities. (S2O-11315)

We are doing a great deal to provide affordable housing in rural and remote communities. This year alone, our investment in new affordable housing in rural Scotland is some £139 million.

That money does not go quite so far in remote and rural communities as it does in other parts of the country, where there are economies of scale.

Given the rise in the number of people presenting as homeless in the past year in my constituency and across the country, and given the estimate from Shelter Scotland last weekend that 3,000 extra homes will need to be built each year to meet the 2012 target of eliminating unintentional homelessness in Scotland, has any consideration been given to whether additional funding to Scottish Water could deliver more speedily the water and sewerage infrastructure that would enable more homes to be built in remote and rural communities?

Scottish Water has a massive budget specifically for unlocking the constraints that sometimes prevent housing development. In parallel, and even more significantly, the budgets for new affordable homes are increasing. The numbers will rise into next year, when there will be 8,000 starts compared with 7,000 this year.

Nora Radcliffe represents part of Grampian. In Grampian, we have a £29 million budget to provide 847 affordable homes. That budget is £11 million up on the figure at the start of last year. Indeed, we supplemented the budget by £4 million earlier this month, bringing this year's total across Grampian to £33 million.

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Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport

Question 1 is from John Swinney.

Swinburne.

I am sorry. It is from John Swinburne.

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Swimming Pool Charges (Senior Citizens)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prevent local authorities from increasing swimming pool charges for senior citizens to an unaffordable level. (S2O-11242)

It is for local authorities to determine the level of admission charges to their swimming pools.

Does the minister agree that swimming, particularly by elderly people, should be encouraged by councils? Will the minister join me in deploring the 320 per cent increase in charges to senior citizens for access to swimming baths in North Lanarkshire? Charges have been increased from £14.50 a quarter to £15 a month. To defeat those increases—which were even worse than those that have been imposed by fuel suppliers—some senior citizens in North Lanarkshire have taken to using their free bus passes to go to South Lanarkshire, where access is cheaper. Why should we have a postcode lottery?

John Swinney's central point—

Swinburne.

John Swinburne's point about the importance of swimming for older people is correct—I very much agree with him. Nevertheless, under our system, local authorities rightly have devolved powers to determine charges at their swimming pools. They also have powers to offer discounted or free swimming if they want to. Many local authorities already offer free or discounted access to swimming pools and to other sports facilities. That is a decision for each local authority to make, according to local needs and circumstances.

I should add that most, if not all, swimming pools operate at a loss. That has to be taken into account.

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Film Making (Renfrewshire)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action Scottish Screen is taking to promote film making in Renfrewshire. (S2O-11259)

Scottish Screen promotes Scotland as a great place to make films. It has supported projects in Renfrewshire, most notably the TV series "Taggart", "Rebus", "Dr Finlay's Casebook" and "Naked Video". The film "Young Adam" was filmed in Renfrewshire. Scottish Screen has also supported a number of films including "An Anarchist's Tale" and "Homage to History", made by Johnstone-based company, Pelicula Films.

I would add to that list "Ecstasy", which has been being filmed in Paisley in recent weeks.

In the light of all that activity, will the minister ask Scottish Screen if it will work with Renfrewshire Council and East Renfrewshire Council to create the sort of facilities for film makers that exist in other parts of Scotland?

Scottish Screen works with a network of local authority funded film offices. The regional film offices make a vital contribution to attracting film-makers, who are then supported during filming. It is evident that Scottish Screen finds it easiest to organise filming in areas where there is a local film office. I hope that it is evident to those concerned that the availability of such local offices can enhance an area's status and attract more filming. I also hope that Renfrewshire Council and East Renfrewshire Council, which were mentioned by Wendy Alexander, will consider enhancing what is already happening in the area.

Compared with Scotland, film making in Ireland has enjoyed huge success in recent years. Indeed, with a few exceptions—such as Peter Mullan, who pulled off the converse with "The Magdalene Sisters", which is a film that is set in Ireland but which was made in Dumfries—the makers of films that are set in Scotland often take their films to Ireland. Since the locations that are available are so similar, has the minister evaluated why that is the case? What has he done to reach the point at which Scotland can offer financial and payment-in-kind incentives comparable to those that are available across the Irish sea?

Minister, I realise that it is Renfrewshire, but—

There is no better place to speak about, Presiding Officer.

Jamie McGrigor raises a complex issue. He asks what it is that determines where a film is made. It is a variety of things. It is about the suitability of the location, the financial support and the availability of the personnel and technology to make the film. Scottish Screen has been given approximately £3 million of Scottish Executive grant in aid and £2.7 million of lottery funding to distribute each year. It uses the money to develop screen industries throughout Scotland. Although Scotland has been successful in attracting films to be made here, an exciting expansion is that we are promoting, creating and developing our indigenous film makers, who are showing a great deal of talent and who offer great hope for the future.

Does the minister agree that the motivation of film makers in Renfrewshire, as well as elsewhere in Scotland, has been dented by the fact that Scottish Screen has withheld £170,000 that was promised to the makers of a film about Graeme Obree? Will the minister agree to take that matter up with Scottish Screen in order that it can resolve that problem as soon as possible?

I am not familiar with the detail in relation to that film, but it will be a matter between Scottish Screen and the film makers. I am not sure that it would be appropriate for the minister to intervene in decisions about how that money is used and who receives the money. I will certainly pass the matter that has been raised by Stewart Maxwell to the minister.

Question 3 has been withdrawn.

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Schools (Streaming)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the use of setting or streaming in secondary schools. (S2O-11240)

We have no plans to review the use of setting or streaming. The management of schools and the organisation of learning and teaching is a matter for schools and education authorities.

I am obliged for that response. Can I take it therefore that the minister does not agree with the First Minister, who, in an article in Holyrood magazine, stated:

"I believe there is a place for mixed ability classes but there is also a place for setting groups of kids together to make sure that those who are quicker learners are not bored and those who are slower learners get the sort of attention that they need".

Does he also agree with the First Minister that if the Liberals and the Scottish National Party state otherwise, they are "on shaky ground"?

What the First Minister said is entirely consistent with my reply. There is a place for setting and streaming, but the determination of how it is used in any specific instance is a matter for local decision makers. They need to decide what is appropriate for individual schools and for groups of pupils within those individual schools.

There is a lot of debate in education about the value of setting and streaming—there are strong views for and against. The Executive is determined to ensure that children who are failing for whatever reason or who need extra support to reach their full potential are given appropriate support. At the same time, we want to ensure that children who are capable of developing further are helped to reach their full potential. No child in Scotland should be held back and no child should be held down.

I welcome the new Minister for Education and Young People to his first question time and note that he has at short notice managed also to commandeer the international tourism and culture briefs, although he might want to take a crash course in Scottish film.

Does the minister agree that there is more setting in Scottish schools than people realise? Given the onset of more advances in individualised learning, does he agree that it is about time we had an honest debate about what is happening? On the quotation that Bill Aitken used, perhaps the First Minister was just reflecting what is already happening in Scottish schools, rather than leading the debate.

In the two weeks in which I have been in post, I have visited a number of schools, including Leith Walk primary school in Edinburgh, which I visited at lunch time. Among the things that have impressed me are the enthusiasm and excellence of the teachers and the pupils' sheer enjoyment of their good learning environments. We have confident pupils who want to learn and who are contributing to schools' excellence.

How pupils are taught in any class in any year group at any time is best left to the person responsible. Fiona Hyslop is right to say that a range of methods are used throughout Scotland. It would be wrong of us to try to dictate a simple or single formula to be used everywhere in Scotland, because that would not be appropriate.

As long as we set the correct parameters, know what the standards are and have a challenging curriculum—which I believe we do—I have every confidence that the excellent teachers that we have will respond to the challenge and use teaching methods appropriately in the best interests of their pupils.

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Universal Free School Meals

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the research conducted by academics at the University of Dundee on the efficiency of universal benefits compared with means-tested targeting in relation to free school meals. (S2O-11253)

Yes, we are aware of that research.

The research, which was conducted by Morelli and Seaman in 2005, demonstrated both the ineffectiveness of the current system of free school meals provision to the poorest households and the improvements that universal free school meals provision would bring. It showed that inequality is minimised where there is provision for up to and including the ninth income decile of the population for households with children, and that the increase in household income that derives from universal provision is—in both absolute and percentage gains—greatest for households with the lowest income levels, in deciles 1 and 2. Does the minister have any comment to make on his equality and inclusiveness strategy?

We disagree both with the methodology that was adopted and with the conclusions that were reached in that research. It does not take too much imagination to realise that if we gave additional support to people on upper and middle-range incomes, it would be difficult to conclude that we would narrow inequalities.

We have three priorities. One is to do with nutrition, one is to do with take-up and one is to do with stigma. The Executive's Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill is dealing with all three. The bill will require education authorities to promote uptake of free school lunches and protect the identity of those who receive them. Even among pupils who receive free school lunches at the moment, take-up would be far lower under universal provision than is often suggested by people who propose bills of the sort that Frances Curran supports.

The Executive commissioned a research project to consider local authority procedures for identifying and registering children who are eligible for free school meals with a view to helping to improve practice. That is an important aspect of the practical way in which the Executive is taking forward this important agenda.

Given the extent of the obesity problem across socioeconomic groups in Scotland and the Scottish Executive's acceptance of the potential of universality in relation to health promotion through, for example, the free fruit in schools initiative, does the minister agree that there is a real need for pilot schemes for free school meals, and that in dismissing the policy without practical research we might be rejecting prematurely what could be the most effective tool for health promotion policy since the smoking ban?

I readily accept that the debate on the issue will continue. The Executive's policy is one of targeting, of trying to make effective advances and of looking at the issue holistically. We are talking not only about the simple issue of accessibility in provision of school meals, but about issues to do with nutritional value, actual take-up in schools, the attraction of the provision and the understanding by young people at school—and as they become adults—of dietary issues. We are making considerable progress in that regard and we are targeting our efforts on those issues.

Extension of free school meals to all children would have a significant cost implication. Members must consider whether that cost—which would be up to £179 million a year—would be the best use of scarce public resources if we are to achieve the objectives that I think members of all parties share.

Question 6 is not lodged.

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Sports Facilities

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to reverse the decline in playing fields in local authority areas and how much money is earmarked for the provision of sports facilities and coaching in local communities. (S2O-11246)

The draft Scottish planning policy 11, which is on physical activity and open space, seeks to strengthen the protection of open space and playing fields. In the current financial year, sportscotland will commit about £5.5 million through the building for sport programme to support the development of new and upgraded local sports facilities, as well as £240,000 to support coaching posts in a number of local authorities.

Is the minister aware that, since 2000, the number of applications to build on playing fields has increased by 100 per cent? Is he aware that Dawsholm park in Glasgow, a public facility, is to be sold to a private school by Glasgow City Council, which had already turned down an offer by Broomhill sports club—a community sports organisation? I therefore ask the minister whether he will go further in his proposals to protect public spaces throughout Scotland.

We must acknowledge the democratic mandate of local authorities in the matter—we at the centre cannot decide on such matters. Rightly, successive Governments of all stamps have worked on the basis that local authorities should decide on provision in their areas. However, having said that, the Scottish Executive wants high-quality playing fields and sports facilities that are linked to robust sports clubs with access to good coaching. Sandra White is absolutely right to connect those aspects.

I am aware of the issues to which Sandra White refers—I have had some correspondence on and involvement in them as a member. In any event, I attach considerable importance to protection of playing fields and other such provision. Our strengthening of the planning protections is extremely important. We will extend sportscotland's role so that it is a statutory consultee when there is a threat to land that is used for tennis courts or bowling greens or other such facilities. We are investing in coaching and facilities and we are strengthening planning protections more generally. It is for local authorities to account to their electors for the decisions that they take on local matters.

I warmly welcome the new Minister for Education and Young People, Hugh Henry, and wish him well in the many tasks that are before him.

Is the deputy minister aware that, although draft SPP 11 will rightly make selling of playing fields much more difficult, it is believed that many local authorities have in the past sold playing fields or parts of them when they have had crucial public-private partnership investments in new buildings in the vicinity? Will he audit the impact that SPP 11 will have on PPP investment?

I am slightly surprised to have a question of that sort from Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and the Conservatives. As most of us in the Executive do, he will realise that the issue of how sports and school facilities are funded is separate from that of the planning and provision arrangements that go with that. We acknowledge that there is an issue and we are trying to put in place improved arrangements in order to protect existing playing fields. It is worth mentioning that, in 2004-05, the number of sports pitches rose for the first time in recent years, so the situation is not totally static.

There is an underlying issue about the quality of provision. The audits that have been carried out have identified a significant issue about on-going maintenance and support and the need to upgrade existing facilities throughout Scotland. In the detailed sense, that is a matter for local authorities, but the Executive has provided considerable funding to support local authorities in upgrading and developing sports pitches—£5.5 million this year—and for the development of facilities projects more generally, the figure for which is £143 million since 1995.

I think that those infrastructure and funding issues are all linked together by how we want the matter to move forward, but the planning constraints are central to the protection that we and other members want for playing fields.