Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Thursday, February 3, 2022

Official Report 1136KB pdf

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General Question Time

Good morning. I remind members of the Covid-related measures that are in place. Face coverings should be worn when moving around the chamber and across the Holyrood campus.

The first item of business is general question time. I would like to get in as many members as possible, so short and succinct questions and responses would be appreciated.

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Budget (Local Authorities)

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its draft budget will enable local authorities to deliver a consistent level of core services. (S6O-00716)

While reductions in United Kingdom Government funding have reduced the overall Scottish budget for 2022-23 by 5.2 per cent in real terms, the Scottish Government has increased local government funding for day-to-day services such as schools and social care by £975.7 million in 2022-23, which is a real-terms increase of 6 per cent. That funding, including the extra £120 million that was added at stage 2 of the Budget (Scotland) Bill, will enable local authorities to deliver their core services in order to support communities across the country.

At a time when public services, including those that are provided by councils, have been stretched to breaking point, the Scottish National Party-Green Government’s cuts to council budgets are nothing short of an insult. Trumpeting an additional £120 million after cutting £371 million requires some brass neck from the minister—it is still a cut. What will the minister tell constituents across my region, and across Scotland, who now risk seeing that cut reflected in their vital local services being scaled back and their council tax bills going up?

I make it clear that I recognise the outstanding and vital work that local authorities do across Scotland. If anyone has a brass neck, it is the member, because it is his party in government at Westminster that has cut the Scottish budget by 5.2 per cent and has refused to engage constructively in the budget process over the past two months. The reality is that we have a reduced budget, and we have given local government a fair settlement with a real-terms increase. I hope that, in future budgets, the Conservatives might want to engage in a more mature and considered fashion whereby, instead of simply calling for funding increases, they state clearly where that funding should come from.

Last week, the leader of Orkney Islands Council announced that he was withdrawing from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and denounced the settlement from the Scottish Government as the worst that any local authority had received. Does the minister believe that such treatment of Orkney Islands Council reflects the actions of a Government that is committed to island proofing and supporting our island communities?

As the member will appreciate, the distribution of funding through a needs-based formula is a process that is undertaken in conjunction with COSLA. Our deliberations in Parliament concern the overall local government funding settlement, in which—as I said—there has been a real-terms increase. Again, I make the point that, if members wish to see in future budgets more money for one budget line, they will have to identify a corresponding budget line in which there should be a reduction.

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Four-day Working Week (Trials)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce trials for a four-day working week. (S6O-00717)

We are committed to establishing a £10 million fund to allow companies to pilot and explore the costs and benefits of moving to a shorter four-day working week. We are in the early stages of developing that pilot, and we are committed to developing a comprehensive design for it over the next year, supported by an initial £500,000 of funding. Our work will be informed by experience that is drawn from similar projects in other countries and, of course, elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

The pandemic can be used as an impetus to change the dynamic of work for the better. What work is the Scottish Government undertaking to ensure that workers’ voices and rights are at the heart of any upcoming four-day week trials in Scotland?

The member is right. The pandemic has served to intensify interest in, and support for, more flexible working practices. We have already seen the possibilities and positives of adopting alternative working practices for a better and more inclusive balance between work and people’s personal lives. Ministers have met and continue regularly to meet trade unions to ensure that workers’ voices and rights are at the heart of the pilots. That will be a guiding principle as we move forward.

What is the Scottish Government’s reaction to the recent report by Autonomy that suggests that, even under the worst-case scenario, a four-day working week would be affordable for most businesses once the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic has passed?

I have looked at the findings of that report, which was published around a year ago. It does, indeed, say that, under the best-case scenario a reduction in hours would be entirely offset by increases in productivity and price increases. Of course, there are also worst-case scenarios to which we must pay attention. Autonomy found a number of issues with cash flow for some companies as well. That is why the pilots will be so valuable in enabling us to learn the lessons for how to take the policy forward in a Scottish context.

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Speed Limits (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale)

To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of failure to comply with the 20mph speed limit in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale have been recorded since its introduction, including how many fines were subsequently issued as part of the enforcement of 20mph speed limits. (S6O-00718)

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. Police Scotland is responsible for the enforcement of speed limits.

My next port of call is obviously Police Scotland.

Stow, a village in the Borders through which the A7 passes, has long-standing issues with speeding by cars and commercial vehicles. Anxiety is increased because the pavements are narrow and cannot be widened. Residents in the local community council thought that the 20mph speed limit would have a major impact on speeding, but I am told that breaches are frequent. What can the community do beyond contacting Police Scotland?

The Scottish Government “Good Practice Guide on 20 mph Speed Restrictions” suggests that

“Any changes should be monitored, and where compliance levels are not at an acceptable level, consideration should be given to the addition of traffic calming measures or”,

in some cases,

“reverting to a 30 mph limit, if necessary.”

Such measures are the result of a dialogue between a number of partners, primarily the council—in the case that Christine Grahame mentions, councils—involved and Police Scotland.

The 20mph roads in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale are a mix of local roads, which are under the responsibility of councils, and trunk roads. I know that that is a concern of Christine Grahame’s. Scottish Borders Council has undertaken some speed surveys, including on the trunk roads that are of concern to Ms Grahame. If she wants to have further discussion with the local authorities and the police, I will be happy to pass that message on and add my support to the further dialogue that she seeks.

Is the cabinet secretary aware that new data reveals that there are 59 fewer local police officers in Lothian and the Borders than there were in the period before the creation of Police Scotland? Does he share my concern that those savage Scottish National Party cuts to front-line policing are undermining efforts to issue fines and combat speeding and that they could be putting lives at risk in Stow, across the Borders and across the wider South Scotland region?

I am not wholly convinced that that referred to the substantive question, but you can answer briefly if you would like to, cabinet secretary.

Craig Hoy neglects to mention that we have around 50 per cent more police officers per capita in Scotland than there are in England and Wales. His Government cut the funding for the police and cut 20,000 police officers in England and Wales, so we will take no lessons from the Tories on proper police funding.

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Outdoor Education Sector

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with the outdoor education sector since December 2021. (S6O-00719)

I met representatives of the outdoor education sector on 9 November. The meeting was also attended by Councillor McCabe, the children and young people spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Since that meeting, Scottish Government officials have held a series of meetings and further discussions with the sector. I am pleased to confirm that an additional £2 million in support funding will be provided to the sector.

I warmly welcome that £2 million commitment from the Scottish Government; it is essential that that money is there in order to safeguard our outdoor education centres.

Can the minister also comment on the article by Martin Davidson from the Outward Bound Trust in The Scotsman today, in which he asks the Scottish Government what it is doing to address the inequalities in access to outdoor education residentials for many children across Scotland?

I thank Liz Smith for her welcome of the additional funding and for her question. She will be aware that, in the 2021-22 programme for government, we committed to providing financial support to low-income families, in order to ensure that all children can participate in curriculum-related trips and activities—not only trips to residential centres but all forms of school trips that have a curriculum-related purpose. The programme for government makes a further commitment to ensure that secondary school pupils will be supported to go on at least one optional residential centre trip during their time at school.

Can the minister provide an update on the Scottish Government’s actions to expand outdoor learning, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds? How will she work with organisations such as OutLET: Play Resource to achieve that?

Our vision is for all children and young people to participate in a range of progressive and creative outdoor learning experiences. As Collette Stevenson indicated, there are a range of commitments in the programme for government that relate to outdoor learning and school trips. During the course of this year, the Government will engage with key partners in local government and the outdoor learning sector to progress those commitments. That work will build on our Covid-19 outdoor education recovery fund, which provided an additional £500,000 for outdoor learning experiences last year, reaching many pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. A report from last year’s funding programme will be published soon.

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Gambling Addiction Services

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the services available to people with gambling addiction. (S6O-00720)

We share the concerns that many have expressed around the impact of gambling-related harms in Scotland, and we recognise that gambling can have disastrous consequences. We agree with the view of our stakeholders that a public health approach is needed to tackle those harms and improve treatment services. We are working with Public Health Scotland and third sector stakeholders to develop an understanding of the scale of the problem in our communities. We are assessing person-centred and localised treatment options, and we recognise that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

We welcome the review of the Gambling Act 2005 and hope to see greater regulation and control of the gambling industry in the coming white paper, in order to prevent gambling-related harms in Scotland.

I thank the minister for that helpful and comprehensive answer. As we know, problem gambling is highly disruptive to sufferers and their families. GambleAware research found that one in five problem gamblers spent more on their habit during lockdown and that young people were particularly likely to increase their gambling. Will the minister therefore consider establishing or supporting the establishment of a residential clinic that is specifically for gambling addicts in Scotland?

I thank Kenneth Gibson for that question. Gambling-related harms are complicated in origin and they affect a range of people, not just those who experience the most significant level of problem gambling, for which residential clinics might be of most use. No single approach will solve the issues that are related to gambling-related harms, so the introduction of a residential clinic cannot be the only approach. As I said in my earlier answer, we are very keen to work with the third sector and those with lived experience to understand the person-centred treatment options for those who experience gambling-related harms and to consider localised approaches.

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Bullying in Schools

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities in dealing with instances of bullying in schools. (S6O-00721)

[Inaudible.]—whenever it arises. In 2017, we published updated anti-bullying guidance for all adults who work with children and young people. In 2019, we introduced a uniform approach to recording and monitoring incidents of bullying in schools, and we published guidance on that. In order to support local authorities, schools and all those who work with children and young people to build confidence and capacity to address bullying effectively, we have established and fully funded respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service.

In the past few weeks, I have been dealing with four constituent queries relating to significant alleged bullying in schools—three in secondary schools and one in a primary school. In all cases, the child who experienced bullying has moved to another school and is doing well. However, what more can be done to help local authorities to educate those who are involved in bullying-type behaviours and to support victims, so that it is not always the victims who have to move away to escape the abuse?

This must have been an exceptionally difficult time for Mr MacGregor’s constituents, particularly for the young people who were involved in that. As I said in my original answer, our focus is very much on prevention and early intervention, and environments that engage with young people, promote respect, celebrate difference and encourage positive relationships and behaviour are key in supporting our young people.

Schools use a range of strategies to improve relationships and behaviour. Support in those approaches is provided by Education Scotland as well as through the relevant local authority. As I mentioned, the respectme programme provides support to all adults who work with young people to give them the practical skills and confidence to deal with bullying behaviour appropriately.

Would the cabinet secretary consider extending the 2019 recording so that instances of bullying using cyber methods, whether mobile phones or laptops, can be identified and centrally collated?

I would be more than happy to follow that up directly with the member in further detail. We are very aware that, as society changes, our bullying strategies need to be up to date and relevant to the challenges that our young people are facing. I would be happy to meet the member to discuss his particular concerns on the matter and to go into it in further detail.

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Department for Work and Pensions (£10 Christmas Payment)

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £10 Christmas payment will continue to be paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to recipients of disability living allowance and personal independence payment once the benefits are fully devolved. (S6O-00722)

The reason is that the payment Mr Balfour refers to is a reserved benefit and is not devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The £10 Christmas payment is a United Kingdom Government payment that is paid to people in receipt of various benefits, including disability benefits and low-income benefits such as pension credit.

As Mr Balfour is aware, we have worked with the UK Government to ensure access to passported reserved benefits, such as the Christmas bonus payment as well as other entitlements, for people who are receiving the Scottish Government’s child disability payment and adult disability payment.

The issue is that, from this time on, we are still going to have two lists. Every year, Social Security Scotland is going to have to pass that information on to the DWP. Has the minister had discussions with the DWP about devolving that power to the new agency, in order to save us administration costs?

The Scottish Government engages in regular dialogue with the Department for Work and Pensions with regard to data transfer and the sharing of relevant information across the delivery of our devolved benefits programme.

If Mr Balfour is arguing for more social security powers to come to the Scottish Parliament, I welcome that. We have seen, from the evidence of delivery so far, that both our agency, Social Security Scotland, and the Scottish Government are delivering social security with a human rights-based approach that is based on dignity, fairness and respect. We are delivering well and, with more powers, we could do even more.

Given that the £10 Christmas payment is a reserved benefit, does the minister agree that Jeremy Balfour might like to join me and others in calling for the full powers over social security to be devolved to this Parliament?

Indeed. As I have already stated, the delivery of devolved social security to date is something that all of this Parliament should be proud of. We set up Social Security Scotland from scratch, and it is developing, growing and strengthening each day. We are about to deliver our 12th benefit, and seven of those 12 benefits are new, including the remarkably important Scottish child payment, which has been strongly welcomed by stakeholders and families.

Importantly, we are making a really meaningful difference for thousands of households by spending an extra £361 million above what is in the fiscal framework and giving extra help. Members should compare that with the DWP’s withdrawal of £20 a week from family budgets and the UK Government’s having been found to have wasted £8.3 billion on personal protective equipment contracts and £4.3 billion in fraud write-off.

We are delivering well and proficiently, and with more powers we will be able to make an even bigger difference for thousands of families. I, along with many other people in Scotland, look forward to the days—coming soon—when we will gain and utilise more powers to make an even bigger difference together.