Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 4 September 2003
- Closing the Opportunity Gap
- Question Time
- First Minister's Question Time
- Cancer Services
- Business Motion
- Decision Time
- Defence Aviation Repair Agency
Question Time
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Tourism
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the tourism industry. (S2O-334)
We are supporting Scotland's tourism industry in a number of ways. For example, improvements in VisitScotland's marketing contributed to an increase of 8 per cent in tourism spend last year compared with 2001. We have also improved the sector in the past four months. Spend is up 5 per cent on last year and the number of visitors from Europe in particular is up 37 per cent on last year.
We have established an ad hoc ministerial group on tourism, chaired by the Deputy First Minister, which will take a strategic look at how the various support agencies integrate their activities and investment in tourism. The group will report to the Cabinet in the autumn. I hope that from that we will develop further strategies for the development of Scottish tourism.
The minister will be aware that Prestwick airport has increased passenger numbers by 13 per cent. Will he work with the local tourism industry to attract visitors from destination airports and regions back into Scotland, thereby stimulating the Ayrshire economy?
We appreciate that contribution. We recognise the work that all our airports do in attracting tourists not just from Europe and the USA but from within the UK. We will work with tour operators and airlines to ensure that through our route development investment, which has already borne fruit in direct flights to Scotland and in the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry route, our strategy will continue the good work that has been announced for Scottish tourism in the past quarter.
I concur with the minister's comments on the success of the tourism industry this season. I suggest that we should reward success rather than punish it. Why is funding for VisitScotland down 18 per cent this year and why will it be down 12 per cent next year? Should we not support and fund our tourist board rather than leave it underfunded?
I thank Kenny MacAskill for his useful cheerful contribution after the recess. Underlying investment in Scottish tourism through our commitment on marketing and our grant in aid shows an upward curve. Unless Kenny MacAskill is reading the figures upside down, I cannot see how he has reached the conclusion that he has.
We had to make additional investment, particularly for the difficult year of 2001, following the foot-and-mouth outbreak. There has been recovery in the two affected areas and figures are back to what they were prior to the foot-and-mouth experience. The combination of the hard work of many of our public agencies to ensure that we work in partnership and the work done by VisitScotland through its developing website will result in much more progress than we have had even in the past few months.
Will the minister confirm that when he meets MSPs to discuss post-foot-and-mouth funding for tourism in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, he will have an open mind on the issue and, more important, financial flexibility to resolve it?
We have made a commitment to ask VisitScotland to work with the areas that were most affected by foot-and-mouth disease and which have recovered through partnership with VisitScotland. One of the key messages that we stress is that the challenge is to increase the overall number of visitors to Scotland through a much more aggressive and focused marketing strategy that will increase the opportunity for areas such as Dumfries and Galloway. Many of us value the work done by the local tourist boards and major agencies to ensure that the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway recover from the traumatic year 2001.
Will the minister confirm that when the ministerial group finally reports in the autumn it will end the period of uncertainty, which has been far too long, over the future of the area tourist board network? Is he aware how strong the feeling is on the ground that the number of ATBs should not be reduced further? The four ATBs in my region of Mid Scotland and Fife all perform extremely well and help to boost the local tourism industry.
We are discussing that and many other issues in Scottish tourism. It is right and proper that that discussion takes place in the context of the much broader debate. There are many different views about the relationship of ATBs to the wider network in terms of the development of Scottish tourism. I have listened to those views during my summer tour and that will influence much of the debate that will take place with my ministerial colleagues.
Police (Shoot-to-stop Policy)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review police policy in respect of shoot to stop. (S2O-312)
Decisions to deploy armed police officers and the tactics used by armed police officers are operational matters for chief constables in accordance with strict guidelines. Instances where such officers are required to open fire against a person are extremely rare.
I draw the minister's attention to a recent incident involving a woman in the Lothians. Will the minister discuss whether taking a more flexible approach is more appropriate in such difficult operational situations for the police, as has been indicated by a number of senior police officers in Scotland and south of the border?
As the member no doubt is aware, I will not comment on the particular incident, because it is currently subject to an inquiry, as per the guidelines, to ensure that the correct procedures were followed. However, I reassure members that the number of incidents where firearms are discharged by the police is small. From 1998-99 to 2002-03 there were 28 such incidents, and I am advised that, without exception, all of them involved the destruction of animals. Obviously, we want to keep the situation under review. Members will be aware that trials of other options are going on south of the border, and I want to learn from them.
Social Services (Resources)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have sufficient funding and resources to meet the challenges and targets set by it in respect of the provision of social services. (S2O-321)
Funding provided to local authorities for social services is mainly provided through unhypothecated revenue grant, and it is up to each local authority how it allocates those resources to meet local needs and priorities. All local authorities received an above-inflation increase to their revenue grant in the last spending review.
I take it that that was a yes. Could the minister tell me why, if he thinks that they have enough resources, front-line social services workers in North Ayrshire are telling me that they do not and that they are struggling to meet the demands that are placed on them? Could he also tell me why in a letter to me, a copy of which I am happy to let him have, the chief executive of North Ayrshire Council, Mr Bernard Devine, stated:
"the price of failure to meet the targets and the challenges set by the Executive will be the demise of generic Social Work Departments controlled by local councils"?
I am aware that there has been discussion in the local press about the situation in North Ayrshire. It is primarily a matter for the local authority as to how it allocates its resources. In general, in the past 10 years, expenditure on social work services has doubled in real terms. In fact, gross expenditure rose from £881 million in 1991-92 to £1.794 billion in 2001-02. If the member cares to pass me a copy of the letter, I will look at it for him.
Does the minister agree that one of the major difficulties facing local authorities in providing a sufficient level of social services is the recruitment and retention of qualified social workers, in particular in the challenging area of child and family work? Can he give a commitment to examine that as a priority, and will he involve not only local employers but professional organisations such as the Association of Directors of Social Work, Unison and the British Association of Social Workers?
I am more than happy to make that commitment. In fact, as the member may know, we recently launched the Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education, which is looking to draw together best practice and to develop a degree course for social work. That will inform much of the direction of policy in the next few months. We have also taken steps to increase the number of fast-track social work qualification places for graduates. In addition, in certain circumstances we have paid off student loans to a ceiling of £9,000 to ensure that there is some incentive for people to go into particular crisis areas, such as the area that the member mentioned.
Traffic (Speed Reduction)
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the "twenty's plenty" schemes are having in reducing traffic speed in built-up areas. (S2O-353)
In 2001, the Executive published an evaluation of pilot advisory 20mph schemes in residential areas. The study found that average speeds fell at 60 per cent of the pilot sites, with a significant drop in the number of serious accidents across all those sites.
That is good news. I congratulate the minister on that scheme as well as on the speed kills campaign. Is he aware of the situation in East Renfrewshire, which has one of the highest rates of car ownership in Scotland? That area is getting used to the idea of ever-increasing numbers of cars using side roads that are ill suited to through traffic. However, does he agree that although in the long term we have to change the attitudes of car drivers, so that they respect residential streets, in the short term we must make continued investment in traffic engineering, road humps, chicanes and other measures that are designed to tackle the dangers facing our communities now?
I agree. It is particularly important to implement those measures outside schools and that is why the Executive has an objective of extending 20mph zones to all Scotland's schools. I hope to make an announcement about relevant funding proposals shortly. Linked to that is the issue that the member raises—safe routes to schools and safe areas around people's homes. Home zones, as they are called, are another area where I would like to make additional investment. Both those schemes will have the support of the Executive in coming years.
Detention (Children)
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the detention of children. (S2O-311)
Executive policy is that children in Scotland can be detained only in accordance with the law.
Will the Executive take action to stop the barbaric practice of using Dungavel detention centre to imprison innocent children whose parents have sought refuge in this country? What possible justification can there be for punishing a mother for feeding her children? Instead of simply passing the buck to David Blunkett, will the Executive face up to its responsibilities for the health and education of those children whose human rights are being violated by a regime that brings shame on Scotland?
Although health and education are devolved, there are policy matters here that are reserved, Mr Peacock.
Mr Canavan invites me to comment on matters that are for our UK ministers, who are accountable to our UK members of Parliament in our UK Parliament. It is for UK ministers to comment on the matters relating to Dungavel.
I will give you a supplementary if you are specific on that point, Mr Canavan.
Does the minister care to comment on the Executive's responsibilities regarding the health and education of those children in Dungavel? Those are responsibilities of this Parliament and the Scottish Executive.
The operation of Dungavel, including the welfare and education of children, is the responsibility of the Home Office.
Antisocial Behaviour (Quad Bikes)
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to tackle the antisocial use of quad bikes in public areas. (S2O-317)
The police are responsible for the enforcement of road traffic law, which includes provision on use of vehicles such as quad bikes on land of any description not forming part of a road. Section 34(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on
"common land, moorland or land of any other description not … forming part of a road",
or
"on any road being a footpath or bridleway"
or restricted byway. That would include quad bikes and we would encourage the police to enforce that provision where quad bikes are used irresponsibly.
I advise the minister that the police are not enforcing that legislation uniformly. I ask her to write to every chief constable in Scotland to advise them of their requirement to enforce that legislation along with many other measures on antisocial behaviour that are not being enforced by our police and other authorities.
I am happy to give the assurance to Paul Martin that we need to pursue the measure. Everyone is aware of the Executive's deep commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour in Scotland. I am happy to discuss those matters with the Minister for Justice to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
I ask the minister to confirm that the wardens employed under the "Securing safer communities" scheme, which is being piloted in Hamilton, Blantyre, East Kilbride and other parts of South Lanarkshire, have no powers to tackle antisocial behaviour. Therefore, the funding that the Scottish Executive has ploughed into the scheme should have been used to employ more police who have the powers to tackle the wide range of vexing behaviour that is termed antisocial.
I am quite happy to go to the communities in which the wardens are deployed—in which, as the member says, we have recently extended our funding of the scheme—and tell them that the Tories' position is that they cannot have those community wardens. I am also quite happy to go to the police, who agree with us, when people say that the only answer to antisocial behaviour is to give the police full responsibility for tackling it. I am happy to point out to the police that the Tories disagree with the community wardens scheme. The Tories think that the only response to antisocial behaviour is to employ more police officers, but a cursory examination of antisocial behaviour shows that it demands a range of agencies to tackle it and that resources must be used appropriately.
There is much evidence to show that community wardens help us to tackle both the causes and the practice of antisocial behaviour and that the scheme is a good use of money by the Executive. I ask the member to read the consultation document on our proposals. She will see that we are asking for opinions on the use of community wardens and she can submit her views as part of that consultation.
Licensing (Nicholson Committee Report)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward consultation and legislation on the Nicholson committee report on liquor licensing law. (S2O-339)
When the report was launched on 19 August, I confirmed that the Executive was keen to have the views of all those with an interest. The report is, therefore, out for consultation until 19 December. We will give high priority to new legislation.
That is encouraging. I hope that that excellent report, which has widespread general support, will trigger the Executive into taking action and putting the issue high on its agenda for legislation in the coming year.
I have given the member an assurance that I will prioritise legislation. We will take account of the views that emerge in the consultation process and I will want to include those when we formulate the legislation. I am not going to set a deadline for the legislation, but I assure the member that I have taken his comments on board.
Civil Partnerships
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the issue of civil partnership registration as part of its commitment to family law reform. (S2O-345)
Scottish ministers have noted the UK Government's consultation on civil partnership registration for same-sex couples. We are presently considering how to proceed on that matter.
Does the minister agree that the continuing discrimination in law against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people—and others whose needs are not met by marriage—is unacceptable and that the Executive has a significant opportunity to address it?
This is a very complex issue, which will provoke strong views on all sides of the argument. That is why it is important for the Executive to consider the matter carefully, listen to all the interest groups and take appropriate action at the right time.
When the minister gives the matter due consideration will she consider that, because of the nature of the legislation on civil partnerships—the fact that it crosses the boundary between devolved and reserved matters—special attention should be given to the nature and scale of the consultation and, most important, to how the Parliament might be involved? We know that there are complex issues in different areas of law, such as the law of succession and property rights law.
Pauline McNeill raises a significant point. I am keen to ensure that we take account of different views and treat the matter seriously. Members will be aware that the consultation paper that has been issued south of the border has been circulated for comment, as have the relevant parts of legislation that is reserved to Westminster. I will want to proceed with the appropriate consultation in Scotland in due course.
Licensing (Nicholson Committee Report)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the recommendation of the report of the Nicholson committee on liquor licensing law. (S2O-355)
As the member will be aware, a consultation exercise is currently underway. I am keen to hear views from all those with an interest, including MSPs who may wish to make representations on behalf of their constituents.
I welcome that response and the response to question 7. In taking forward the Nicholson committee's recommendations and in modernising our outdated licensing system, will the minister give a commitment to give full weight to the needs of local communities, such as my constituents in the Cowgate and the Grassmarket? They have suffered from an outmoded system that does not take into account the cumulative impact of large-scale licensed premises that have been ineffectively monitored over the years. Will she give a commitment to ensuring a modernised and more accountable system?
I am happy to give such a commitment. Indeed, I think that the thrust of all the recommendations in the Nicholson committee's report points in that direction. I am conscious of the impact that the prevalence of licensed premises has in particular areas and of the impact that the prevalence of off-licences has in other areas. That is why we have given a commitment this week to do further work to review the situation regarding off-licences to ensure that they do not continue to be hot spots for the kind of antisocial behaviour that we heard so much about during the consultation over the summer.
Can the minister tell members how she hopes to reply to the Nicholson committee's inability to give a conclusive recommendation on the possible sale of alcohol at all-seated stadia?
I am aware that that matter was raised with the minister who is responsible for culture and sport, Mr Frank McAveety, and obviously I will have discussions with him. However, the decision to stop the sale of alcohol at various stadia was taken to ensure public order and the safety of the public. Any decision to change that situation would have to take full account of those concerns and of the views of the police and others who have to enforce the current laws. The loss of potential revenue income from the sale of alcohol would not be, in itself, the only factor in any decision.
Question 10 has been withdrawn.
Ferry Services (Contract Conditions)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require companies bidding for the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry service contracts to have long-term pay deals in place. (S2O-310)
Complex and contractual European Union issues are involved in that matter. I acknowledge the potential benefits of stable, long-term pay deals and I am prepared to investigate the issue further.
I thank the minister for his answer, but he will be aware of the damage that was done to island economies in my constituency by the uncertainty that was created by the protracted and occasionally bizarre recent pay negotiations between Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and the RMT union. It is vital that the threat of annual strike action is removed from the island communities. Therefore, I ask him to do everything in his power to ensure that a long-term pay deal is in place between the RMT and the ferry operator who wins the contract for the island routes.
I do not think that it would serve any constructive purpose for me to reflect on the events of the past few weeks, except to say that I am pleased that a deal is currently before the employees of CalMac. I am hopeful of a positive outcome, which will involve a pay and conditions settlement that will run through to 2005. I believe that that is good news.
A number of MSPs have written to me about the tendering of the new contract and the current situation with CalMac. I have responded to indicate that I will take up their suggestions with CalMac. Once I have a report back on the matter, I will consider what further steps might be appropriate.
Does the minister agree that it is essential that a modernised and improved negotiation system is put in place? Is he aware that local, regional RMT negotiators in Scotland are keen to meet with his officials and him and with CalMac management to discuss how a modernised system can be put in place?
I think that members want all the organisations with which we are closely involved to have modern and efficient pay and condition negotiations and a modern pay and conditions environment. Such arrangements are particularly important for lifeline ferry services, because the issue is not simply whether strike action occurs, as the threat of strike action can have an adverse impact on the tourism industry and on the communities involved.
If appropriate, I would be prepared to become involved. However, I want advice from CalMac and further advice on the complex EU issues that are involved in the tendering process, as I am sure all members will appreciate.
Terrestrial Trunked Radio
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take in response to any public concerns over the roll-out of the terrestrial trunked radio system. (S2O-346)
Scottish ministers have a common interest with the UK Government in the new police communications system, which uses the TETRA standard and which is being supplied to police forces in Scotland, England and Wales by Airwave O2. In the light of independent expert advice, an extensive research programme has been established. It includes a health monitoring study of police users, a study by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on possible biological effects, and independent monitoring of emissions. All the results so far confirm that the equipment is safe.
Does the minister agree that the main worry of many of our constituents is that TETRA emits a pulsed radiation that is similar in frequency to that of human brainwaves, and that no regulatory guidelines exist that specifically address the issue of pulsed radiation?
The report from the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation noted that the signals from TETRA base stations are continuous and not pulsed.
The minister will be aware that I have raised a number of concerns brought to me by my constituents about the possible health risks from TETRA masts. Is he also aware of the concerns about possible clusters of illnesses, such as motor neurone disease and Parkinson's disease, around existing TETRA masts such as that at Drumcarrow hill in North East Fife? Will he do as I have already done and raise the matter with the director of public health in Fife for investigation?
Public health in Fife is a matter for those who are responsible in the Fife area. There is no evidence to suggest that any illnesses or clusters are associated with TETRA masts. We will keep an eye on any reports that show evidence of illness associated with such activity, but to date there is no such evidence.
Building Schools (City of Edinburgh)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet City of Edinburgh Council to discuss its public-private partnership for building new schools. (S2O-344)
There are regular meetings at various levels between Executive officials and ministers and local authorities that are involved in school PPP projects. Indeed, I met Ewan Aitken, the City of Edinburgh Council's executive member for education, as recently as Tuesday this week, and we touched on the issue of the council's PPP proposals.
Given the problems that the City of Edinburgh Council has been having with its PPP for the refurbishment of schools, including St Peter's Primary School in my constituency, what is the Executive doing to support councils that face problems with contractors? Does it plan to issue guidelines to help councils with such contractual problems?
As I indicated, there is a lot of dialogue between councils and Executive officials and ministers on those issues, and whenever we can offer helpful advice and support we try to do so. As I am sure Mr Pringle knows, the City of Edinburgh Council announced today that it has now resolved its recent difficulties. That opens up progress not just at the school that he mentioned but at other schools where work could have been held back. That is extremely welcome news. The City of Edinburgh Council, along with many other local authorities, is getting unprecedented investment in its schools estate, for the betterment of the whole education system.
Is the minister aware that the City of Edinburgh Council's problem was that it had only one developer for the overall project, which meant that bargaining power for individual projects was reduced? PPPs were meant to provide competition for best value. Rather than continue to use that flawed and expensive form of funding, will he accelerate the use of normal borrowing and the alternative of not-for-profit trusts?
The Executive is expanding funding not only through PPP but through a whole variety of other routes. The system of section 94 consents given to local authorities will be reformed to create much more freedom for local authorities to make their own investment decisions. The key to PPP is that it produces value for money. If it did not, the investments would not take place. A worthwhile set of schemes has been developed across Scotland, with some £2 billion being invested in our schools estate. That is quite unprecedented.
Can the minister assure us that the schools concerned will be built on time?
I am not aware of all the detailed matters that the City of Edinburgh Council has resolved today, as that announcement has only just been made. As far as I am aware, however, that resolution should allow the schemes to go ahead according to a reasonable time scale so that the council can meet its objectives.
Does the minister accept that the relationship between the Edinburgh Schools Partnership and the City of Edinburgh Council and the delays and disputes highlight the real dangers to public services of PPPs? Is it not preferable for schools in Edinburgh to remain in public ownership?
PPPs are proving successful throughout Scotland in ways that I have indicated—they are delivering, which is important. New facilities are being delivered for children, who have welcomed them as they return to school. PPPs are modernising an estate that was badly neglected for the last part of the previous century. People ought to recognise that huge progress is being made in Scotland.
In the normal flow of meetings between the minister and the council, will he look in particular at the effects on special needs schools that are replaced in the larger education campuses, such as that in Midlothian? Parents in Dalkeith who had anticipated a better deal for their special needs children when their school was closed and incorporated in the big new campus have told me that they are beginning to find that their children and the facilities of the special needs school are being squeezed. As one of the schools in Edinburgh—Graysmill School—is to experience the same renovation, I am concerned that it too will find itself squeezed as part of the PPP.
There is absolutely no reason in principle why that should happen. As I have tried to indicate, the purpose of PPP investment is to improve the school estate. Specifying what the local authorities concerned want is a matter for those local authorities. The contractors should then provide what they want within the specification. If there are particular difficulties, I would be happy to hear from Margo MacDonald about them.
National Health Service (Violence against Staff)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is protecting NHS staff against violent attacks. (S2O-341)
Providing staff with an improved and safe working environment is a key entitlement under the NHS staff governance standard. Locally, NHS employers have a duty under health and safety legislation to ensure that staff have a safe working environment.
I welcome the pilot projects that were set up in June. Is the minister aware of the recent System 3 survey in which 99 per cent of those who were questioned agreed that violent attacks on public service workers should be treated as serious assault? Will he take steps to ensure consistency in how NHS trusts throughout Scotland deal with serious incidents? Will he also ensure that staff who are affected by violence receive maximum support from their employers?
I am aware of the survey that the member mentioned. The public is right to be appalled by such outrageous behaviour. In Scotland, we have a commitment to reducing incidents by 25 per cent by 2006. We have published the "Managing Health at Work" partnership information network guidelines, which produced model policies to protect against aggression and violence. The guidelines ask all NHS organisations to assess risk and introduce appropriate and thorough training programmes. The guidance further states that all NHS organisations should have staff counselling and support systems in place.
Is the minister prepared to lift his ambition for NHS staff safety above that encompassed in the consultation document for patient safety, in which the Executive says that
"‘solutions' should be initiated in NHSScotland at the same time as they are in England and Wales"?
Will he go further and agree with Professor Rhona Flin, who has said:
"There would appear to be a unique opportunity to establish an international Centre of Excellence on Patient Safety Research in Scotland"?
We already have high ambitions for the NHS and for the people who ably provide that service to members of the public. We have funded projects to the value of £327,000, all of which are aimed at reducing aggression and violence. We have established an occupational health and safety minimum data set and we will publish the first results from that in November. We are aware of the actions that have been taken down south. The Scottish Parliament was set up to address Scottish problems with Scottish solutions, which is exactly what we are doing.
National Health Service (Vacancies)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurse and consultant vacancies there are in the NHS. (S2O-357)
At 31 March 2003, the number of qualified nursing and midwifery staff vacancies totalled 1,516 whole-time equivalent posts. The latest data on consultant vacancies were collated on 30 September 2002, when there were 202 vacant consultant posts within NHS Scotland.
Is the minister aware that the figures show that since 1999 nurse vacancies have gone up by 52 per cent and consultant vacancies have gone up by 50 per cent? In the case of nurse vacancies will he now consider implementing a Scottish recruitment premium to attract staff to come and work in Scotland, as is allowed under the "Agenda for Change" deal?
The nursing figures that came out last week were extremely interesting. I accept that there was a marginal increase in the overall number of vacancies, but of far more significance was that over a six-month period there was an increase of 928 in the number of qualified nurses and midwives working in NHS Scotland. As far as I know, that is an unprecedented increase over such a period. As the number of qualified nurses expands rapidly and, simultaneously, the number of posts expands rapidly to increase the capacity of the service, it is not surprising that there is a marginal increase in the overall number of vacancies, but not in the percentage of vacancies.
On the point about pay, it is time that the truth was told about the "Agenda for Change" offer that is being given to nurses, as it is widely misrepresented. What is on offer is 3.25 per cent this year, 3.25 per cent in April and then in October 2004 a further significant increase, which varies from nurse to nurse but is, for example, 6 per cent for nurses in their first year. That is an increase of more than 10 per cent for many nurses in the next 12 months or so. It is time that the nurses of Scotland and the people of Scotland were told the truth about that.
Is the minister aware that many doctors and nurses in the health service think that health boards are deliberately saving money by not advertising consultants' and nurses' posts that become vacant soon enough to enable them to be filled? As a result, many consultants end up having to do locum work rather than retiring after the long and hard years that they have spent working in the health service.
If Jean Turner has evidence of that I would like her to draw it to my attention. My comments about nurses in my previous answer also apply to consultants. We have already seen a significant increase in the number of consultants and we are committed to accelerating further that increase as part of the partnership agreement. We have been putting the building blocks in place by creating extra specialist registrar posts, from which consultants are recruited. A rapid expansion of the consultant work force is taking place. As I said in relation to nurses, as that expansion takes place, the service expands simultaneously, and the overall number of vacancies may go up marginally, but the percentage of vacancies is declining.
Is the minister aware that, as a result of the European working time directive and the reduction in junior doctors' working hours, Argyll and Clyde NHS Board needs to recruit 25 consultants and a similar number of junior doctors? Does he accept that those issues must be understood in order to address recruitment and retention in the health service?
Duncan McNeil makes an important point. The issue of working time regulations and, in particular, junior doctors' hours is important in understanding some of the issues and pressures in the health service. In a sense it is a good development for doctors and patients because doctors used to work hours that were far too long, which explains one of the difficulties that we have to cope with in making progress. That is why it is important to have extra consultants, extra nurses and extra junior doctors, but equally important is the redesign of services, about which we will say more in the forthcoming cancer debate.
Fish Farming (Area Management Agreements)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a survey of the success of area management agreements for marine fish farms in delivering their predicted environmental benefits. (S2O-343)
The Executive-chaired tripartite working group regularly reviews the area management agreement—AMA—process and progress on individual agreements is closely monitored by the national development officer and through the activities of local area management groups.
I am sure that the minister will agree that the idea behind the AMAs is excellent and that in areas where they are in operation they have proved successful in reducing chemical use and in controlling sea lice. However, because the agreements are voluntary, they are ignored all too often. Would the Scottish Executive address that problem by making AMAs statutory?
I suppose that the short answer to that question would be, "Yes", and the slightly longer answer would be, "Not quite at present." We support AMAs, of which seven are in place at the moment. We intend to double that number, almost, to 13 in 2006. Only then, if there is a failure in the voluntary process—a process that the member acknowledges has been successful—would we consider consulting on regulations for the proposed aquaculture bill.
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Closing the Opportunity Gap