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Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Thursday, November 7, 2024


Contents


General Question Time


Instrumental Music (Education Service)

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the importance of instrumental music within the education service. (S6O-03901)

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans (Graeme Dey)

The Government has transformed instrumental music tuition in Scotland’s schools by supporting councils to eradicate unfair music tuition charges, and it has invested £39 million in the policy since 2021. The most recent instrumental music services survey confirmed that more than 61,000 pupils participated in instrumental music lessons in the academic year 2022-23, which is the highest number since the annual survey began 11 years ago. Those figures alone speak for themselves on the importance that the Scottish Government places on instrumental music.

Brian Whittle

I thank the minister for that answer—and I have raised the issue in the chamber before.

Last week, East Ayrshire Council voted to transfer its instrumental music services to the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust as a cost-saving measure, despite opposition from teachers, unions and parents. In doing so, the council is relying on drawing a distinction between music tuition for Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications and tuition for younger pupils or extracurricular activity. I am concerned that the degradation of music education sets a dangerous precedent, which puts access to music education for younger pupils at risk. Will the minister agree to meet me urgently to discuss what can be done to ensure that access to instrumental music tuition for pupils in East Ayrshire is protected at all ages?

Graeme Dey

I recognise Brian Whittle’s interest in the matter, and I will pass his request on to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. It is, of course, for individual councils to make decisions about their own provision, albeit in a context in which music education is a core part of the curriculum and there is equity of access to instrumental music tuition. Scottish Government officials have engaged with East Ayrshire Council, which has provided assurances that it is not its intention to reintroduce charging and that the move is, in fact, designed to protect the service from potential cuts to education. I understand that the council has indicated that pupils will continue to have music under the school curriculum, and it has insisted that there are no plans to introduce a two-tier tuition model that separates SQA tuition from non-SQA tuition. Clearly, we will be looking for those undertakings to be delivered.

I hope that that offers Mr Whittle the reassurance that he is understandably seeking, and I will pass his request on to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.


Cross-border Machinery Theft

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding cross-border machinery theft in rural areas, including the Scottish Borders. (S6O-03902)

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)

The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government on a range of issues. The theft of equipment can have severe consequences for farming communities and can put livelihoods at risk. The Scottish Government works with partners through the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, known as SPARC, which is chaired by Police Scotland, to provide a robust multi-agency approach to rural crime and to support activity at a local level. Police Scotland and SPARC are keen to ensure that Scotland does not offer organised criminals a safe haven, and Police Scotland has undertaken cross-border operations with forces in northern England with the aim of preventing rural crime, including machinery theft, by organised crime groups.

Rachael Hamilton

I thank the minister for that answer. Thefts of quad bikes, farm machinery, trailers and GPS trackers continue to hit rural communities, such as those in the Borders. Last September, the minister kindly assured me that the Scottish Government was looking closely at the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which was passed at Westminster. Since the election of a Labour Government, however, there has been no firm commitment to share the consultation responses, which would allow me to advance my proposals for a bill in Scotland. I am sure that the minister recognises the urgent need for action. Will she work with me to support my proposals for a rural theft bill in Scotland?

Angela Constance

I very much appreciate that Ms Hamilton has asked a number of questions in that vein, given the increasing cost of rural crime—in particular, the impact of machinery being stolen or damaged. The link between rural crime and organised crime is very well established.

I have asked my officials to consider the implications for Scotland of the private members’ bill that was passed at Westminster last year, and what options are available to Scottish ministers. I can advise the member that although the Home Office is currently drafting regulations with respect to that bill, it is not yet in a position to say when those will be introduced. Nevertheless, I will ensure that I and my officials follow up on that important matter.


Police Scotland (Meetings)

3. Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

I refer members in the chamber to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as my wife is a police sergeant in Moray.

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Police Scotland, and what issues were discussed. (S6O-03903)

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)

Ministers and officials meet regularly with Police Scotland. My most recent meeting was on 31 October, with the chief constable and the chair of the Scottish Police Authority. We discussed Police Scotland’s three-year business plan, focusing on the implementation and oversight of the plan and how it will positively impact on policing in our communities.

Regular discussions take place on police workforce numbers to ensure that putting front-line policing in the strongest possible position is a priority. Police Scotland is taking on more recruits this year than it has at any time since its formation in 2013, and the chief constable has stated that she expects numbers to reach 16,600 this week.

Douglas Ross

The First Minister told me in the chamber that

“levels of crime in Scotland are currently at 40-year lows”.—[Official Report, 26 September 2024; c 13.]

In the six weeks since he said that, he has made no attempt to correct the Official Report, but the Scottish Government’s own figures show that crime has increased by 4 per cent.

Has the Scottish Government published incorrect figures, or has the First Minister misled Parliament?

Angela Constance

It is important that, in exploring both the long-term trends and the year-on-year increases in crime statistics, we all fully understand those appropriately and properly. When we look at long-term trends, the fact remains that Scotland is now a safer place than it was when we took office.

The member raises an important point in that the nature of crime in this country is changing, which means that the response from policing also has to change. That is why my engagement with the chief constable and the Scottish Police Authority is so pivotal.

Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba)

Given the very distressing scenes in my constituency that occurred over the bonfire night period, what more support could be given to Police Scotland to combat that? Does the cabinet secretary agree that the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 must now be implemented in full, as a matter of urgency, to help to protect those communities?

Angela Constance

I appreciate the member’s commitment in this area and the work that she has undertaken in years gone by, in particular around the 2022 act, the vast majority of which has now been implemented.

I acknowledge that many Edinburgh MSPs, and other MSPs across the country, will be working hard to reassure anxious constituents who have had to put up with considerable disorder over the past few days. I record my thanks to the emergency services—the police, the fire service and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Although injuries to police officers this year have, remarkably, reduced, the level of hostility towards our emergency services is, nonetheless, utterly unacceptable. I take the opportunity to remind members in the chamber, and offenders at large, that there is a major investigation on-going and every endeavour will be made to—

Pardon me: I will put my teeth in. Every effort will be made to find the culprits who have caused considerable anxiety and disorder in our communities.


Community Libraries

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to help secure the future of community libraries. (S6O-03904)

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)

As Mr Fraser knows, library policy is devolved to local authorities. The Scottish Government provides general revenue funding to local authorities, which have the financial freedom to operate independently and to allocate the total financial resources that are available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities. The Scottish Government provides targeted support for public libraries through our annual funding to the Scottish Library and Information Council, which includes the public library improvement fund, which supports creative and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland.

Murdo Fraser

I thank the cabinet secretary for his response. Numerous constituents have contacted me to raise concerns about the proposed closure of seven community libraries in towns and villages across Perth and Kinross as a direct result of budget cuts by the Scottish National Party-run Perth and Kinross Council. Those libraries are not just resources to lend books; they are important community hubs that host a range of activities, and their loss will be significant to the communities that they serve. Given the uplift to the Scottish Government’s budget, what additional resource will now be made available to local authorities to ensure that those important local assets are retained?

Angus Robertson

I agree very much with Murdo Fraser about the value of libraries, including the community hub aspects of their work. A lot of very innovative work is going on across Scotland, with libraries providing additional services for communities. Mr Fraser has made a point very strongly about the value of those libraries and I hope that his local authority will listen to it.

On the budget process, Murdo Fraser will appreciate that I am not in a position to give any sneak previews of what might be coming in the weeks ahead but, again, the points that he has raised will have been heard.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)

Can the cabinet secretary give an update on the work of the Scottish Government’s public library improvement fund in supporting the vital role of libraries by helping our hard-working library staff to bring their innovative ideas to life?

Angus Robertson

The Scottish Government supports the Scottish Library and Information Council, which provides leadership and advice to Scottish ministers, local authorities and the wider libraries sector. In the year 2024-25, we are providing annual funding of £665,000 to SLIC in recognition of the importance of our public libraries and to support the excellent services that they provide. That includes £450,000 for the public library improvement fund, which supports creative, sustainable and innovative public library projects throughout Scotland, with £200,000 awarded to individual projects. The projects that have been successful for 2024-25 are due to be announced soon.


Oil and Gas Companies (Collaboration with Renewables Companies)

5. Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support oil and gas companies to collaborate with renewables companies to test and deploy new technologies. (S6O-03905)

The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin)

We are committed to working in partnership with the energy industry to deliver a just energy transition. Our energy transition fund is supporting projects in the north-east that promote collaboration across offshore energy sectors. Those include the energy transition zone, which is transforming the region into a globally integrated energy cluster, and the Global Underwater Hub, which is using underwater expertise, technologies and skills to drive innovation and accelerate the transition. Separately, successful projects in the innovation and targeted oil and gas leasing rounds are using floating wind to electrify oil and gas infrastructure. That helps to decarbonise production while, crucially, enabling the offshore wind sector to expand.

Audrey Nicoll

Many oil and gas companies are already transitioning to renewables. However, during a recent visit to a company in my constituency that is doing just that, I learned of the challenges that are associated with the complexities and costs of scaling up its testing of floating tension-leg platform technology that could offer opportunities for foundation manufacturing in Scotland. What support can companies such as the one in my constituency access to enable them to scale up testing and move to market entry? Would the cabinet secretary be willing to meet me to discuss that further?

Gillian Martin

First, I would be absolutely delighted to meet the member and the company that she is speaking on behalf of. As set out in our innovation strategy, the Scottish Government is committed to developing world-leading economic clusters, including in offshore wind. Companies and investors who wish to discuss funding and investment opportunities in the offshore wind sector should engage with the Scottish National Investment Bank and the enterprise agencies, which are best placed to advise on what support could be available. I also encourage the company, if it has not done so already, to get in touch with the Net Zero Technology Centre, which provides advice in that area as well as support to companies that wish to innovate.


ScotRail Alcohol Ban (Compliance)

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on levels of compliance with ScotRail’s alcohol ban. (S6O-03906)

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)

Although ScotRail staff will observe some passengers drinking alcohol on trains and in appropriate circumstances ask that they refrain, staff do not record such observations or action each time it occurs on train services. ScotRail does not record or collate instances of those drinking alcohol network-wide; rather, data is focused on reports of incidents of antisocial behaviour made by passengers or staff to it and British Transport Police, and therefore no information is held. Those of us who regularly travel on our railway know that there are instances of non-compliance with the ban.

John Mason

As the cabinet secretary says, there is frequent non-compliance. I saw it in Dumfries recently when I was on the train, and I see it in Glasgow and Edinburgh frequently as well. Clearly, the ban is not being enforced. ScotRail does not like it and its staff refuse to do anything with it. They joke with passengers who are drinking alcohol and make no effort to stop them. British Transport Police does not agree with the ban either and says that it cannot be enforced. Surely we either have to remove the ban or do something to make it enforceable.

Fiona Hyslop

The member identifies the dilemma very clearly. That is why I am actively looking at the issue. Tackling and preventing violence against women and girls and wider antisocial behaviour has to be the main focus. That was made clear to me in the message that I received from the round-table session on women’s safety on public transport that I held on 6 December last year. Broader action on antisocial behaviour—with or without drunkenness—not the alcohol ban was deemed to be the main focus for action at that round table.

All rail unions, ScotRail and British Transport Police are of the view that the ban perversely undermines focus on compliance with what is acceptable or not acceptable behaviour and want the ban lifted. However, we also have the public messaging about alcohol to consider, which is why I am actively discussing the issue with my Cabinet colleagues.

There is a brief supplementary from Graham Simpson.

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)

The cabinet secretary has been actively looking at the issue for long enough. I have provided her with a solution, which we discussed in private. I will keep it that way, but is it not time that she makes a decision and removes the ban?

Fiona Hyslop

I thank Graham Simpson for his engagement on the issue to date and his suggestions. I have to consider all the factors, and I have to do that collectively with my Cabinet colleagues. There are issues that we have to consider including the equally safe strategy, and there is a strategic review by the independent working group on antisocial behaviour, which will present its report to ministers, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Police Scotland this year.

There is a genuine dilemma. I think that everyone in the chamber will have a different view on the issue. I know that some of my predecessors have different views on it, and I have to bring everyone together. However, I am very conscious that, if we have something that is not working, we have to fix it. I intend to do that.


Enterprise Support (Mid Scotland and Fife)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring adequate provision of enterprise support to businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife region. (S6O-03907)

The Minister for Employment and Investment (Tom Arthur)

Businesses of all sizes and types in the Mid Scotland and Fife region can access support from a wide range of public sector organisations, including Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise, through the findbusinesssupport.gov.scot website. A hundred companies with the potential to make the greatest impact on the Scottish economy also receive one-to-one account management support from Scottish Enterprise. In 2023-24, Scottish Enterprise will work with businesses in the region on projects that are projected to deliver 1,127 real living wage jobs, £36 million in innovation investment, £25 million in capital investment and £188 million in international sales.

Claire Baker

This is Fife business week, with a focus on skills delivery and adapting to agile business models through digital technology and solutions. I know from conversations that I have with businesses in Fife that increased use of digital technology can increase their competitiveness and efficiency. Since the popular digital boost grant funding was discontinued, can the minister provide an update on what digital programme support is now available, how that is an improvement on the digital boost grant and how it will benefit businesses across my region?

Tom Arthur

As Ms Baker recognises, the digital boost schemes are still paused, as I confirmed in a letter to her in her capacity as convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee.

Despite those specific programmes not being live, helping businesses to harness the power of technology is a core part of modern business support. As such, the support to digitise is embedded across many business support functions, including Business Gateway, the innovation centre programme, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and many sectoral business accelerator programmes.