SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
General Questions
Housing Policy
To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the performance of its housing policy since 1999 in tackling homelessness and providing a suitable supply of affordable social housing. (S2O-11922)
With investment of nearly £2.7 billion since 1999, we have already provided more than 47,000 new affordable homes for people who are in housing need, including homeless households. A further 15,000 new homes are in the pipeline over the next two years. In 2003, we introduced the most progressive homelessness legislation in Europe to give every unintentionally homeless person entitlement to a permanent home by 2012. We are committed to meeting that target, as we are to increasing the supply of high-quality affordable housing for communities throughout Scotland.
Does the minister accept that the Executive's record on homelessness is one of dismal and shameful failure? In 2000-01, 26,200 households in Scotland were registered as homeless, and in 2005-06, 36,299 households were registered as homeless—a 38 per cent rise in homelessness in six years. Does the minister accept that without the construction of at least an extra 10,000 more socially affordable houses every year over the lifetime of the next parliamentary session, we will do nothing to tackle the shameful crime of homelessness in Scotland?
I absolutely do not accept that premise. It is simply because we are determined to tackle the scourge of homelessness that we have flushed out hidden homelessness and made it easier for people to have their needs met. More applications are evidence that we are getting to grips with the real problem. There are now fewer children in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. More people are being rehoused in permanent accommodation. We are ensuring that people come forward for assistance, and we are providing better outcomes when they do. Since 2003, we have doubled our investment in affordable social housing. We have a £1.2 billion programme for 21,500 good-quality, affordable homes over three years. We are helping 135 people every week. Next year, that will be more than 150 a week. Thousands of families and individuals are already getting the keys to new homes.
Has the minister noticed that East Lothian Council has had to spend £13 million to buy houses at the full market value to try to comply with the Executive's homelessness regulations, after selling those same houses at massive discounts under the right-to-buy legislation? In view of the fact that that could be seen to raise questions about the consistency of Government housing policies, will she now take steps to help to secure affordable land for the construction of affordable rented houses in areas such as East Lothian and, indeed, Midlothian?
I am very much aware of some of the issues in East Lothian, where there is an apparent shortage of land for development, which is pushing up land prices. Our recent planning reforms are intended to make the planning system much more proactive and to identify land for development. We are reinforcing that through the current review of Scottish planning policy 3, which will emphasise the importance that we attach to making available sufficient land to meet identified need in an area. Programmes such as homestake are particularly important in East Lothian.
The minister talks a good game but, as I am sure she will confirm, the reality is that between 1999 and 2004 the Executive built fewer affordable houses for rent each year than the Tories did in 1995. This crisis has been a long time in the making. Is she not responsible to the Executive for the crisis?
We have a hugely positive story to tell about affordable housing. Every week, 135 people are being supported as they go into affordable housing. Next year, it will be more than 150 people each week. We have doubled investment in affordable housing. The Scottish National Party must come forward honestly with its proposals. Where is the money going to come from? The Executive is addressing the issue of affordable housing; what is the SNP doing? It is telling us that it will give first-time buyers £2,000. Where is that money going to come from? That will come to a total of £272 million a year, but there is no indication of where it will come from. With the black hole that the SNP has in its budget, it will need to be up-front with us on this issue.
Does the minister agree that, ironically, the irresponsible scaremongering by the SNP and the socialist parties over stock transfer has resulted in a worsening of living conditions among some of the poorest families, who are being given escalating rents, badly maintained properties and insecure futures?
I do not agree. Since the stock transfer, Glasgow Housing Association has delivered a step change in investment for its tenants: £450 million will have been spent through the GHA's improvement programme by the end of this financial year. That is bringing clear and tangible benefits to tenants, with 22,000 new bathrooms and kitchens and 28,000 central heating systems. That has opened up new opportunities for greater tenant control and for the regeneration of some of Scotland's most deprived areas. We are delivering for Glasgow's tenants, and we will continue to deliver for them.
Planning (Supermarkets)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that current planning laws are adequate to deal with rapid, competing supermarket developments and to ensure fairness and long-term benefit. (S2O-11899)
Although Scottish planning policy is not concerned with regulating competition, it aims to ensure that all sectors of the community have access to a choice of shopping, therefore it supports the protection and enhancement of town centres and indicates that they should be the first choice for new shopping developments.
In the face of the increasing rivalry between supermarket chains, which are well armed with the best, most expert legal and planning advisers, and are building up land banks and effectively blocking or delaying decisions affecting large and small towns throughout Scotland, what is the Government doing to ensure that the wishes and best long-term interests of local residents are protected?
In relation to the Arbroath situation, the developer also requires consent for road construction under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. That consent was refused by Angus Council, and the developer subsequently appealed the decision to the Scottish ministers. As Andrew Welsh is aware, it is a complex local issue. It is extremely important that the Scottish ministers carefully consider all the evidence that is put forward not just by the developer but by other interested parties, including members of the local community, who have the right under the 1984 act to make representations prior to a decision being reached. The process is now at an advanced stage, and it is anticipated that the decision on whether or not to grant a road construction consent will be made very soon. I am sure that members will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this stage that could be prejudicial to the eventual outcome.
Microsoft Vista
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to install Microsoft Vista on its computer systems. (S2O-11982)
The Scottish Executive is currently reviewing its technical computer platform and will be considering all options in the light of its business requirements and information strategy.
The minister might have been worried that I was just going to stand up and have a rant about Mr Gates. I will happily do so another time but, on this occasion, I ask whether the Executive's review will include the environmental impact of installing Vista, which, as Greenpeace has warned, will lead to a deluge of computer hardware being rendered obsolete, despite it being entirely serviceable under other operating systems. In particular, will the Executive consider the contribution that the free software movement can make towards making the best use of the hardware that we already have, rather than having huge amounts of it ending up in landfill sites?
As I said to the member in my initial response, we are currently reviewing our technology base. In that review, open-source solutions will be considered alongside proprietary ones, and information and communications technology procurement and contracts will continue to be awarded on a best-value basis. All options are being considered, and the next technology upgrade could be an open-source solution, a proprietary solution or a mixture of both. In coming to final decisions, a range of considerations will be taken into account, primarily on a best-value basis.
Supporting and Developing Healthy Communities
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take following the release of the report of the supporting and developing healthy communities task group. (S2O-11980)
I have already accepted the recommendations in the report from the community-led supporting and developing healthy communities task group. Officials have established a steering group, which is leading implementation of an action plan to follow up on the recommendations. The group met on 22 January.
I welcome the minister's commitment to accepting the task group's recommendations and to the establishment of the steering group. Given that, according to page 119 of the Scottish Executive's budget, spending on health improvement is set to decline in real terms next year and the year after, will the minister's acceptance of the task group's recommendations have an impact on financial support for health improvement in Scotland?
The member needs to read the budget a bit more carefully. The £10.3 billion that the Executive will spend on health will be spent on health improvement, not just on the health service. One only has to consider the initiatives that are taking place all around Scotland, for example on school meals, supervised tooth brushing in nurseries and other work in communities, in workplaces and, of course, in the national health service. To say that spending on health improvement is reducing is utter nonsense.
Off-sales
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to regulate the off-sales sector. (S2O-11931)
The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 is a major step forward for the licensed trade, and the changes that are being introduced are being welcomed by responsible operators.
I welcome the minister's answer as, after the farce of passing the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, it is about time that the Executive did something. As long as it is constructive, I welcome it. The minister will recall that, some years ago, I discussed with Mary Mulligan in the chamber the application of a proof-of-age card scheme throughout Scotland. That is what the Scottish Grocers Federation and responsible retailers are seeking. What will the Executive do about that aspect of responsible retailing?
As the member will be aware, a pilot project on test purchasing was undertaken in Fife, and a report was commissioned on its success or otherwise. I am pleased to say that the findings were that the project was very successful. Ministers are currently considering whether to roll that project out across the rest of Scotland.
On that point, given the success of the scheme in flushing out off-licences that are prepared to sell drink to under-age children, will the minister consider running a similar scheme in the Highlands and Islands where, as he well knows, under-age drinking is as much a problem as it is in the rest of Scotland?
As I said, we are considering rolling out test purchasing throughout Scotland. That requires a proof-of-age scheme. Retailers are required to ask for one of the specified types of proof of age when they have doubts about the age of an individual who tries to purchase alcohol.
Burns International Museum
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the Burns museum project at Alloway will be completed and the visitor attraction fully operational for the 2009 year of homecoming. (S2O-11908)
Projects such as the Burns international museum in Alloway will provide a lasting legacy from the homecoming Scotland campaign to boost the number of visitors to Scotland in 2009 and beyond.
The Heritage Lottery Fund tells me that the building project will continue throughout 2009. Given that the Burns national heritage park will, in effect, be a building site for a good part of the year of homecoming, what plans are in place to ensure that visitors to Ayrshire will not be disappointed by their experience of Burns heritage and their wish to be part of the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of our national bard's birth?
Mr Ingram totally misunderstands the concept of the Burns homecoming project. The event throughout 2009 is not about buildings and facilities but about people and events and about opportunities for people who have an affinity with Scotland to come here to enjoy the best of everything that Scotland has to offer.
The minister outlined some of the benefits for Scotland at the launch of the homecoming on Tuesday evening. What is the expected benefit of the homecoming for Ayr constituency and for Ayrshire? What will be the cost, if any, to the council tax payer in South Ayrshire?
As Mr Scott knows, because he attended the reception the other evening, the homecoming year will have wide benefits not just for Ayrshire but for Scotland. The themes that have been identified for the homecoming year celebrate Burns, whisky and other Scottish icons, such as golf. The constituency of Ayr will benefit hugely, given the great number of golf courses in and around Ayr and Ayr's affinity with Burns and his legacy. That legacy will continue with the new museum and the new education centre that will open in Alloway in 2009. I hope that the people of Ayr, Ayrshire and Scotland will enjoy that for a long time.
Free Personal Care<br />(Reimbursement of Charges)
There is time to squeeze in Bill Aitken. [Laughter.]
I really do not think—well, I will leave the point aside, Presiding Officer.
My officials discuss aspects of community care with local authorities and with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on a regular basis, including assistance with the preparation of food. Charges to individual service users are matters for individual councils to address.
Will the minister join me in praising the approach adopted by David McLetchie and Alex Fergusson to highlight these problems? Does he agree that, because we are talking about a national policy, he cannot duck out of it? As a matter of urgency, he must meet the local authorities that have failed to comply with their moral duty to reimburse the sums that have been collected erroneously.
I would never dream of ducking out of responsibility in any such area, but it is equally important that local authorities accept their responsibilities too, and deliver on them.