Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Official Report 838KB pdf

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Portfolio Question Time

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Infrastructure, Investment and Cities

Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions. Question 1 is from Baroness Goldie. We are glad to see you back in your rightful place.

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High-speed Rail

1. Thank you, Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government what funding strategy it has to facilitate a high-speed rail link between Scotland and London. (S4O-02562)

The funding strategy for high-speed rail will be determined following the output of the joint study between Transport Scotland, the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd announced on 1 November 2013. That study should identify options for high-speed rail to Scotland, and associated high-level costs.

I am aware that the Scottish Government has given significant support to the scheme. I, of course, disagree with the Government’s policy of independence, which I hope that the electorate will reject whole-heartedly at next year’s referendum. Nonetheless, if independence happens, how will the high-speed rail link be funded between a separate Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government? Who will pay for what?

It is essential for the study to happen first, because it will give us an idea of the potential routes and therefore the potential costs. We have accepted from the very start that Scotland has a contribution to make towards the funding of this vital infrastructure project. Some estimates—not ours—have put the cost at around £8 billion or £9 billion. We accept the fact that we have to make that contribution.

It seems to me that it is perfectly possible for other countries in Europe to have high-speed rail links between different countries and to overcome such issues.

I should say that perhaps a bigger obstacle is the statement from the UK Government that Scotland is not top of its “to-do list”. I know that the baroness is spending more time in Westminster, so perhaps she could say to Alistair Carmichael that it really should be top of his to-do list. The UK Government now has to come out explicitly in support of high-speed rail going all the way from London to Scotland. That would take the whole process further forward.

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Scottish Futures Trust (Meetings)

2. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the Scottish Futures Trust. (S4O-02563)

The Scottish Government meets regularly with the Scottish Futures Trust to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The Scottish Futures Trust recently revealed to the Finance Committee that of the 49 non-profit-distributing projects only four are actually under construction. Will the cabinet secretary tell us when the remaining 45 NPD projects will be started and, if possible, the timescale in which all will be completed?

As the member will be aware, we report regularly and publicly on these matters. I am happy to send John Scott personally a list of all the projects and the estimated timescale for them. I point out to him that, right now, four projects totalling around £270 million are under construction, including the City of Glasgow College and Inverness College. Another £500 million-worth of projects are expected to start construction before the end of this financial year. Those include Kilmarnock campus and the M8, M73 and M74 motorway improvements. Almost £2 billion-worth of projects are currently in procurement or have entered development through hub. The NHS Lothian Edinburgh royal hospital for sick children and the Aberdeen western peripheral route project are examples of that. As a result of the NPD programme, we are seeing real progress on a number of very high-value and very important projects.

I remind the member of the context of the NPD programme. We embarked upon the programme to try to deal with the fact that the United Kingdom Government was cutting our traditional core capital budget by 26 per cent. That is the context. We are making good progress and I would hope that all members of the Parliament would get behind it.

The Scottish Futures Trust claims to have delivered benefits of £132 million. I am interested in whether those are cash benefits or paper savings. Were the savings delivered from specific previously allocated budget lines in the 2012-13 budget? If so, where were they reallocated to?

I refer James Kelly to the SFT’s benefit statement for 2012-13, which was published on 13 August. It showed that the SFT had delivered £132 million of net future benefits and savings during 2012-13. Added to those in the three previous years, that means that the SFT has now achieved a total of £503 million of savings and benefits.

I advise James Kelly to have a careful look at the benefit statement. If, having done so, he has particular additional questions, he can direct them to me or the SFT and we would be happy to answer them.

The SFT is a success story. It helps to ensure that major projects of economic and social benefit are delivered in Scotland and that the impact of the budget cut to which I referred in response to John Scott does not hold up procurement and construction. I would have thought that members across the chamber would welcome that.

Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the £503 million that the Scottish Futures Trust has saved will be reinvested in capital projects? Will she also confirm that the savings made by the non-profit-distributing model stand in stark contrast to the ridiculously profligate public-private partnerships that the unionist parties imposed on us before?

Kenny Gibson is absolutely right. NPD is a system that allows us to make progress with those very important projects cost effectively and with value to taxpayers. That stands in stark contrast to some of the projects under the private finance initiative and PPP—[Interruption.]

Order.

Under PFI and PPP, there are examples of hospital projects for which the taxpayer will pay many times the value of the asset that is being delivered.

I accept that many things divide us in the Parliament but I would have thought that even the grudging members of the Labour Party would be able to accept a system that allows us to get on and build hospitals, schools, roads and colleges. When they find it within themselves to do so, I will be the first to praise them for it.

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Tay Estuary Rail Service

3. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the Tay estuary rail service. (S4O-02564)

Elements of the Tay estuary rail study have already been delivered as part of the December 2011 and December 2012 timetables. Further service enhancements developed in partnership with Tayside and central Scotland transport partnership, the rail industry and Transport Scotland will be introduced from 8 December 2013.

Will the minister give me an indication of the timetable for completing the service and the Government’s financial commitment to it over the budget? As he knows, with all the waterfront development in Dundee, it is an important development for commuters and visitors to the city.

I agree with Jenny Marra that it is an important development—not only because of the waterfront developments that are taking place. However, I am not sure which of the services she is referring to when she asks about completion. We have already introduced five new services between Glasgow and Aberdeen, along with additional calls at Broughty Ferry and Perth. We have also announced the works that will be undertaken at Gleneagles station in time for the Ryder cup—we will have more to say on that this week—and the member herself has mentioned the work to which we have contributed on Dundee railway station, which is a fantastic development.

If Jenny Marra is specific about which service she is referring to, I will be more than happy to come back with a detailed response on it.

The minister will be aware that work is starting on the £14 million rebuild of Dundee station. Following Jenny Marra’s question, will the minister join me in welcoming the investment from Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government as part of the £1 billion waterfront regeneration that the Scottish National Party is delivering?

I am happy to welcome Dundee City Council’s investment to rebuild Dundee station as part of the waterfront development and, of course, the investment by the Scottish Government, which is quite substantial.

Many of us who are familiar with Dundee station—as I am from my time in Dundee as a student—know that it was time for it to be upgraded and updated. We are all well aware of the other work that is going on round about the station. It really is transforming Dundee.

I should also mention that it will be possible to use the future Scottish stations fund, which will come in with the new franchise, to fund further improvements to station buildings and facilities in future years.

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Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie Rail Passenger Numbers

4. To ask the Scottish Government how many passengers there have been on the Glasgow to Edinburgh line via Airdrie since it reopened. (S4O-02565)

As the Glasgow to Edinburgh line via Airdrie forms part of a longer route originating west of Glasgow in Helensburgh, passenger counts on the route include those stations as well. Therefore, to give an accurate answer to John Mason’s question on passenger numbers between Glasgow and Edinburgh specifically, we would need to disaggregate the passenger journeys from stations on the Helensburgh and Balloch services to Edinburgh.

I would be happy to write to him with that information once that exercise has been completed. However, I can add that the Helensburgh and Balloch to Edinburgh route has had passenger growth of just under 22 per cent since the Airdrie to Bathgate line opened.

I thank the Presiding Officer for the chance to ask a question for the first time in one and a half years and I thank the minister for his reply. Does the minister agree that projections of usage have tended to be on the cautious side? Figures such as the 22 per cent increase suggest that people might have been pessimistic, which might have discouraged other developments.

Questions are allocated by ballot. I will have no whining from John Mason; it took me two years to get a question when I was a back bencher.

John Mason’s question was well worth waiting for and he makes a good point. It has been said a number of times that actual patronage tends to exceed what is forecast before improvements are undertaken, although the reverse has been true. Patronage has been substantially lower in some instances, on which I am happy to provide the member with information. However, in my constituency, the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line was forecast to carry 80,000 passengers, whereas the actual figure is more than 400,000.

Transport Scotland undertook research with the Department for Transport to examine forecast versus actual demand at newly opened stations and its report found no evidence of systematic forecast bias in either direction. The patronage forecasts in the business case for the Airdrie to Bathgate line were based on the best information that was available at the time.

I look forward to the work being done by the minister. Will that work include identifying the number of passengers who have been diverted off the Glasgow to Edinburgh main line through Falkirk High by the Glasgow to Edinburgh line via Airdrie, to reduce a lot of the congestion that passengers on the main line experience?

If the member puts his request in writing, I will be happy to get the information that he seeks. The point that I made in response to John Mason is that the Airdrie to Bathgate line is not isolated from others; it originates in another place, so we have to disaggregate the figures. If Mark Griffin wants to follow up his request, I will be happy for it to be included in the work that is being done.

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Urban Drainage Infrastructure Improvements

5. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Scottish Water and other bodies about improvements to drainage infrastructure in urban areas. (S4O-02566)

The Government has regular discussions with Scottish Water and its regulators about improvements to drainage infrastructure as part of the delivery of the current investment programme for 2010 to 2015 and that which is planned for 2015 to 2021. I met Scottish Water’s chair and its chief executive just this morning, when I officially opened its new head office.

As part of the current investment programme, Scottish Water is undertaking studies in six urban areas, together with local authorities, to better understand surface water drainage and interactions with the sewerage system. Information from those studies is informing investment priorities for 2015 to 2021.

Members will be aware that Scottish Water is in the Parliament today with an exhibition in the members’ lobby. I urge anybody with an interest or a constituency issue to take advantage of the opportunity to discuss those matters with Scottish Water.

Many of my constituents in Mid Scotland and Fife have been affected by localised flooding, which is often due to culverts or drains being blocked or in poor condition. I am aware of the complexities of ownership that can arise when a drain or culvert is in poor condition. The costs of resolving a problem often fall on individual property owners until liability can be established. Will the cabinet secretary look into simplifying ways to resolve disputes over such infrastructure problems?

I am more than happy to look into any suggestion that the member wants to make. If she writes to me about particular constituency cases, I will be happy to look at them. I also encourage her to take the opportunity of Scottish Water’s presence to discuss the issues with it.

Many of our cities and towns suffer from regular flooding, much of which is the result of our sewerage system being unable to cope with the increasing occurrence of short, high-intensity storms. Before customers’ and taxpayers’ money is invested, it is really important that we understand the reasons for that flooding. That is why I referred to studies in my previous answer.

Jayne Baxter is right to say that complexities in relation to ownership and liability often arise in such cases, but Scottish Water is focused on doing what it can and needs to do to resolve the problems when they occur. As I said, I am sure that it would benefit the member and her constituents if she took the opportunity to speak to Scottish Water, which has an exhibition outside the chamber now.

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Community Transport

6. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Community Transport Association and what assistance it can provide to this sector, in light of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s report on community transport. (S4O-02567)

Transport Scotland officials recently met the Community Transport Association’s director for Scotland to discuss the committee’s report. The committee undertook an excellent investigation and made a number of recommendations, not least to the Government.

In light of those discussions and the committee’s recommendations, Transport Scotland has increased its funding to the Community Transport Association from 1 November and will commission research into the wider benefits of community transport.

In addition, £1 million will be made available in 2013-14 from Transport Scotland and Scottish Government third sector budgets to help community transport providers to purchase new vehicles.

Officials are also considering, with stakeholders, options for addressing other concerns raised by the committee, including training costs for minibus drivers.

I thank the minister for his comprehensive reply.

Will he advise me how the money for buses will be allocated, by whom, and what groups will be eligible to apply? Also, is that substantial sum for just one year or can the same sum be found over a number of years? Buses get old over a number of years.

The people who are best placed to allocate that money are people involved in the sector. The community transport vehicle fund will be jointly administered by CTA Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and will be allocated by a board agreed by those bodies and the Scottish Government. It will be open to community transport groups in Scotland that are looking for funding for vehicles. It is a one-off fund for now, but I expect it to provide valuable insights into the sector’s needs, which we can use to develop future support as finances permit.

Details of the scheme are being finalised and we envisage it being open for applications by the end of the month.

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Highlands and Islands (Infrastructure and Capital Investment)

7. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Highland Council about the infrastructure and capital investment required to meet the needs of communities in the Highlands and Islands. (S4O-02568)

Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of councils, including Highland Council, to discuss a range of issues.

On-going engagement with Highland Council takes place through activities such as the convention of the Highlands and Islands, whose aim is to strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government and member organisations. The most recent meeting took place on 28 October and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, the Minister for Local Government and Planning and the Minister for Youth Employment were all in attendance.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that planning consent for Kishorn port development is progressing. Has she had any discussions with Highland Council about the improvements to transport infrastructure that would ensure that we maximise the potential of that strategic development?

Obviously, I am aware of the development to which Rhoda Grant refers. I am more than happy to write to her in detail about any discussions that the Scottish Government has had in order to ensure that, through transport links or whatever, the potential of that development is being maximised. I would be more than happy to discuss the issue with her in light of that correspondence.

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Scottish Futures Trust (Investment)

8. To ask the Scottish Government what steps the Scottish Futures Trust has taken to ensure that non-profit-distributing model investment achieves forecast levels. (S4O-02569)

The Scottish Futures Trust works in partnership with each of the individual procuring authorities to support progress of NPD projects.

The cabinet secretary earlier listed lots of projects that she expected to start, but we have been expecting those projects to start for what seems like a lifetime. The NPD programme was originally intended to provide a massive stimulus to the economy. Does she believe that the programme has achieved that objective when we needed it most?

The NPD programme was designed to mitigate the cuts to our capital budget first planned by Labour and then implemented by the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition Government at Westminster. There is irony in the extreme in a member of the Liberal Democrats coming here to moan about an NPD programme that was necessitated by the cuts that his colleagues imposed on this Parliament’s budget.

It is no secret that it has taken longer than anticipated for some of the projects to reach procurement and construction. Willie Rennie and other members will be aware of some of the reasons for the variance against original profile. For example, some NPD projects—Inverness College is an example—are being delivered at less cost than envisaged, thus providing better value for money for the taxpayer, which I hope Willie Rennie supports.

It is also taking some local authorities and health boards longer than anticipated to scope and design schools and community health projects, identify sites and consult the public—all things that are very important in getting projects in the right place and under construction.

Notwithstanding that, I will repeat what I said earlier. Four projects worth £270 million are in construction; another £500 million-worth of projects will begin construction before the end of the financial year; and almost £2 billion-worth of projects are in procurement or have entered development through hub. Those are good news stories and they are all happening in spite of the capital cuts that have been imposed by Willie Rennie’s colleagues.

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Culture and External Affairs

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Commonwealth Games (Promotion of Culture)

1. To ask the Scottish Government how it will promote the culture of greater Glasgow and West Scotland before and during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. (S4O-02572)

The Glasgow 2014 cultural programme plays a central role in Scotland’s hosting of the Commonwealth games. There are two elements: the Scotland-wide culture 2014 programme, which will feature events, exhibitions and performances throughout Scotland before, during and immediately following the games, and festival 2014, which is the Glasgow-based games-time celebration. The diverse programme features many projects that will showcase the rich heritage and culture of different parts of Scotland, including greater Glasgow and West Scotland.

I look forward to seeing the culture and history of areas such as my own—Renfrewshire—being promoted, as it was during the successful recent Mod in Paisley. What dialogue—if any—has the minister had with Renfrewshire Council and other councils in West Scotland to promote those areas of cultural significance?

I regularly meet various council representatives. Only on Monday, I spoke at a conference that was hosted by VOCAL, which represents council officials from all over Scotland.

With regard to programming, Creative Scotland is leading on the culture 2014 aspects, and Glasgow Life is involved in wider activities that will be based in Glasgow.

In Renfrewshire, one of the most exciting programmes—the generation programme—is part of the landmark series of exhibitions celebrating 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland. Paisley art gallery and museum will look at hosting an exhibition of emerging artists, including Roddy Buchanan and Jackie Donachie. The programme focuses on the contemporary aspects of Renfrewshire’s rich heritage that will be shown as part of the celebrations.

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Chinese Teachers (Visas)

2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government on the decision to refuse visas for Chinese teachers working in Scotland through the Confucius hubs system. (S4O-02573)

The First Minister wrote to Theresa May on 1 November to express dismay at the decision to refuse visas and request that it be reversed. On 6 November, the Home Secretary replied to the First Minister to say that she has decided to “exercise” her

“discretion and grant all five of the individuals an extension of leave outside the rules for a further 12 months”.

However, she stated that she considers that to be an exception, and that she has no intention of changing the Government-authorised exchange programme.

I have written to the Prime Minister today about the need for the visas to enable Chinese teachers from Tianjin to stay here for up to two years. In that way, our pupils and the teachers could derive maximum benefits from their experience.

In failing to make those changes, the United Kingdom Government will seriously damage a successful Confucius Institute programme that operates across 17 local authorities. The Prime Minster has the opportunity to instruct a change of policy before his recently announced visit to China this December.

I commend to the cabinet secretary the work of the Confucius hub at Hamilton grammar school, and I welcome the successful efforts of this Government to secure the reversal of the UK Government’s initial decision.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that this Home Office fiasco, along with all the other ones that we have to put up with in Scotland, underlines precisely why this Parliament should have control of immigration policy as it affects Scotland?

The Confucius hubs in 13 classrooms across Scotland are really important in the teaching of Mandarin Chinese. I encourage the Home Office to make a change in its policy; it is in the Prime Minister’s interests that he do so before his visit to China.

On the wider issue of migration, Scotland has a large established migrant community. We welcome the contribution that new Scots are making to our economy and society. We know from recent reports that the vast majority are making a positive contribution to our economy, and we reject the negative rhetoric about migrants that we sometimes hear from the UK Government.

With regard to having more powers in immigration, under independence we will have a controlled immigration system that meets our social, economic and democratic needs, and which will put Scotland and its needs at the forefront of policy making in that area.

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US Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Discussions)

3. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the new US ambassador to the United Kingdom on his recent visit to the Parliament. (S4O-02574)

The First Minister and I met Ambassador Barzun during his recent visit to Scotland. The United States is a key market from which to secure inward investment, for increasing Scottish exports and for attracting tourists. We are committed to the continued growth and deepening of relations with our American partners.

Does the cabinet secretary agree with me that maintaining strong external relations is fundamental to the success of an independent Scotland?

Yes, I do. We have a platform of effective external relations now that could, with independence, be expanded and extended to pursue a distinctive position and to develop and design an approach to world affairs that reflects Scotland’s specific values and interests.

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Creative Scotland (Meetings)

4. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Creative Scotland. (S4O-02575)

I last met Creative Scotland formally on 10 October as part of a meeting here at Parliament to discuss Dundee’s bid to become the United Kingdom’s city of culture 2017. On Friday, I met the chief executive Janet Archer when we launched “Time To Shine”, which is Scotland’s first ever arts strategy for young people, at Edinburgh’s Festival theatre’s new studio facility.

Can the cabinet secretary outline what educational outreach programmes have been introduced in Central Scotland in recent years by Scottish arts organisations?

The programmes have been many and varied. John Wilson may be familiar with Cumbernauld theatre, which provides an extensive range of educational programmes and is funded and supported as an organisation by Creative Scotland. The youth music initiative, which is a very successful programme, works across the region that John Wilson represents.

I can also tell John Wilson that the five national performing companies have educational activities in all of Scotland’s local authority areas—the information that I have is that there were 97 different educational activities in North Lanarkshire and 19 in South Lanarkshire. In addition, National Museums Scotland works with the national museum of rural life in East Kilbride and with, for example, secondary 3 and 4 pupils on physics.

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Scottish Ten (Eastern Qing Tombs)

5. To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Ten project is using the latest laser technology to examine data from the eastern Qing tombs in China. (S4O-02576)

The Scottish Ten team used a range of digital technologies to capture the Xiaoling and Jingling tombs in 3D. The data processing is still in progress. However, the First Minister has just personally handed over the first data to the Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage, which will receive an accurate 3D survey data set for the tombs when the project is completed. That is one of several strands of work that emanated from the signing by the First Minister of a cultural memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Government in December 2011.

The team will also produce an animated 3D fly-through digital model, which can be used for interpretation and remote access purposes by the Chinese Government and the management of the eastern Qing tombs. A fundamental condition of the international Scottish Ten project is that all data and intellectual property rights are handed over to the international partner. That means that the Chinese State Administration for Cultural Heritage can use the data to inform conservation and management strategies going forward, as well as for interpretation, education and virtual tourism.

I thank the cabinet secretary for her detailed reply. Scientific and education links between Scotland and China are obviously very important as we seek to deepen the relationship between our two nations. Can the cabinet secretary give Parliament further examples of such co-operation?

There are several examples. On culture, I am delighted to share with Parliament that the new international exhibition that was launched to showcase the development of the cities of Edinburgh and Nanjing—which was formerly the capital of China—and is entitled “A Tale of Two Cities”, includes archives, artworks and interactive digital material and is now receiving 20,000 visitors a day. That is a great tribute in particular to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, which has worked in connection with the Nanjing museum. That is a very good example indeed.

An example in science is that Heriot-Watt University was recently recognised as the fifth Confucius Institute in Scotland—I discussed the issues regarding teacher visas in an earlier question. Heriot-Watt University is also working with the China University of Petroleum, which is a teaching and research university in east China that focuses on engineering and is an important scientific base for petroleum and petrochemical industries.

Those two examples show the importance of those discussions and of joint working so that we can learn from each other in the important areas of culture and science.

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Rural Theatres

6. To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to keep rural theatres open as accessible cultural hubs. (S4O-02577)

The Scottish Government makes available support for rural theatres through funding from Creative Scotland. Its arts programming guidelines state that it is keen to support activity in geographic areas and communities where there is currently more limited cultural provision and that it will give priority to applications that support that. Through Creative Scotland, we have supported programmes in rural theatres from the Isle of Eigg to the Scottish Borders.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that theatres such as the Woodend Barn in Banchory and the Aboyne theatre are excellent examples of local theatres embracing culture in their communities? Will she commend the work that they will continue to do for the rest of this year and in 2014?

In learning about the member’s constituency, I was intrigued to hear about the Woodend Barn, which is a good example of the sort of venue that we want to support. It has received funding from Creative Scotland of more than £100,000 over the past two years, with more due over the next two years.

I understand that a range of activity, from classical music to wood engraving, takes place at the centre, and I put on record my recognition for the committed board, volunteers and staff. I understand that the centre is having an atomic Doric festival towards the end of November. I am intrigued to find out what that involves and to hear about its success once it is complete.

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President of Turkey’s Visit to Scotland

7. To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the President of Turkey’s recent visit to Scotland. (S4O-02578)

I welcomed the President of Turkey on his arrival in Scotland, as I have done with other heads of state.

The President was in Scotland to attend the British-Turkish social forum, which promotes bilateral relationships between the United Kingdom and Turkey in business, politics, research and the arts. The meeting was organised by the British Academy, not the Scottish Government.

The visit provided the opportunity for a discussion of trade opportunities in particular. The opening of a Turkish consulate in Edinburgh will be a positive step in developing our relations with Turkey, as is the growing popularity of the direct Edinburgh to Istanbul flights.

I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply and particularly for the information regarding the consulate.

Two days ago, Turkey’s supreme court of appeals upheld the convictions of 11 public officials following the death in custody of Engin Çeber in 2008. Amnesty has reported on the flawed investigations into abuses related to the Gezi park protests; the need to establish a truly effective and independent police complaints mechanism; and on-going concerns about the treatment of the Kurdish minority and about the rights of lesbian and gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, and women and girls. Will the Scottish Government highlight Amnesty’s concerns at a future meeting with the Turkish Government?

We always take the appropriate opportunities to raise human rights issues.

The European Union agreed to restart Turkey’s membership application on 5 November. As part of the negotiations on accession, Turkey must demonstrate that it has abided by the Copenhagen membership criteria, which include free and fair democratic elections, respect for the rule of law and protection of national minorities. Furthermore, Turkey must show that it has fully implemented the European convention on human rights, to which it has been a signatory since 1954.

Previous negotiations on accession have had a positive impact on Turkey’s human rights record. We support Turkey’s application for membership. That process is the appropriate way to acknowledge the issues and improve the system, which Turkey has been striving to do, as its record since 2001 shows. The current application process is an opportunity to reinforce those measures.

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Aberdeen (New Performance Venue)

8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a major new performance venue in the city as part of a new Aberdeen exhibition and conference centre. (S4O-02579)

The Aberdeen exhibition and conference centre is a valuable asset to the Scottish economy that adds significantly to Scotland’s capacity to attract and host international conferences. If approached, I am sure that Scottish Enterprise would be pleased to discuss Aberdeen City Council’s proposal. The council has made no direct contact with my portfolio area with regards to a new performance venue in the city.

In recent years, our national agency Scottish Enterprise has supported a range of major infrastructure investments to maximise the economic return for Scotland. A recent example is the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, which now has the Hydro, providing Scotland with a state-of-the-art 12,000-spectator arena, as well as a purpose-built exhibition centre, conference centre and auditorium, all on one site.

As members know, 2014 will be an incredible year for Scotland. I am sure that members will want to take the opportunity to welcome the recent news that the 2014 MTV European music awards will be coming to Glasgow and the Hydro.

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s positive tone. I wonder whether she recalls that during the previous parliamentary session Scottish Enterprise offered grants and loans to conference centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh, which in both cases were worth many millions of pounds, but failed to provide comparable support to the conference centre in Aberdeen.

If the cabinet secretary agrees—as I think that she does—that Aberdeen’s exciting new centre is vital for both staging major performances in the city and hosting events such as the offshore Europe and all-energy conferences, which would not in any likelihood be staged in any other Scottish city, will she today offer the Scottish Government’s enthusiastic endorsement of Aberdeen’s ambitious approach to the centre?

Scotland is the perfect stage for entertainment provision and lots of events, and venues can also host a number of conferences. Increasingly, such conferences provide great revenue for the cities concerned.

As I stated in my initial reply, the issue is really for Scottish Enterprise, and I encourage Aberdeen City Council to engage with it in talks and discussions to explore all options. I think that perhaps that is the answer that Lewis Macdonald seeks.

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The Maid of the Loch (Assistance)

9. To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide from the culture and external affairs budget to the paddle steamer, the Maid of the Loch, so that it can sail again on Loch Lomond. (S4O-02580)

Officials from the Scottish Government’s tourism division, Scottish Enterprise and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority met members of the trust on Tuesday 12 November to discuss what further assistance and advice can be offered.

As I have made clear, we have used the culture budget to protect front-line cultural provision and funding for artists, which makes responding to in-year requests difficult, especially as in this case state aid issues need to be considered.

I thank the cabinet secretary for what I thought was getting to be a positive response. If she cannot manage anything this year, I am happy to wait until next year.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that the Maid of the Loch’s owners started an appeal earlier this year to try to get the Maid to sail again on Loch Lomond. It is without doubt an iconic heritage attraction that will help position not just Loch Lomond but Scotland as an international destination.

I am aware of yesterday’s meeting, but I wonder whether I could press the cabinet secretary just a little bit more to talk about what support can be offered. Indeed, I invite her out to the constituency to see the progress on the Maid.

Jackie Baillie is nothing if not diligent in pressing the case for the Maid of the Loch. She also knows that I have visited her constituency on a number of occasions.

I understand that at yesterday’s meeting a report was given on the appeal. I encourage people to support the appeal, as the Maid of the Loch is an important part of our heritage.

I understand that some of the plans that were discussed yesterday were longer term. Perhaps as part of that longer-term planning some presentations could be made regarding what funds could be provided: the Heritage Lottery Fund is an avenue that the trust would want to pursue. I am sure that we will return to the issue in the future.

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Creative Arts (Dumfries and Galloway)

10. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the creative arts in Dumfries and Galloway. (S4O-02581)

Creative Scotland, Scotland’s national agency for the promotion of the arts, has established a formal place partnership with Dumfries and Galloway. It was fitting that earlier this year—2013, the year of natural Scotland—I formally launched that place partnership in New Galloway, an area of outstanding natural beauty. I also had the pleasure of launching the environmental arts festival Scotland 2013, a flagship of the place partnership, which has been very successful.

The cabinet secretary will be aware of long-standing ambitions in Kirkcudbright to create an art gallery of national significance. Dumfries and Galloway Council agreed recently to support the community’s plans and commit money into the project. Will the cabinet secretary undertake to meet members of Kirkcudbright Community Trust and me with a view to establishing how the Government might be able to support the community’s ambitions?

Kirkcudbright has a rich history as an artists colony for the Glasgow boys and the Scottish colourists, and today it is a vibrant hub that attracts many artists.

Government support and funding for local museums and galleries is administered by Museums Galleries Scotland, which I encourage Kirkcudbright Community Trust to meet in the first instance to discuss how best its ambitions can be supported. As the national development body, Museums Galleries Scotland is best placed to advise on the way forward, in line with its national strategy. I would be interested to know how things develop, but I suggest that that would be the appropriate first step.