Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Question 1 was not lodged.
Highly Protected Marine Areas (Community Engagement)
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement the rural affairs secretary has had with the fishing industry in communities that may be impacted by its proposals for highly protected marine areas. (S6O-02382)
My colleague Mairi Gougeon regularly meets Scotland’s fishing industry to discuss a wide range of issues that are of interest to it. Of course, one of those issues is highly protected marine areas. Just last month, she was in Aberdeen for the Scottish Skipper Expo and, more recently, she visited Shetland to meet fishers there.
As my colleague with portfolio responsibility for this area, Màiri McAllan, has said, the Government is committed to listening to the views of people living and working in our coastal and island communities, including fishers, as we consider our next steps.
We all want healthy, thriving seas—that view is shared by politicians right across the chamber and by coastal communities right across Scotland. However, the Scottish Government’s blanket approach to HPMAs risks decimating those communities. The unpopular, ill-thought-out proposals will cost people their jobs and livelihoods and will make our communities less viable and less sustainable. It has been warned that they could cause a second clearances.
The plans need scrapping, not amending, and we need the Scottish Government to start to listen to the sector and impacted local communities. Will the minister or the cabinet secretary meet the representatives from Scotland’s coastal communities who are outside the Parliament building today to listen to their concerns?
Before the minister responds, I stress that we must have concise questions and responses.
I thank the member for his commitment to healthy seas and sustainable island, rural and coastal communities—that is absolutely something that we can all agree on.
The current trends in nature degradation pose a significant risk to Scotland’s economic prosperity. The long-term prosperity of coastal and island communities depends on healthy seas and thriving marine ecosystems. The consultation on HPMAs is at a very early stage in the sense that we do not have any specific details on where they might be located, and we will work closely with communities to shape the creation of those HPMAs. [Interruption.]
I ask members to resist any temptation to contribute from a sedentary position during questions and responses.
The consultation is an in-depth one, ranging from local communities to the Royal Navy. Does the minister agree that, although the views of fishing communities are important, Scotland’s waters belong to all 5.4 million people who live here? Does she agree that the opinions of people who are deeply concerned about environmental degradation caused by scallop dredging, for example, must also be considered when taking steps to protect marine biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change and that the areas selected as highly protected marine areas should surely be those that have been damaged most by human activity?
I agree that the views of fishers are very important in this debate, as are the views of other users of our seas. Their livelihoods depend on a healthy marine environment, so it is only right that we listen to what fishers have to say on the issue.
It is true that Scotland’s seas and marine ecosystems are a national asset and that their health matters to us all. We want to have as many voices as possible in this debate, which is why we have chosen to consult early on our proposals. We will be speaking directly to island and coastal communities over the summer, and we look forward to hearing the wide range of views that they hold.
Fishers know better than anyone that protecting the marine environment is key to safeguarding stocks and their industry, but is it not the case that the Scottish Government has dropped the ball in relation to marine protected areas and that ministers should be reviewing MPAs, assessing the evidence of their impact to see whether changes are needed and, if required, strengthening them, rather than imposing arbitrary targets for HPMAs?
We know from studies that removing human activities can have benefits for both the marine environment and the people who rely on it. We know, from evidence elsewhere in the world, that the benefits of partially protecting marine areas are improved by fully protecting them—there are some studies to that effect.
We will continue to work for and with communities in Scotland to understand how best to enhance marine protection so that we can have thriving and sustainable communities.
Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary
To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedic students have accessed the paramedic, nursing and midwifery student bursary since its introduction in July 2021. (S6O-02383)
In the 2021-22 academic year, we extended the eligibility criteria for the nursing and midwifery student bursary to incorporate paramedic science students studying in Scotland, and we renamed it the paramedic, nursing and midwifery student bursary. In the 2021-22 academic year, 670 paramedic science students received the paramedic, nursing and midwifery student bursary. In the 2022-23 academic year, 975 paramedic science students submitted applications for the bursary.
With a record number of student paramedics accessing the bursary, can the cabinet secretary provide clarity on how he envisages the increase will impact paramedic numbers and, importantly, response times?
The bursary is an important part of the Scottish Government’s response in taking forward work to boost our paramedic numbers and making sure that we recruit more people into the service. We consider how demand will be met within the Scottish Ambulance Service through the demand and capacity programme, which is operated by the service and considers what resources are needed now and will be needed in the future. As part of that work, a record number of additional staff—1,388—have joined the service since 2020. A further 307 staff will be recruited in this financial year in order to help the service to maintain its response to patients across the country.
Ukrainian Children Leaving MS Victoria (Education)
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide continuity in education for children leaving the MS Victoria in the coming weeks. (S6O-02384)
The Scottish Government works with local authorities and other partners to ensure that all displaced Ukrainians have the support that they need, including access to education. That includes working intensively with the City of Edinburgh Council and the education officers who are on board the MS Victoria, Monday to Friday, to support transitions to schools or other education settings locally or in other local authority areas. Local authorities are best placed to identify and support the educational needs of children who arrive in their area. That includes involving parents in the planning process, seeking their views and providing appropriate support during the transition process.
The families who are living on the MS Victoria have been through unimaginable turmoil and disruption. Can the cabinet secretary confirm that any child who is already enrolled in a City of Edinburgh Council school will be provided with accommodation within the city in order to enable a safe and secure transition to their next academic year and avoid yet more disruption?
It is an important time for those who are on MS Victoria. There is an obligation on the Scottish Government and on all local authorities to ensure that we do everything that we can to respond to the requests of people who are on board MS Victoria. However, the member will be well aware of the housing pressures in Edinburgh. Therefore, it is exceptionally difficult to ensure that anyone who wants to stay in Edinburgh, particularly in a certain school catchment area, can do so. That is why it is important to ensure that we have not just an Edinburgh solution but a Scotland-wide solution, which is why a number of local authorities will be working with the City of Edinburgh Council to support families who might need to move outside the Edinburgh area.
Recently, I wrote to the leader of Glasgow City Council about the education of children from MS Ambition when they relocated. In response, I was told that they would likely be required to relocate to other local authority areas. Can the Scottish Government outline what support is in place for those children to maintain friendships and connections as they move to other schools? What support will there be to ensure that local authorities work together to minimise disruption?
It is very important to ensure that we do everything that we can to provide support when people need to leave either the Ambition or the Victoria. Although the use of ships is a temporary solution, there are communities on board those ships that are important to people. That is why the matching teams on the Ambition and the Victoria are doing everything that they can to respond to personal requests. We are also doing what we can when families move to another local authority area to support them in that process and to ensure that they are aware of what is happening in their new council area and in the school catchment area. We are supporting people through that process to ensure that, where possible, attachments with other families can be kept and, if not, that support is provided to ensure that people who leave the ships can form a successful and vibrant community.
What support is the Scottish Government providing for displaced Ukrainian students who have settled in Scotland to ensure that they are given as much financial stability as possible during an incredibly traumatic time?
Following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Scottish Government introduced a change to our student support regulations that extended access to financial support for Ukrainian students. Ukrainian students who wish to embark on a further or higher education course in Scotland are now eligible for tuition and living cost support on the same terms as any other Scotland-domiciled student, provided that they are undertaking an eligible course and have submitted an application to the homes for Ukraine scheme, the Ukraine family scheme or the Ukraine extension scheme.
EventScotland and Creative Scotland (Funding)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to ensure a fair application of funds from EventScotland and Creative Scotland to every part of Scotland. (S6O-02385)
Creative Scotland funding reaches individuals, organisations and projects across the whole country, in each of the 32 local authority areas, through its regular and project funding streams, with particular flexibility being provided through its place partnership programme.
EventScotland provides funding to a diverse portfolio of arts, cultural and sporting events and festivals that deliver strong social and economic benefits across Scotland. Its national events programme has been designed specifically to support events outwith the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow to ensure representation across Scotland’s local authorities.
Between Creative Scotland and EventScotland, the city of Edinburgh received £52 per person, but Fife received less than £4 per head. There is a big city bias when it comes to Creative Scotland and EventScotland, and the situation in relation to Glasgow is almost as bad.
I am planning a creative and events summit in Fife to attract more funds to Fife. Will the minister join me at that event in an effort to attract more funds to the kingdom?
I agree with Willie Rennie that it is a good thing for communities, localities and regions to work together to promote and develop their local culture and arts sector. He will appreciate that there are very good reasons why our national arts organisation and funding body, Creative Scotland, operates at arm’s length from Government.
I strongly encourage Willie Rennie and the culture sector in Fife to continue working with Creative Scotland and, wherever it is appropriate for me to do so, I will support local initiatives to ensure that culture and arts reach their full potential throughout Scotland, including Fife.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that Creative Scotland is cutting funding to organisations in the Highlands and Islands. In addition, the community cashback fund is providing funding to only one organisation based in the region. Given our rich culture, those cuts will have a devastating impact. Pivotal organisations such Eden Court theatre and its outreach programme could be affected. Will the cabinet secretary go back to the drawing board and reconsider those allocations?
I think that Rhoda Grant would acknowledge that the allocation of funding by Creative Scotland is a matter for Creative Scotland. I encourage her and colleagues throughout the Highlands and Islands who believe that there should be a different method of allocating that funding to make their views heard.
This Government is very keen to support multi-annual funding solutions for arts organisations, including the regularly funded organisations in the Highlands and Islands. Rhoda Grant mentioned Eden Court, which is one of the jewels in our artistic sector. I agree that we need to make sure that the entire country has the level of support that is appropriate for the culture and arts sector. If she wants to make any input to Creative Scotland, I would be grateful if she would copy me in.
Child Obesity Rate
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on track to meet its target of halving the child obesity rate by 2030. (S6O-02386)
Our aim to halve childhood obesity by 2030 was deliberately ambitious and part of our public health priority to ensure that Scotland is a place where children have a healthy weight.
A range of factors, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost crisis, have impacted on childhood obesity levels. The Scottish Government has delivered a range of actions from our diet and healthy weight delivery plan and remains committed to taking forward further actions, including forthcoming regulations—between now and 2030—to restrict promotions of food and drink that are high in fat, sugar or salt.
I have to say that “deliberately ambitious” is a new way of describing a lack of delivery from the Government. In the recent statement on the healthy weight consultation, the minister said that she would not introduce mandatory measures on energy drinks, due to a lack of data. The most recent—insufficient—data, which was published by the Government, was dated February 2021. Does the minister recognise that, as the energy drinks market has expanded, we can all see an explosion in consumption among children and young people? If the Government will not take action because of a lack of data, what will it do to improve the evidence base? The lack of action is very disappointing.
Claire Baker raises a very relevant point. Although we do not intend to proceed with legislation at this time, we recognise that it is an issue of concern to parents and teachers. We continue to support voluntary measures to restrict the sale of energy drinks to children and we will keep the question of how we can strengthen those measures under review. We will consider additional information gathering and analysis, including in relation to energy drink consumption, to support further consideration of mandatory measures in the future.
We are facing a childhood obesity epidemic in Scotland. When the pledge was announced in 2018, the prevalence of childhood obesity was 14 per cent. Latest reports show that it is now 18 per cent, which is an increase of four percentage points.
As a practising national health service general practitioner, I can tell you that childhood obesity leads to a host of health issues in adulthood, including type 2 diabetes, respiratory issues and high blood pressure. However, for parents who are struggling to work out how to help their children, it is really important that they avoid the latest fads and do not put their children on diets. They should support them to make healthy choices and, hopefully, their child will grow out of obesity. I recently met Obesity Action Scotland, which told me of some great programmes in certain parts of the country, so parents who are worried should see their GP.
Can I have a question, Dr Gulhane?
Absolutely. The consultation by the minister is the fourth consultation on restricting promotions on junk food. Will the Government commit that it will be the last consultation and that action will follow?
It is clear that, to ensure that we make the best policy—which is relatable to everybody and hits the targets and makes the changes that we intend—we have to continue to consult. Standing here, I cannot promise whether that will be the final consultation, but it is absolutely key to consult in order to get the right policies.
Skills Delivery Landscape (Independent Review)
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the final report of the independent review of the skills delivery landscape. (S6O-02387)
As I outlined during Tuesday’s debate on college regionalisation, the Scottish Government is clear that reform is needed and we will not shy away from making decisions that will improve outcomes for learners and employers. I welcome the Withers review and I am minded to follow the broad direction of travel that it outlined.
However, it is right that the Scottish Government takes a little time to consider the detailed recommendations and the practicalities and consequences of implementing them, and that we work with all those who will be impacted.
James Withers suggests giving universities the freedom to utilise funding to deliver degree-level learning in a variety of ways, including part-time learning and learning as part of an apprenticeship, as a way to uplift the current cap on university places. What is the minister’s view on that proposal?
Sharon Dowey raises an important point. Among other things, the Withers review opens a discussion around different routes to positive destinations and how they might be expanded, and graduate apprenticeships are one example of that. I have had an initial discussion with Universities Scotland on how the review might engage that sector and, over the course of the summer, I will have further engagement and discussions with that organisation and other stakeholders.
However, the Withers review is clear that there is no lack of investment in the post-school education and skills sector. It is a question of how best we deploy that funding to meet future need.
Thank you. That concludes general question time.