Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, May 17, 2012

Official Report 1184KB pdf

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Scottish Executive Question Time

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General Questions

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Education (Finland)

1. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Finland’s approach to education. (S4O-00999)

I am always very pleased to learn from other countries’ experience in delivering education services. Finland’s approach is of continued interest to Scotland and, indeed, I visited Finland in March 2010 to see its system at first hand. I was pleased to meet again, on 2 May, Dr Pasi Sahlberg, who is the director general of the Centre for International Mobility and Co-operation in Helsinki, when he spoke in the Scottish Parliament about lessons from Finland. Although the Scottish education system is different from Finland’s, a number of aspects of the Finnish approach are helpful for discussion, reflection and learning across the Scottish education sector.

As he has said, the cabinet secretary was present at the recent Nordic horizons event that I sponsored in Parliament and, in particular, at Dr Sahlberg’s presentation on the Finnish education system. During that presentation, Dr Sahlberg showed that there is a significant correlation between the level of equality in a society and the level of education attainment. What lessons does the cabinet secretary draw from that and what impact might such a finding have on Government thinking with regard to Scotland’s education system?

Dr Sahlberg was very interesting on a range of issues, one of which Stewart Maxwell has highlighted. However, I draw attention to two things that he tweeted as he left Scotland, the first of which was to say that there should be

“More professional responsibility rather than bureaucratic accountability for schools”,

which is a very interesting reflection on the need to increase teacher performance and invest in teaching. Secondly, he tweeted that we should

“Enhance teacher professionalism by shifting inspection from external Inspectorate to schools.”

In other words, he believes that self-evaluation in schools is vital. We are moving forward with that.

As for equity, Dr Sahlberg’s presentation highlighted a finding that has been mentioned in reports by the programme for international student assessment—PISA—McKinsey & Company and Michael Fullan. Scotland has a significant problem in that it is below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average in relation to the equity gap between the education attainment of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and that of those from advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. The attainment group that I appointed last year and which reported earlier this year was specifically tasked not just with looking at raising attainment for all but with examining how to narrow the gap in attainment. The PISA findings also showed that 86 per cent of the variation in performance in Scottish schools is down to variation within schools. In other words, children are not generally disadvantaged by having to attend poorly performing schools. That is really important.

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New Farming Entrants

2. To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on increasing the number of new farming entrants. (S4O-01000)

The Government has always put a high priority on encouraging new entrants to farming. We were the first Administration to introduce dedicated new entrant support which, so far, has delivered £1.1 million of support to 65 new entrants. Earlier this year, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment announced a new advice package for new entrants that is now being developed by the Scottish Agricultural College. In addition, the cabinet secretary intends to make an announcement soon on plans to hold a new entrant summit and to set up a new entrant panel to determine what can be done under the future common agricultural policy to encourage new entrants.

I thank the minister for his response, although I am slightly puzzled by part of it. From my regular meetings with farming representatives, I know that they are very concerned at what is becoming an ageing industry and at the limited opportunities for newer young entrants into it. In the previous parliamentary session, ministers promised to introduce a £10 million year-on-year new entrant scheme; however, in reality, the Scottish National Party delivered only a £10 million programme over the course of the whole session of Parliament, which provided limited new opportunities for entrants. What steps does the Scottish Government plan to take in this session of Parliament to support new opportunities for the next generation of Scottish farmers? Will the minister agree to report back to Parliament on the number of new entrants who are being assisted as this session goes on?

I am unhappy to share Nanette Milne’s concern and to agree that the increasing age of farmers is an issue for the industry. From 2000 to 2007, the number of farmers aged under 45 fell and the number aged over 65 rose from 22 to 27 per cent. A fundamental challenge that is in front of us is common agricultural policy reform, and the current proposals would inhibit our ability to support new entrants. It is very important that Scotland gets the support to address the issue of new entrants that it requires from the United Kingdom Government which, for the time being, has the lead in negotiating on the matter.

Does the minister agree that, although the measures that he has identified are welcome, a fundamental issue for new entrants is access to farming land and tenancies? The tenant farming forum is identified as the body that will deal with such concerns, but does the minister accept that the recent Moonzie case and the lack of clarity about its consequences add greater tension to the discussions? How will he ensure that we can be confident that the tenant farming forum’s recommendations will be fair to all parties that are involved?

Presiding Officer, you will be aware that I cannot comment on a live case.

I am happy to say that we have been legislating to put into law the tenant farming forum’s recommendations. We will continue to work with that forum to ensure that we get increased access to new entrant opportunities. For example, Forestry Commission Scotland, for which I am responsible, has created new starter units. Right across Government, we will take every opportunity to create ways in for new entrants.

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Supply Teachers

3. To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authorities about the reducing availability of supply teachers in certain areas. (S4O-01001)

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is represented on the teacher workforce planning advisory group, which advises ministers on the number of student teachers that universities should enrol each year to ensure that sufficient teachers, including supply teachers, are available across Scotland. In addition, COSLA, together with the Scottish Government and the teaching unions, sits on the Scottish negotiating committee for teachers. The SNCT meets routinely throughout the year to discuss relevant matters, including those that relate to supply teachers.

The cabinet secretary will be aware that, since the introduction of the new reduced pay scales for supply teachers, some schools now have difficulty sourcing supply teachers because experienced supply teachers, who are now being paid less than probationers, are no longer prepared to travel to the more remote parts of Scotland, such as South Ayrshire, which are suffering disproportionately. What plans does the cabinet secretary have to address that growing problem?

I will correct something that Mr Scott said. Supply teachers are paid for the first five days at the first point on the scale, which is not less than probationers are paid. We accept, however, that the negotiated agreement on supply teachers that was accepted by the trade unions was a difficult agreement. It was necessary to reach that agreement because of the resources that we had available. That said, I give John Scott the assurance, which I have given on a number of occasions, that we will keep the situation under review. We want to ensure that we are fair to everyone. We have insisted that local authorities honour the agreement in details, which means that once supply teachers move beyond the initial period, they revert to the place on the scale that they might otherwise have been at.

Will the cabinet secretary act to guarantee supply teachers a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work?

That is guaranteed by the agreement that we have that was entered into willingly by COSLA—including Labour local authorities—by the teaching unions, and by the Scottish Government. Misrepresentation of that agreement is not helpful to anyone.

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Housing Options Hubs

4. To ask the Scottish Executive how the recently announced additional funding of £150,000 for housing options hubs will be used best to refocus services to look at individuals’ housing options. (S4O-01002)

The funding will be used by the hubs to enable the sharing of practice between local authorities and their partners, all of which is aimed at preventing homelessness.

How will the extra funding be used to prevent future homelessness? What other steps does the Government intend to take to tackle homelessness?

The extra funding will support the good work that the housing options hubs have done to date. The housing options approach seeks to achieve sustainable and long-term solutions to individuals’ housing problems. Working in partnership, the hubs have done substantial publicity work around housing options services, training needs analysis and implementing housing options information technology systems. They are putting in place the necessary infrastructure. Richard Lyle will be interested to know that the homelessness statistics that were published in February showed a 20 per cent drop in applications and assessments. That is the lowest in a decade and demonstrates the impact of the prevention activity that has been led by the hubs.

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Public Facilities (Transport Links)

5. To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes better transport links to public facilities. (S4O-01003)

The Scottish Government promotes better public transport to connect people, places and work. Our investment is significant, such as the £0.25 billion per year on bus services, and it is wide-ranging, with new capital projects such as a £30 million programme of improvements for railway stations across Scotland and our £40 million support for Glasgow fastlink—which will be a rapid bus corridor linking the city centre with the new Glasgow Southern general hospital—and for improving transport links for the Commonwealth games.

In relation to the £0.25 billion that is spent on buses, will the minister comment on the fact that Strathclyde partnership for transport has decided that MyBus cannot be used to access hospital appointments, as opposed to hospital visits?

The bulk of that support will be spent on concessionary travel, with additional funds being provided for the bus service operators grant. MyBus cannot be used for attending hospital appointments, except in exceptional circumstances, because it has been agreed that those appointments are the responsibility of the national health service. That reflects the specialist nature of the transport that is required and the lack of flexibility on arrival times. SPT’s website advises that patients should contact their general practitioner’s surgery if they have difficulty in attending hospital appointments.

The minister recently repeated inaccurate claims that the cut to the BSOG and the change in the formula were not reasons for the inflation-busting fare increases and cuts in services that we have seen. Why will he not utilise the extra money that was made available by the UK Government’s budget to protect bus services in Scotland?

The first reason is that Jim Hume has already asked us to spend that money on 10 or so different things; it cannot be spent more than once. It is also worth saying that we have provided £0.25 billion of support against the backdrop of the substantial cuts by the UK Government that he supports. The money is being used to ensure that we expand the services that are available. The member will, of course, know that the changes that we have made to the BSOG will help rural bus services, which the previous Administration—of which his party was a part—failed to do.

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UBC Group (Administration)

6. To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the potential impact on the construction industry, what its position is on the UBC Group entering administration. (S4O-01004)

This will be a very difficult time for staff who work for the UBC Group, and the Scottish Government is doing absolutely everything that is possible. We are working alongside the administrator and local councils to preserve or secure by other means as many of the jobs and as much of the business as possible.

For those who face redundancy, Skills Development Scotland met staff on Monday 14 May and the partnership action for continuing employment team representatives have arranged an event for staff on 23 May.

I thank the minister for that answer, but is he aware of the particular concerns about the loss of 90 UBC jobs in the Western Isles, which the leader of Western Isles Council, Angus Campbell, has described as being “a devastating blow” for the economy of the Western Isles? Last week, when the First Minister announced 90 new jobs for the Western Isles, he said that that number

“would equate to several thousand jobs”—[Official Report, 10 May 2012; c 8832.]

in a city the size of Edinburgh. What specific support can the minister offer the Western Isles and those 90 workers who have been made redundant?

I am acutely aware of all those matters. I have been personally engaged in the situation since the news was announced that the UBC Group was to go into administration. I am involved to a considerable extent in all the considerable work that is being done by the Scottish Government, the local council, the Hebridean partnership and people involved with UBC to secure the best possible result for all concerned. We are committed to doing that. The staff will have the opportunity to receive comprehensive and substantial support from PACE representatives, not least at the events that will be held in Stornoway and South Uist, as well as at the event in Inverness on 23 May.

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Scottish Water (Consultation)

7. To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations Scottish Water must hold with communities prior to making changes to their water supply. (S4O-01005)

Scottish Water is required by the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 to have a consultation code. The code, which is available on Scottish Water’s website, sets out how it and its representatives will work in partnership to ensure that individuals, communities and stakeholders are engaged in discussion early in the life of projects and developments. The code does not prevent Scottish Water from taking appropriate operational decisions concerning a water supply.

The cabinet secretary might be aware of the change in water supply at Aviemore in Badenoch and Strathspey. Constituents are concerned about the safety of the water supply because of the taste and quality of the water. What consultation took place prior to the changes in the water supply and what action is being taken to remedy the situation?

In line with the code that I described and with planning legislation, Scottish Water undertook extensive consultation of relevant stakeholders and customers in the Aviemore area prior to submitting its planning application for the new works in September 2008. I have had reassurances from the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland that the supply comfortably meets the stringent legislative standards. The regulator is continuing to monitor the quality of the supply and Scottish Water’s response in addressing any consumer concerns.

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Air Passenger Duty

8. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding devolving air passenger duty. (S4O-01006)

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, the Minister for Housing and Transport and I have pressed our counterparts in the UK Government on a number of occasions over the past 12 months to devolve air passenger duty in quick order, but the UK Government has continued to prevaricate. That not only stifles our ambition to reform APD to better suit Scottish circumstances, but goes against the wishes of our four biggest airports and other significant interests, such as the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. We will continue to make the strong case for devolution of air passenger duty now.

The managing director of Aberdeen airport, Derek Provan, has said that

“Air Passenger Duty in its current form will damage tourism and weaken Scotland’s competitiveness.

It is growing in the UK at a time when other European countries have abandoned the tax entirely because of its damaging effects.”

He continued:

“We call for the tax to be devolved to the Scottish government where we feel any revenues raised would be pushed back into helping support the aviation industry and attract new routes.”

Does the cabinet secretary agree with Mr Provan?

I absolutely agree with Derek Provan’s sentiments that air passenger duty in its current form is damaging for Scotland’s aviation sector, as well as for our tourism industry and wider economy and, of course, passengers. We have repeatedly urged the UK Government to consider the impact of APD rises in Scotland, but it has not listened. The only way to ensure that Scotland gets a fair deal is for APD to be devolved now. I welcome Derek Provan’s support for the devolution of APD and the support of his counterparts from airports elsewhere in Scotland.

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Early Years Change Fund (Childcare)

9. To ask the Scottish Government how the early years change fund improves childcare for pre-school children. (S4O-01007)

There have been two allocations from the early years change fund that will increase the level of funded early learning and childcare provision. From 1 April 2012, £4.5 million per annum is being provided from the change fund to local authorities in their role as corporate parents to deliver additional early learning and childcare provision and to work with the parents, where appropriate. In addition, a further £4.5 million has been invested from the change fund in the communities and families fund to promote community-based solutions for support for families and childcare.

We are establishing a sub-group of the early years task force to consider how we might develop high-quality integrated and co-ordinated family centres and early learning and childcare services.

I thank the minister for that strong commitment. She will be aware of the recent suggestion by Children in Scotland about the possible use of future European structural funds for childcare provision. The funds could help to expand and integrate childcare with employability initiatives and work. Will the minister explore such matters with her Government colleagues in order to consider whether the area could be developed further?

I acknowledge Bob Doris’s commitment to early years policy. We are exploring the potential of European structural funds, as part of the Scottish Government’s broader strategic approach. We are participating in European Commission working groups and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development networks on early childhood education and care. I will continue the dialogue with Bob Doris on the matter.

Before we come to First Minister’s question time, I am sure that members wish to join me in welcoming to the gallery the President of the Austrian state Parliament of Voralberg, Dr Bernadette Mennel. [Applause.]

I am sure that members will also join me in welcoming Margo MacDonald back to the chamber. Welcome home. [Applause.]