Culture and External Affairs
Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first set of questions is on culture and external affairs.
Scottish Diaspora (Cultural Initiatives)
It is estimated that up to 50 million people across the globe can claim Scottish ancestry. The Scottish Government supports a range of activities that recognise the social, cultural, intellectual and economic benefits that diaspora engagement brings for Scotland and all Scots.
I note the good work in relation to the Scottish diaspora tapestry. Will the minister say what further activity is planned in the Scottish Government’s work programme with regard to the Scottish diaspora in North America?
The member is right to mention the tapestry, which has various links to North America.
Film and TV Studio Facilities (Discussions with Creative Scotland)
I established a film delivery group to examine the possibilities for private sector-led development of screen production facilities in Scotland. Since the group was established at the end of May, Sony and Left Bank Pictures have made significant progress in converting an industrial space in Cumbernauld for screen production and have been shooting a major new television series there: “Outlander”, which is based on the novel of Jacobite Scotland by Diana Gabaldon.
The cabinet secretary referred to the studio that has been established in my constituency. I am aware that other sites are in the running for a long-term studio for Scotland. Given that a studio has been established in Cumbernauld, and given the good connections between Cumbernauld and the rest of the country, can the cabinet secretary confirm that that location will be looked on favourably?
The report will be published in the new year, when we will have an indication of proposals for the longer term. In the short term, I am pleased that the Cumbernauld facility is being used. The work that has been undertaken there to convert the Isola building is impressive. I am sure that that will be a key consideration when the report is published.
Scottish Opera
The Scottish Government regularly meets Scottish Opera to discuss a range of issues, including its delivery of Government grant objectives, its assessment of progress, reflecting independent critical opinion, and its future plans.
In recent months, concern has been expressed in the media about whether the strategic direction of Scottish Opera is coherent and transparent, especially in the context of the public funding to which the cabinet secretary referred. In particular, concern has been expressed about the fact that all other national opera companies in Europe have a full-time chorus or a full-time orchestra—and in many cases, both. Does the cabinet secretary share those concerns, especially the concerns about Scottish Opera’s ability to attract the biggest names in international opera?
I am pleased to report that recruitment of a new music director is progressing well. It is an important post that will help to inform the strategic direction, which is important in relation to Liz Smith’s question.
Denmark and Sweden (Visit)
My visits to Denmark and Sweden between 8 and 9 December were aimed at deepening links with both countries and exploring areas for further co-operation.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her comprehensive answer. What further steps will the Scottish Government take to strengthen ties with our Scandinavian neighbours?
Our existing co-operation is extensive and we are keen to develop new areas. Maritime affairs, cities, social policies, energy, research and innovation, and tourism are all areas that we can build on in future.
International Culture Summit (Benefits)
Holding the Edinburgh international culture summit 2014 will position Scotland as a world leader for international debate on the role and value of culture and further emphasise Scotland’s international profile.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the acclaim following the 2012 summit, which resulted in new funding partnerships among 37 of the countries present. How will the Scottish Government work with partners such as the British Council to ensure that 2014 offers similar opportunities?
I am delighted that the Scottish Parliament has agreed to become one of the partners again to host the culture summit, which will take place in August 2014. There are huge opportunities, not just internationally but between partners on a bilateral basis. I was particularly interested in the relationships that we have been building with South Africa, with fantastic performances at the Edinburgh festivals.
Touring Exhibitions
The Scottish Government supports touring exhibitions in a number of ways, including provision of indemnity cover through the Government indemnity scheme and direct financial support for our national collections, and through Scottish Government-funded grant schemes that are administered by Museums Galleries Scotland and Creative Scotland.
The queues of people who were outside Parliament to see the great tapestry of Scotland show what a fantastic project that was. I am pleased to see that it is about to go on tour, and I am calling for the tapestry to come to Fife—I suggest that the newly refurbished Kirkcaldy galleries would be an ideal venue for it.
The celebration of the tapestry is to be commended. I have met the organisers to discuss short-term, long-term and more permanent facilities for the tapestry. Excitement has been generated throughout the country in relation to the distribution of the tapestry—quite often, sections rather than the entirety of the tapestry will have to be exhibited. In particular, the ability to use it to tell the story of an area’s local economy is something to be celebrated. The tapestry brings people in.
Question 8, in the name of Stewart Maxwell, has been withdrawn, and a satisfactory explanation has been provided for that.
Centre for Cultural Relations (Benefits)
I would first like to take this opportunity to congratulate the University of Edinburgh on the successful opening of the centre for cultural relations.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, in a country such as Scotland, which is renowned for its international cultural festivals, the establishment of the centre for cultural relations sends a further message across the world that Scotland is an outward-looking nation that is seeking to better understand how culture and education deepen relations between countries?
I completely agree with that sentiment. Scotland is renowned for its culture and its education. This is a great opportunity to broadcast that and, in terms of engagement, the establishment of the centre shows that Scotland is an outward-looking nation. Those are precisely the issues that I was discussing with the French Minister of Culture when I was in Paris, and they reinforce the education agreement that was signed by the First Minister a few months ago.
Public Service Broadcasting (Independence White Paper Proposals)
The Scottish Government is in regular contact with representatives of the BBC to discuss a range of broadcasting issues in Scotland.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her comprehensive response, which partly explained why I asked my question. She will contend that the white paper covers all the answers to the questions that are posed around public service broadcasting, should we have the misfortune to become an independent Scotland in the near future. However, there has to be more detail and we can have that detail only if there is on-going dialogue with the BBC. Can the cabinet secretary tell us whether, and how, she will keep the Parliament updated as we move towards 18 September next year?
I am delighted that Michael McMahon recognises that the white paper, “Scotland’s Future”, is a great step forward in terms of providing the information that is available. He is quite correct in thinking that it is not unusual that people will want to pursue certain issues. We are now at the stage at which we have set out what is possible and what we in the Scottish Government would like to see in terms of a joint venture with the BBC, as well as what we would like to see in a Scottish broadcasting company that could reflect Scotland to itself and expand and improve the use of the licence fee that the Scottish viewer pays. In the constitutional context, it is important to note that, if people expect dialogue and discussion, that has to be encouraged by the United Kingdom Government. If Ed Vaizey and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport indicated a willingness to start a discussion, we would have it now.
Infrastructure, Investment and Cities
Give Us Time to Cross Campaign
Scotland’s road safety framework to 2020 sets out the Government’s commitment to pedestrian road safety, including the needs of children, the elderly and the disabled. We support the aims of the give us time to cross campaign, although the legislation is reserved and implementation is for local authorities.
I thank the minister for his response and for the 20mph pilots that he announced this week. I look forward to the publication of the Government’s walking strategy next year.
Alison Johnstone mentioned the 20mph pilots that have been announced for the trunk road network, which are a radical departure from previous practice. The pilots could have significant benefits for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, at the same time as calming traffic in some small towns that are bisected by the trunk road network.
Many constituents get in touch with me regarding the length of time given for audible signals at crossings. As a blind person, I am aware that I could be half way across the road when the signal stops, which may give me some cause for anxiety. Can we review the time allocated for the audible signal, to try to ensure that people can get from one pavement to the next without the signal stopping?
Dennis Robertson raises an issue that is very similar to the issue that Living Streets identified of elderly people being given enough time to cross pedestrian crossings. The issue is reserved. The Department for Transport could change its guidelines and the national standards that apply. However, it is in within the gift of local authorities to change timings on pedestrian crossings to suit circumstances or users.
The minister has to an extent covered the issue. Given that local authorities have some discretion over the time that is available for crossing, is it possible that we in Scotland could achieve the objective simply by lobbying our local authorities to increase that time?
That is possible, to the extent that local authorities have such a power. It is a surprise to some people that pedestrian crossings are a reserved matter—who knows what the reasons for that are? However, local authorities have some discretion. As Alex Johnstone says, changing the time is within a local authority’s power, and when it has the technology to do that, changes can be made to help in the situations that Alison Johnstone and Dennis Robertson described. People should take up those opportunities.
“The Effectiveness of the Rail Network Across Great Britain”
We welcome the findings of the independent Campaign for Better Transport report, as they show further evidence that, despite the Westminster budget cuts that we must work under, we are driving forward Scotland’s economic growth and competitiveness. Our commitment to invest in our railway infrastructure and services has delivered benefits, and Scotland’s performance is outstripping that of many other parts of the United Kingdom.
The report notes that rail in Scotland receives a high level of financial support from the Scottish Government and that, as a result, services that are high quality and growing are being delivered. It acknowledges the challenge of maintaining those performance levels in the face of budgetary pressures. Will the minister outline the scale of the threat to rail services that would be posed in the event of a no vote next September, which would mean that a £4 billion budget cut was coming down the track from Westminster?
It is worth pointing out that, as I said in my initial response, despite the Westminster cuts that we have suffered from, the Scottish Government is committed to a record programme of investment in rail to support new and better services, stations and trains and to allow us to do everything possible to keep fares down. The impact of that programme is clear, as passenger numbers have increased to record levels—there were more than 83 million journeys last year alone—and passenger satisfaction levels are higher.
Port Strategy (Clean Marine Fuels)
The Scottish Government is in regular contact with Scottish ports on a range of issues. I will engage with the ports, shipping industries and others to examine the impacts of the new controls on sulphur in marine fuel at a conference, which I have convened, to be held here in Edinburgh on 15 January. We expect ports to align any actions that they take with the national marine plan and, when appropriate, the national planning framework.
Within the month, the allotment of €26.2 billion will be decided on in the European Parliament for the trans-European transport network. Some of that funding will be made available to develop 85 ports in the core European network to address clean marine fuel requirements. Will the minister insist that, as the United Kingdom is currently the member state, the UK Government makes immediate representations on Scotland’s behalf? It has so far failed to do that—again.
I reassure the member that we will continue to work with the ports and shipping industries to maximise the opportunities for any funding that becomes available to address any requirements that relate to marine fuels or other issues. As he is aware, the criteria for the network were set at the European Union level, although we have worked hard to ensure that a case was made for increasing the number of Scottish ports that are included in the wider comprehensive network. The most recent call for TEN-T funding was announced on 11 December, and Transport Scotland officials are already encouraging ports to make proposals for funding when they meet the criteria for the core or comprehensive network.
Fuel Poverty
The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty and we have invested £220 million on fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes since 2009, with an estimated total net saving to household incomes over the lifetime of the measures of more than £1 billion.
I thank the cabinet secretary for her response. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the recent fuel poverty figures do not take account of the energy price increases from the last quarter of 2012 or indeed the eye-watering energy price increases in 2013? Does she therefore agree that the level of fuel poverty is higher by almost 200,000 households than the level that she has specified in her report? On that basis, does the cabinet secretary believe that her Government will fulfil the commitment to end fuel poverty by 2016—a commitment that we, across the chamber, agreed to without qualification?
I thank Jackie Baillie for her questions. She refers to the latest statistics and I can provide the details of those statistics. They show that fuel poverty declined between 2011 and 2012, yet 27.1 per cent of households—according to those statistics—are still estimated to be fuel poor. Jackie Baillie is absolutely right—rises in energy costs in the latter part of this year will further undermine our efforts, through our energy efficiency programmes, to reduce fuel poverty to the point of eradication.
On 11 October, I officially launched Citrus Energy Ltd, a unique and innovative social enterprise that has been developed by Cunninghame Housing Association Ltd and backed by the Scottish National Party Government and the Big Lottery Fund. Citrus Energy provides free, impartial assistance for tenants, homeowners and businesses, helping them to switch to a much cheaper energy supplier.
I am aware of the Citrus Energy initiative that Kenny Gibson refers to. I believe that such initiatives, combined with the activity of the national home energy Scotland hotline and the substantial good work of the energy advice centres, are really important in helping people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and manage their fuel bills better, although I would refer back to the points that I made in my earlier answer to Jackie Baillie.
Will the cabinet secretary outline the implications of the United Kingdom Government’s revisions of the energy company obligation in terms of their impact on the delivery of Scotland’s climate change targets and fuel poverty targets?
As the member is undoubtedly aware, the Department of Energy and Climate Change will be consulting on changes to ECO early in 2014. The fine detail of the changes’ impact is still unclear. We are currently working to clarify the implications of the proposed changes on Scottish Government programmes to ensure that the impact on Scottish households is minimised.
Discretionary Housing Payments (Glasgow)
The Scottish Government has allocated £3.5 million to Glasgow City Council this year to supplement funding from the United Kingdom Government for discretionary housing payments. It is the responsibility of Glasgow City Council—and all local authorities—to ensure that the funding is directed to those who are most in need of financial support. The Scottish Government currently holds no information on the use of such payments, and it has no functions in relation to the administration of the scheme, which is the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions.
I advise the minister that anecdotal information is emerging to suggest that, in Glasgow, initial short-term awards for discretionary payments are, on application for extension, being reduced or refused by those who are processing claims. That is deterring some of my constituents from appealing the decisions in case they lose even more money.
It is up to each local authority to decide on the length of a discretionary housing payment, in line with the DWP guidance. There is no set time limit, and the award will depend on the individual circumstances of each claimant.
As the report—published this week—from the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee highlighted, Citizens Advice Scotland has said that DHPs are an insufficient means of tackling the bedroom tax because there is no uniformity in how they are awarded. Although the bedroom tax is a heinous piece of legislation, no local authority has issued guidelines on awarding DHPs. Will the Government publish blanket guidelines to ensure that people throughout Scotland are treated equally and fairly?
As I said, discretionary housing payments are a reserved matter, and the administration of such payments is up to the DWP. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to give guidance on a reserved matter.
Independence White Paper (Housing and Welfare)
I have not been contacted by stakeholders regarding the white paper. All the key housing, regeneration and welfare stakeholders were contacted either by me or by a senior official on 26 November, following the publication of “Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland”.
The minister stated in the housing debate on 4 December 2013 that she was busy speaking to stakeholders, listening to their concerns and taking action, but she has not yet brought anything to the chamber. Should the people of Scotland who are homeless or living in overcrowded or poor housing assume that all those issues are a figment of their imagination and that everything is hunky-dory?
In the debate on housing, I said that I was out discussing with stakeholders the Scottish Government’s vision for housing in Scotland and where we are on meeting our targets for affordable housing. In fact, we are well on target to meet those commitments.
Air Passenger Duty (Devolution)
A reduction in air passenger duty will allow Scotland’s airports to be more competitive in attracting new direct air routes and will improve our international connectivity. A study by York Aviation in October 2012 found that, by 2016, £210 million less per annum will be spent in Scotland by inbound visitors than if APD had not risen as it has since 2007.
The minister said that the cost of air passenger duty to the Scottish economy was £210 million. Can he give an estimate of what it means to the north-east?
Figures specific to the north-east and the Scottish economies are not available. A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers earlier this year projected that the abolition of APD would lead to the United Kingdom economy rising by about £16 billion between 2013 and 2015. It would be larger than it otherwise would have been under the current APD regime. In addition, such a rise in output could lead to the creation of around 60,000 jobs between now and 2020.
I will allow a brief supplementary question from James Kelly and I ask for a brief answer, please.
On the impact of airports on the Scottish economy, it is a matter of some surprise that the Scottish Government has not been to the chamber since its decision to purchase Prestwick airport. Will the minister commit to coming to the chamber early in the new year to discuss the Government’s business plan and the implications of that purchase for the Scottish budget?
The Deputy First Minister has already given a commitment to ensure that the Parliament is updated as we move forward with the Prestwick purchase.
I asked about Prestwick.
The question is about APD, so that is what I am trying to answer.
Excuse me, minister. Can we please not have questions and answers across the chamber? Everything should go through the chair.
Apologies, Presiding Officer.
Social Housing Completions
Between April 2011 and 30 September 2013, we have delivered 11,937 social rented homes. That is well over halfway to meeting our five-year target of 20,000 homes for social renting. Those homes will provide secure affordable housing for those who need it most, and I commend all councils and housing associations for working with us to maximise the number of homes built during that period.
That may be so, but social housing completions are down 14 per cent on last year and housing association and co-operative completions are down 25 per cent. What will the Scottish Government do
As I said in my previous answer, we are well on course to achieve our target of 30,000 affordable homes in this session of the Parliament. The Scottish Government recently took action by increasing the subsidy to social landlords and local authorities to ensure that we could achieve it. We did that on the advice of the stakeholder group that we set up, taking the figure that it proposed to us. Social landlords and local authorities tell us that they can now continue developing and that the target will be met.
I can call question 9 if we have brief questions and brief answers.
Broadband Infrastructure (Aberdeenshire)
Aberdeenshire Council is a major investor in the step change programme and a key partner to the Scottish Government’s delivery team.
The cabinet secretary is aware that, in Aberdeenshire West, I have some remote and rural areas. What alternatives will be available for constituents who cannot be connected through the BT broadband system?
I certainly appreciate the geography that Dennis Robertson is talking about. In areas in which fibre broadband will not be an option, the project will explore the use of other broadband technologies—such as wireless, satellite and advanced copper—to provide faster broadband. The funding for that is included in the existing project budget, and I am happy to provide Dennis Robertson with more details.