Educational Psychology (Support for Training)
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who want to train as educational psychologists. (S4O-03721)
The University of Dundee and the University of Strathclyde offer, in alternate years, a two-year master of science in educational psychology. Educational psychology students are eligible to apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a £3,400 postgraduate tuition fee loan for each year. In addition, from 2015-16, Scotland-domiciled students who undertake the course will be eligible to apply for an additional loan of up to £4,500 each year to help with living costs.
I met students from the University of Strathclyde cohort on 1 May this year to discuss their experience of the course, the levels of support available and the work that they want to do as educational psychologists.
Last year, a report from the Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists highlighted in stark terms that the number of trained educational psychologists in Scotland is “dangerously low” while, at the same time, demand for services is soaring. What words of comfort can the cabinet secretary give to the young trainee educational psychologist I met recently who has spent a lot of time and effort to get a place on her course but is at risk of being unable to complete it because, as she told me, the £49,000 bursary was removed by the Scottish Government in 2012?
Two issues need to be considered. Mr Stewart has addressed both of them helpfully—I say “helpfully” because that is the case. We have rehearsed the issues in the chamber before, but I will explain them briefly. The first is the recruitment and retention of educational psychologists. The workforce planning that is undertaken for that indicates that the numbers that are being trained are adequate for the jobs available. As long as that is the case, it would be foolish to increase the number in training. If at any stage the workforce planning indicated that more were required, I would take that seriously. There is no shortage of students applying for the courses; they are high-quality postgraduate courses and high-quality students go into them. Of course I am happy to meet students and MSPs to discuss individual cases.
The second issue is postgraduate support. There was a very varied map of postgraduate support and there were two problems with it. One was that it had many inconsistencies, which arose from previous shortages and the money that was put in to address them. The second was a decline in the number of Scottish students undertaking postgraduate study. Yesterday, I announced that Bryan MacGregor, vice-principal of the University of Aberdeen, will undertake a review to look at the map of postgraduate provision and support for it and to see whether the prescribed list of courses for support should be changed in any way and how we would do that. I would welcome input from MSPs on that.
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Fastlink-A90 Junction Design
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the proposal to reconsider the Aberdeen western peripheral route fastlink-A90 junction design. (S4O-03722)
The design of the Stonehaven junction, along with the suggested alternative, was debated at length during the public local inquiry in 2008. To reconsider the alternative design when the project is approaching financial close would cause significant delay to the spring 2018 completion date and incur a substantial, but as yet unspecified, extra cost.
The minister and I have discussed this quite a bit. Will he confirm that, although changing the Stonehaven junction as suggested would involve a relatively small variation of contract, it could not possibly be undertaken without the planning considerations, which might build in the delays that nobody wants to see? As the constituency MSP, I am not suggesting that there should be any further delay at all.
I understand of course that there were and remain competing views on the best option. However, as I have said, they were examined exhaustively by ministers and the public local inquiry. The Scottish Government is determined to achieve the speediest possible completion of the AWPR as the project moves to financial close. We would not want to risk in any circumstances the potentially huge costs and disruption, the necessity of a further public consultation process and possibly even a further public local inquiry, all of which would be inevitably associated with changing the route at this very late stage.
What leverage is the minister using in this half-billion-pound contract to get the successful contractors, including Balfour Beatty and Carillion, to own up, apologise and pay up to the workers they systematically prevented from gaining employment through their practice of blacklisting?
The questions are supposed to be about the design of a junction on the Aberdeen western peripheral route, but the minister might wish to answer Mr Findlay’s question.
As we have said many times, we have made sure that the companies that bid for those contracts and others are not involved in the practices that Neil Findlay mentioned. We have taken our responsibility seriously and made sure that we have discharged it.
Subordinated Debt (Monitoring)
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the use of subordinated debt in procurement projects by the hubcos and the Scottish Futures Trust. (S4O-03723)
Subordinated debt is invested in hub projects through Scottish Futures Trust Investments, which is a subsidiary of the Scottish Futures Trust that was established for that purpose. Investment decisions are made and investments are monitored by the board’s investment committee. Scottish Futures Trust Investments accounts showing investments made are published annually.
What discussions has the cabinet secretary had with the Scottish Futures Trust about its prudent use of high-risk, high-yield financial instruments, namely lower-grade junk bonds? How widely are those instruments used by hubcos for financing Scottish Government and local government procurement contracts?
I cannot give Mr Wilson a specific answer about the quality and category of investment finance that is acquired, other than to say that the Scottish Futures Trust has been successful in obtaining the necessary private capital to support a number of strategic developments. In the previous answer, Mr Brown talked about the Aberdeen western peripheral route. The SFT is involved in the procurement of the finance that is necessary to support that project.
The Scottish Futures Trust has a strong and robust framework for assessing the attraction of capital investment into such projects. That will be sustained by the scrutiny of Scottish Futures Trust Investments and by the Scottish Futures Trust as a whole.
Private Rented Housing Sector (Reform)
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reform the private rented sector. (S4O-03724)
The Scottish Government has taken significant action to reform the private rented sector since launching our strategy for the sector in May last year. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 includes provisions to regulate the letting agent industry, to introduce a new private rented housing tribunal and to provide local authorities with further powers to tackle poor property condition. We are consulting on proposals for a new private tenancy, which will improve security for tenants while providing safeguards for landlords, lenders and investors.
Shelter Scotland’s make renting right campaign has highlighted the fact that a chronic shortage of affordable housing has driven more people into the private rented sector. Throughout my region there are more than 20,000 private renters, many of whom are trapped in renting and cannot access social housing or get on the property ladder. Does the minister support Shelter Scotland’s campaign, which is calling for a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for the people who live in private rented housing and the landlords who let out their properties?
The Scottish Government has been working with Shelter Scotland and other stakeholders on the development of our proposals for a new private rented tenancy. Shelter Scotland states in its make renting right campaign that it supports the Scottish Government in making renting right across Scotland. That is because we have already made proposals to improve security of tenure for tenants.
In addition, we are working with the house-building industry and have funded a private rented sector champion who will drive initiatives to boost the supply of new homes that are purpose built for private tenants and will unlock new sources of housing investment.
Security of tenure and increasing rent costs are key issues in the private rented sector. Does the minister agree that introducing a standard three-year tenancy and caps on rent rises would vastly improve confidence in the sector?
As the member will be aware, we have been monitoring rent levels in Scotland. Last week, we published comprehensive rent statistics, which show that most average rents have increased by a figure that is lower than the rate of inflation and that some rents have fallen. However, we are aware that rents are rising faster in some areas and in some household types, which is why we are inviting views on the issue as part of our consultation on the new private rented sector tenancy system. We are consulting on that and I encourage the member to add her views to the consultation.
Drink-driving Penalties (Devolution of Power)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the power to set the penalties for drink driving being devolved. (S4O-03725)
The Scottish Government set out in “More Powers for the Scottish Parliament: Scottish Government Proposals” that we consider that full responsibility for the law on road traffic offences should be devolved to this Parliament. That would allow decisions to be made in Scotland about how best to improve the safety of Scotland’s roads, in the context of Scotland’s road safety framework to 2020.
The devolution of powers would include drink-driving penalties, so consideration could be given to whether changes should be made in the area.
In light of Tuesday’s debate, when we considered an amendment from the Conservatives and there was welcome support from Labour members for the devolution of more powers, will the cabinet secretary write to the United Kingdom Government to highlight the cross-party support in this Parliament for the devolution of more powers on the issue?
I am happy to consider doing so. The member raised an important point. We debated the proposal to lower the drink-driving limit, and the motion was passed. There was a great deal of support across the chamber and certainly from members on the Labour benches, including Dave Stewart in particular.
As has been suggested, including in the Conservative amendment, further steps could be taken, whether we are talking about graduated licences or a further lowering of the limit, which would require consideration of and power over the penalties that would apply. It seems to me that rather than the Parliament simply having the power to lower the limit we should have further powers to make Scotland safer. We have gone as far as we can with the current limits, and I can certainly consider taking on board the member’s point.
Question 6, in the name of Dave Thompson, was not lodged. I have been given an explanation.
A890 (Stromeferry Bypass)
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Highland Council about the A890 Stromeferry bypass. (S4O-03727)
On 20 May I met the leader of the Highland Council to discuss a number of issues, including potential funding options for Stromeferry. My officials at Transport Scotland continue to offer support to and to liaise with the Highland Council on the matter.
The minister will know about the recent landslide, which is one of many landslides over many years—indeed, going back to when I went to high school in the area. He will also know that the A890 is the access road for the local high school and hospital, as well as a well-used tourist route, and that the only available diversion is 130 miles long—which is not really a diversion at all.
The price of rerouting the road would be high, but the economic benefit for the area and for the rest of Scotland would be enormous. Will the minister consider helping Highland Council with the funding of the project, perhaps through joint funding by the Scottish Government and Highland Council, so that we can bring that about as quickly as possible and ensure that disruption ceases?
As I said, we have had a discussion with Highland Council about the matter—at least twice, because we discussed the issue with the council after an earlier rockfall. We will continue to liaise with and to offer support to Highland Council on the matter.
Highland Council is the roads authority for the area. In addition to demands to spend more resources in every area of Scottish Government activity and demands to spend resources to mitigate what the Westminster Government is doing, we are getting demands to do things that are the legitimate responsibility of local government. It is impossible to see where the resources would come from—unless Rhoda Grant wants to identify exactly where the resources should come from.
The approach that we have taken so far, which is to discuss the matter with Highland Council to see what support we can offer, is the right one. The relevant local authority is the roads authority, and in this case the matter is Highland Council’s responsibility, albeit that we will work with it.
The Highland Council has spent many millions of pounds on maintenance and landslip clear-up on this now life-threatening section of the Stromeferry bypass. Does the minister agree that the council should seek the co-operation of the Macpherson family at Attadale estate in planning the least expensive route over their land to Gleann Udalain, on a bypass to the bypass?
As I said to Rhoda Grant, that is the responsibility of Highland Council. It is for the council to take forward such discussions and consider the options.
Both members are right to suggest that the site is very constrained. The railway is right next to the road, which is right next to the water, and the adjacent land is very steep. It is a difficult situation. We will do what we can, but it is right that Highland Council should explore all the options.
Youth Football Contracts
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with football authorities regarding youth football contracts. (S4O-03728)
That is a matter for the Scottish Football Association and the football clubs. As the member will be aware, a petition has been lodged before the Public Petitions Committee on the matter. The Scottish Government has consistently made it clear that the Scottish FA and the football clubs have a duty of care for all the young people involved in the Scottish youth football initiative, which must be upheld at all times.
The future of Scotland’s football resides in the successful development of young male and female footballers. Some recent reports and evidence earlier this year at a Public Petitions Committee round-table session on youth football—to which the cabinet secretary alluded—suggest that the contracted employment conditions of young footballers might be a matter for review. Will the Government at least engage with the authorities and have them consider an in-depth review?
I am aware that the latest position is that the committee is expecting a review of the current registration process by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, which is to be completed next month. I hope that that helps the Public Petitions Committee to take the issue forward. We will be happy, following that review, to engage either with the commissioner or with the committee.
Local Income Tax
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax. (S4O-03729)
The Scottish Government is committed to consulting others later in this parliamentary session to develop a fairer, more progressive local tax, based on the ability to pay.
I invite the cabinet secretary to congratulate Christina McKelvie on her honesty at the Scottish National Party conference at the weekend, when she admitted that the council tax freeze, being regressive, has benefited wealthy people in her area. Is the cabinet secretary going to disappoint Christina McKelvie by changing the current system and considering a more progressive system than the current regressive council tax freeze?
I was not aware that Mr McMahon had been present at the Scottish National Party conference. If he was, and if this is a gradual journey that Mr McMahon is making to come over to the SNP in due course, based on the warmth with which he has always questioned me over the years, I will give him a very warm welcome.
As Mr McMahon will know, the council tax freeze has delivered real benefits to individuals and families across our country. The council tax had risen significantly before the election of this Government. We committed to freeze the council tax, and the freeze will have delivered £1,200 in benefits to the average band D householder in Scotland during the lifetime of this Administration—during the previous parliamentary session and this session. That is welcome support to individuals.
For those on lower incomes, the council tax freeze has had a disproportionately greater impact on their household income. That is why the council tax freeze has given such real benefits to people facing financial challenges in Scotland today.
Welfare Reform (Impact Analysis)
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been published of the impact of welfare reform across Scotland. (S4O-03730)
The Scottish Government has published a range of analysis, reflecting significant concern about how welfare reform is impacting on people across Scotland.
That includes analysis of how women and disabled people are being disproportionately affected by the reforms; of how the number of sanctions has been increasing over time; of how food aid provision has grown over time, which is partly because of the impact of sanctions; and of how, over the six years to 2015-16, the cumulative impact of all welfare reform changes means reductions of around £6 billion in welfare expenditure in Scotland. All the analysis is available on the Scottish Government website.
If welfare and social policy are devolved to this place, as indeed they should be under the vow, how will the Government use that to tackle poverty and create a fairer society?
Our proposals will focus on equipping the Scottish Parliament with the powers to create more jobs, tackle inequality and protect public services in order to create a wealthier and fairer society.