Contents
- General Question Time
- First Minister’s Question Time
- Folic Acid Awareness Campaign
- Play Strategy Action Plan
- Parliamentary Bureau Motion
- Motion without Notice
- Decision Time
General Question Time
BASF Paisley
1. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with management at the BASF manufacturing plant in Paisley. (S4O-02522)
The announcement of the proposed closure of BASF’s facility in Paisley, with the possible loss of 141 jobs, is a great blow to the workforce and my thoughts are with the workers and their families at this time.
Scottish Enterprise has been in close regular contact with BASF in Paisley over the past four years and has worked with the company on its restructuring programme and sustainable site project. That has included financial support such as regional selective assistance, a research and development grant and an organisational development grant. SE has also provided various forms of specialist support such as training and advice.
Meetings took place between SE and BASF in June and August this year to discuss on-going support for the site. Following the announcement last week, SE met the Paisley site director on Thursday 24 October.
In addition, the First Minister spoke with Michael Heinz, member of the board of executive directors at BASF, last week and informed him that Scottish Enterprise would work with local management in Paisley in response to the announcement. The First Minister has also promised that partnership action for continuing employment assistance will be offered to any affected employees.
I thank the cabinet secretary for his answer. I am sure that he agrees with me that the job losses are significant and that the families who will be affected need as much support as possible. Would he also be keen to visit the plant with me in the near future to hear from the individuals concerned?
I accept Mr Adam’s point. It is a very serious situation when any employment loss takes place and the Government does all that it can in such situations to provide support in any way possible. The points that I made in my original answer about the availability of Scottish Enterprise and PACE support to assist in the matter reflect the Government’s position.
I would be delighted to join Mr Adam on a visit to the plant to meet the employees and to ensure that all the steps that can be taken to support individuals are taken in this difficult situation.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that I have written to him on this matter. I welcome the contact that the Scottish Government has made with BASF and with Renfrewshire Council and I welcome the cabinet secretary’s commitment to visit the plant.
I believe that there is still a demand for the products that are made in Paisley and I urge the Scottish Government to do all that it can to find an alternative buyer or an alternative use for the site. Given that the plant has employed generations of the same families in Paisley for more than 60 years, could the Scottish Government ask BASF to consider what legacy—financial or otherwise—it will leave the community should the closure go ahead?
The Government will take a range of steps to try to address the situation. I am sure that Mr Bibby appreciates that the Government endeavours to avoid industrial closure wherever possible. There are a number of examples of where we have worked extremely hard—sometimes successfully, unfortunately sometimes unsuccessfully—to avoid closures by companies. However, companies have to assess market conditions and they can remain in operation only if they have successful and profitable businesses.
I will certainly discuss the issues that Mr Bibby has raised with the company as part of the visit that I make with Mr Adam. I am delighted to do all that I can to try to help out in this situation and, as we have seen from the recent events in Grangemouth, it is possible at times for Government to deliver positive solutions when industrial threats are levelled. We cannot do so in all cases but we will endeavour to achieve that in this circumstance.
Hospital Services (Rural Areas)
2. To ask the Scottish Government what emphasis it places on the delivery of hospital services in rural areas. (S4O-02523)
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all communities in Scotland receive high-quality and sustainable healthcare services. National health service boards have a statutory obligation to provide—and are accountable for—those services that they consider necessary to meet all reasonable requirements for their areas.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to service provision and health boards are expected to design and put in place those service models that best reflect local community circumstances.
All NHS boards’ service provision, whether in rural or urban areas, should match the aims and ambitions of the healthcare quality strategy and make measurable progress towards the 2020 vision.
Is the minister aware of plans by NHS Tayside to close Little Cairnie hospital, in Arbroath, in my constituency, and move the palliative care that it provides to Arbroath infirmary? Does he agree that such a move should go ahead only if it leads to better facilities for patients and their families, which match the best facilities that are available elsewhere in Angus?
I am aware that NHS Tayside is considering services in the area. The board has confirmed that no decision has been taken regarding the future of Little Cairnie hospital. However, it has identified an opportunity to make further service improvements in Angus South in the fields of palliative and cancer care. It has had early discussions with Macmillan Cancer Support on a proposal to introduce three palliative care in-patient suites in Arbroath, with an adjacent day assessment and treatment facility, which would significantly improve the range of assessment and diagnostic and treatment options that are available in Angus South.
Alongside that, the board is looking at how it can develop treatment services in conjunction with Ninewells hospital’s oncology service, which would also help to enhance services locally.
NHS Tayside is clear that any changes to services must be made in conjunction with the local community, and with good local engagement with the community. I expect the board to act in that way in its consideration of Little Cairnie’s future.
Cities (Economic Growth)
3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a scheme for local authorities similar to the city deal programme in England. (S4O-02524)
Local authorities in Scotland already benefit from many of the flexibilities of the city deals that the UK Government is considering for city regions in England. The Scottish Government is always willing to listen to practical suggestions for assisting cities’ efforts to promote economic growth. In that regard, I very much look forward to continuing dialogue within the Scottish cities alliance.
The city deal for Leeds is expected to generate around 60,000 new jobs, and the deal for Manchester is expected to generate £1.2 billion in new investment, through the earn-back tax increment finance scheme. Those are just two examples.
What powers does the Scottish Government think that it could transfer to local government? What is being done to talk to the United Kingdom Government about new initiatives that we could provide for our local authorities, to enable them to generate new investment in jobs and infrastructure, to support our local economies in Scotland?
As I said, we remain open to discussing with cities how we can further empower them to grow their economies and serve the people whom they represent. The issue is under active discussion and consideration in the Scottish cities alliance, in which the City of Edinburgh Council is an active participant. Glasgow City Council is also discussing city deals in some respects. We discussed the matter at the most recent cities alliance meeting and I have every expectation that we will do so at the next one.
Sarah Boyack mentioned Manchester. It might be worth pointing out to her that under arrangements in the deal that has been struck with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the organisation that stands to benefit the most is Her Majesty’s Treasury. We need to ensure that, in taking forward plans or proposals, we do not disadvantage ourselves in any way. Of course, the position would be different in the context of an independent Scotland, where we would have full control over tax revenues and greater opportunities to use them for the benefit of people in Scotland. I ask the member to bear that point in mind.
We are not just open minded; we are considering and discussing the issues in detail with the cities. I will be more than happy to keep the member updated as discussions progress.
East Ayrshire Council (Meetings)
4. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met East Ayrshire Council and what matters were discussed. (S4O-02525)
The Scottish Government meets Scotland’s councils regularly, to discuss a wide range of issues. There was a meeting with East Ayrshire councillors and officials on 16 October to discuss the town centres review and the regeneration capital grant fund.
The minister will be aware that there has been significant investment in Kilmarnock’s public buildings and environment in recent years. Despite that investment, much more needs to be done to help Kilmarnock to make progress after the loss of 700 jobs at Johnnie Walker. Will the minister agree to meet me to discuss how best the Scottish Government can assist East Ayrshire in developing its economic strategy?
I am very happy to accept that invitation to meet Mr Coffey to discuss those matters, and to indicate that I will go to East Ayrshire next week to work in partnership with others, including the council, on regeneration and town centre matters. I look forward to that and I will ensure that an invitation is extended to the constituency member and others and that we will carry forward discussions to achieve the objectives that the member has suggested.
“NHS financial performance 2012/13”
5. To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the Audit Scotland report “NHS financial performance 2012/13”. (S4O-02526)
The Public Audit Committee is due to consider the Audit Scotland report “NHS financial performance 2012-13” at its meeting on 6 November 2013. At the meeting, the Auditor General for Scotland will give evidence on the report and then the committee will consider what action, if any, is required. Following the committee’s deliberations, the Scottish Government will respond formally to the report.
NHS Fife is not only one of the national health service boards that received brokerage to break even last year but one of the five health boards that are underfunded according to the NHS Scotland national resource allocation committee target allocation. NHS Fife received brokerage of £1.4 million this year and £1.1 million last year and Audit Scotland is raising concerns that it will prioritise paying back the loan rather than investing in services, while NHS Fife continues to be underfunded by £12 million according to the NRAC formula. What steps are being taken to deliver funding parity for NHS Fife? When does the minister expect that to be achieved?
I am sure that the member will welcome the fact that for the fifth year in a row all our NHS boards in Scotland have reached a break-even position and have been able to manage their budgets effectively, and that includes NHS Fife. The NRAC formula has been in place for several years now and we are moving towards a level of parity across all the boards, but it has to be done in a way that does not financially disadvantage some of the other boards at the present point. That process will continue over the next couple of years to ensure that we have parity across all the NHS territorial boards.
On the key issue of the actual level of resource funding that is being made available, will the minister confirm what that figure is for NHS Fife? Presumably, increased flexibility in repayment arrangements would be possible in respect of the brokerage, as there has been for NHS Tayside.
We work with all boards to help to ensure that they can reach break-even positions within their budgets. As the member will be aware, we have kept to our manifesto commitment to pass on all the Barnett consequentials for the health budget to our territorial boards where that has been possible. It is also worth noting that in the draft budget for 2014-15, NHS territorial boards will receive an allocated increase of 3.1 per cent in 2014-15 and 2.7 per cent in 2015-16, which represents a real-terms increase that will be allocated directly to protecting front-line services.
Royal Mail (Renationalisation)
6. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the costs and processes involved in renationalising the Royal Mail in an independent Scotland and whom it has consulted. (S4O-02527)
The Scottish Government is in contact with a range of relevant stakeholders about the future of the postal service. The cost of securing a publicly owned mail service in Scotland will be based on the value of the assets at the time.
The day after the First Minister made his surprise commitment—by which I mean that it was a surprise to the cabinet secretary—I heard Mr Swinney explain on the radio that he would achieve that promise by using Scotland’s share of the proceeds of the Royal Mail sale to buy back Royal Mail assets in Scotland. The problem with that, of course, is that because Royal Mail was so foolishly sold off at a bargain-basement price, those assets are worth at least 70 per cent more than when the First Minister made the promise. How does he now plan to pay for it?
That is a very interesting take on this question. I thought that Mr Gray lodged his question because he was going to set out the Labour Party’s willingness to work with us to bring this asset back into public hands.
Mr Gray bemoans the sell-off of the Royal Mail at an undervalued price. The shares were sold off at a price of between 260p and 330p and they are now trading at 530p. I did not take that decision; the useless United Kingdom Government took that decision. That lot over on the Labour side want to allow the United Kingdom Government to carry on taking useless and stupid decisions about the future of our country.
If Mr Gray wants to come here and offer a helpful intervention in the process, he should do what the member of Parliament for North Ayrshire did—who is a Labour MP, I might add—and support the renationalisation of the Royal Mail.
Cyclists (Safety Improvements)
7. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve safety for cyclists. (S4O-02528)
We are improving road safety for cyclists through a wide range of measures around the three Es—engineering, education and enforcement. We are increasing investment in cycling infrastructure, with additional funding of £20 million over the next two years being announced in the draft budget on top of the £58 million already allocated since the 2011 spending review, and we have developed road user awareness campaigns to foster mutual respect on the roads.
The Scottish Government’s road safety framework to 2020 includes commitments on education and training, improved signage, consideration of cycling in the context of roads maintenance and design, and the use of 20mph zones in all residential areas. A broad portfolio of approaches is needed and will continue to be developed to improve cyclist safety.
I thank the minister for that detailed response. Police Scotland has record numbers of officers at the moment. In the past, police officers engaged with primary schools on cycling proficiency. Things have moved on, but there is surely an opportunity for the police to engage with young people on road safety. Will the minister get in touch with Police Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to encourage that approach, which could only enhance community safety?
The police have a major role to play in the enforcement measures that I mentioned in my first response, but it is also the case that substantial initiatives are under way to ensure that all children get the chance to have on-the-road safety training. Previously, training was often done in the playground, whereas now it is done on the road. That is the right way in which to proceed.
On safety in general, we have seen a decrease in fatalities; the figure is down to 174 people from the previous 185. We have seen decreases in total casualties, child casualties, child fatalities, pedestrian casualties and motorcyclist fatalities. The stand-out is the increase that we have seen in cyclist casualties, so there is no question but that we must give the matter further attention. The best way in which to deal with the matter is to make sure that every child has the chance to have on-the-road training, which will reassure both them and their parents that it is safe to cycle.
Telecare
8. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to develop telecare services for people across Scotland. (S4O-02529)
Telecare can and does support more people to live independently at home and in their community. We are keen to promote that message during the first Scottish telehealth and telecare week, which we are in the middle of.
However, I recognise that more can be done to develop telecare, and to help to drive it forward the Scottish Government, along with NHS Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, published “A National Telehealth and Telecare Delivery Plan for Scotland to 2015: Driving Improvement, Integration and Innovation”, which set out our ambitions for the growth of telecare services across Scotland. That included work with Scotland Excel on a procurement framework for telecare. With the involvement of all 32 local authorities and a number of housing associations, that has ensured that the latest technology is available at the lowest possible price across the country.
The Accounts Commission reported today that Scotland’s local authorities are increasing charges for services such as elderly home care, meals on wheels and emergency alarms in order to plug a shortfall in their finances that has been caused partly by the council tax freeze. The national telehealth and telecare delivery plan for Scotland includes a recommendation that the Scottish Government engage more effectively with councils and the housing and care home community to expand the use of telecare for elderly and vulnerable tenants and residents. What implications will increased charges for elderly residents have on the use of telecare for the elderly in Scotland?
The strategy that I mentioned is exactly the way in which we intend to take this forward with our partners in local government and the health service. It is important that telehealth and telecare are not looked upon as an alternative to care, because they are there to help to support other forms of care including services such as meals on wheels and home care.
The approach that we are taking is to take telehealth and telecare forward on an incremental basis so that we can ensure that we get real benefits for both the individuals who use the service and the service providers. The strategy is set out in a way that helps us to make sure that we achieve that across the country with all the partners who can assist us in delivering on it.
That ends general question time. Before we come to the next item of business, I am sure that members will join me in welcoming to the gallery the ambassador of Croatia, His Excellency Ivan Grdešic. [Applause.]