14/05/2017 Scottish First Minister's Questions

In a trend started under the last Labour Government the NHS in England

spends 7. 6% of its budget on the private sector. We will continue to

make sure that we are investing in the public NHS not the private

sector. Interestingly, one of the first things I did when I was Health

Secretary was scrap the private contract for the running of

Stracathrow hospital introduced by the last Labour administration. The

problem for Labour here is all these things. They Pontificate about in

Opposition are things they failed to do when they had the opportunity in

Government. Lastly, Presiding Officer, I don't expect anybody

working across our public sector to be grateful to any Government

because they are dealing with extremely tough times. I recognise

that and I recognise that particularly for people working at

the frontline of the NHS. But I would expect opposition parties to

recognise in these tough times this Government has done more in terms of

public sector pay than any other Government across the UK. That's why

agenda for change staff are paid more in Scotland than England. It's

why newly qualified nurses are paid more in Scotland than they are in

England and in Labour governed Wales. We will continue to take the

right action in our NHS, which is meaning that we have record funding

in our NHS and we have record numbers of staff working in our NHS

as well. APPLAUSE

I'm conscious we've taken a lot of time for our first two questions,

serious issues as they are. There are a number of members who wish to

get in. Two constituency questions the first from John finny. North

West Highland's gained UNESCO status in 2015. That status is assessed

every four years. It's due to be assessed in 2019. Until now the

Scottish Government has provided funding to the geopark. This year

the Scottish Government decided not to supply funding. They have raised

just 18% of the total required. Given the effort that's gone into

achieving that UNESCO status it would be a disaster if that was

lost. First Minister, would you agree to have your officials examine

options for providing the modest financial support to allow the west

Highland geopark to retain that status, please? Can I thank you for

raising this issue. I am film with geopark and the UNESCO status that

it has got. I agree that is extremely important. Oars I recall

-- as I recall, the Scottish Government provided core funding. I

am happy to have officials to look at this again and consider whether

there is anything the Scottish Government is do to help.

I will report back once we've looked at it. The tennis club is

175-year-old club offering sporting facilities to Inverclyde. Chaenking

to use and water exemption rules has left them with a bill of up to

?2,000 per annum, which could drive up membership costs or force them to

close doors. They're not the only ones. What comfort can the First

Minister provide to groups across Scotland that the government will

seriously look to the charges. Will she commit to a full and open review

into the policy? It's not too long since we had a full review of the

situation around charities with water rates or exemptions from water

rates. I remember it well. At the time I was the minister in charge of

taking forward the recommendations from that review. I remember well

that we tried to put in place a system that was as fair as possible

to as many charities across the country as possible. Now the test

for zemings are based on the income of charities and capital that

charities hold. Therefore there will always be some charitable

organisation that don't get exemptions because of income or

capital above the thresholds. I should say I'm more than happy to

have the relevant minister look at particular organisation that has

been cited here. I'm looking in the wrong direction, to look at the

particular organisation to make sure that the rules are being applied

appropriately. But the point I would make is I think all members would

recognise that with any system of exemptions like this, there will

always be some organisations that do not qualify for the exemptions. I

know that will be very difficult for organisations who are in that

position. I'll ask Rosanna Cunningham to look into this and

report back. What issues will be discussed at the next meet fght

Cabinet? -- of the Cabinet? Matters of importance to people of Scotland.

Yet again we've heard about the poor statistics on education. The mother

of our 15-year-old schoolboy said to me yesterday that she is worried her

son could be one of those statistics. He is struggling with

reading and writing. She is anxious about his future. And she is also

angry with the SNP, who have been in charge for the whole of her son's

education. What has the First Minister got to say to that mother

and her son? I'm concerned to learn of a parent with concerns like that.

I would say again how seriously I and the Government take the

challenges on education. I won't repeat as I did with Ruth Davidson

all the strengths that are there. But to recognise some of the real

improvements we're making. One of the ones I didn't mention earlier on

was the improvements in attainment of pupils with additional support

needs for example. It's because we recognise some of these challenges

that we are take the action that we are take. I don't know the school

that the child quoted or the child the parent quoted goes to but it's

likely that the head teacher of that school now has in his or her own

hands additional resources, significant additional resources to

invest in the specific areas that head teacher thinks are required to

improve attainment. It's exactly that kind of action that we are

determined to continue to drive forward. I would say to you, many of

the reforms we are taking form are reforms that he is opposing. Yes, I

think it is right that members bring concerns to this chamber. But we

also then have to be prepared to do the difficult things that are

required to see the improvements that we all want to see.

I'm afraid that's just more promises to improve school education at some

point in the future. It won't help that schoolboy now. He could be part

of a lost generation. He has been at school for a decade. Every single

day of that, the SNP education secretaries have been in charge.

They still sit round the Cabinet table today. These are the education

secretaries that rejected a pupil premium for six whole years, even

though it raised attainment in England. They delayed nursery

education for two-year-olds, rejected a penny on income tax for

education and cut thousands of places from our colleges. When the

First Minister and her ministers have got it so wrong for years,

where on earth should that mother and her 15-year-old son ever trust

them again? Firstly, these are important issues and important

challenges that we've got to face, but I would say, I do think it does

a real disservice to the young people of our country to use

language like a "lost generation". That is pretty disgraceful. Willey

Rennie talks about investments that he thinks we should have made years

ago. I would simply remind him that those years gone past are exactly

the years that the Liberal Democrats were in a Westminster coalition with

the Tories, cutting Scotland's budget year after year after year.

The last point I would make is the most important point. He says that

the young man and the parent they talked about, what money -- what

goodwill this money do? The money is in the hands of head teachers right

now. I have spoke ton head teachers who are talking about the

initiatives they are taking forward with the investment. The additional

investment direct to head teachers, the extra investment elsewhere in

our attainment fund, but also the measures we're taking forward to

ensure that we can track the progress as a result of these

measures and Willie Rennie repeatedly stands up in this chamber

and opposes the things we're trying to do to see these improvements and

make sure we can be accountable to every parent across this country.

We'll get on with doing the things that need to be done, even sometimes

when they are difficult and they don't get the support of the Liberal

Democrats. A few topical supplementaries.

Thank you Presiding Officer. Last night BBC Scotland broadcast a

shocking documentary on the human trafficking trade. It provided clear

evidence that young girls are being trafficked from Slovakia to Glasgow,

where they're forced into sham marriages to local men. This is a

scandal and a human tragedy, which is going on right under our noses

here in Scotland right now. Can the First Minister set out what her

Government will do to support girls who arrive in such appalling

circumstances and what measures can be taken to crack down on

trafficking, and traffickers who engage in this evil trade? This is

an extremely important issue. It is as she is right to say, both a

terrible crime. That is what human trafficking is. It's also a global

problem. But it's important that we take robust steps to tackle it, both

in cracking down on the crime committed but also making sure we're

supporting the victims. Now in terms of tackling the crime, the human

trafficking and exploitation act that was passed by this Parliament

in to 15 gives police -- in 2015, gives police and prosecutors

enhanced powers to detect and prosecute those who are responsible

for human trafficking. Police Scotland uses joint investigation

teams to work with Romanian and Slovakian police in this area. It's

vital police Scotland continues to work closely with UK immigration,

Europol and other nations' police forces in order to investigate

offences and bring those responsible to justice. We will continue to make

sure that our police force have the powers and eresources to investigate

and to tackle what are evil crimes against these individuals. The

second important point is how we support victims of human

trafficking. We continue to support what is invaluable work of

organisations that offer assistance to victims. In 2017/18 the

Government will provide grant funding of ?800,000 to the specific

organisations who support adult victims of human trafficking. That's

an increase on previous funding. We'll continue to work with them to

improve the support available to prevent re-trafficking. There's a

range of - I don't have time to go into all of it, I'd be happy to

write to the member with the detail of the work we are doing - but we

should all agree that the crime of trafficking is evil. We must bring

those responsible to justice and provide the support that the victims

need. The Government will continue to focus on doing exactly that.

As the First Minister may be aware there is huge disappointment and

shock following the decision by the Crown office after a prolonged

police investigation and I'm told nine court hearings to drop the case

relating to the alleged illegal killing of a hen harrier in my

constituency in 2013. They have taken a view that the evidence was

inadd missable. Notwithstanding the progress made in recent years, will

the First Minister acknowledge this case represents a serious crime

against a threatened species. Most often this takes place in remote

areas, the law and the approach of the Crown office must take into

account such factors. Will the first machine investigate this case will a

view tone suring the justice system doesn't miss any opportunities to

hold those who illegally kill indigenous species to account? Yes,

I do agree very much with Richard Lockhead. He will understand the

decisions of the prosecution of crime are decisions for the Crown

office and the law officers act in that respect independently of

ministers. I think it's important that we take wildlife crime very

seriously, indeed particularly in cases whereas he has highlighted

today it threatens a threatened species. I would be happy to ask the

relevant minister again to meet with Richard Lockhead to see what more we

can do, particularly taking into account his point about often these

crime take place in remote areas and are more difficult to detect. It's

important to make sure the policy framework, the law around this and

though it's independent of ministers, the decisions taken by

the Crown office, are doing everything possible to crack down on

these kinds of crime and I can assure him that we'll continue to do

everything we can to make sure that's the case.

Cry, College lecturers have been forced on strike for the fourth day

in this dispute, impacting on them, their family and on their students'

education and exams. Can I ask how many days lecturers will need to

strike before the First Minister intervenes to ensure the pay deal is

honoured and does she agree preparation time is essential for

high quality learning? Yes I do agree with that Leys point. I want

to see the dispute settled and I don't want to see lecturers on

strike and it is not in their interest or students. As members

will be aware, I won't go into all the detail, we have moved to a

position of national bargaining, the discussions are about a

harmonisation and this will see a pay rise for the majority. The

discussions now are about how different college by college terms

and conditions are replaced with a national system. Talks are

continuing, and I would encourage both sides to go the extra mile,

including and perhaps especially the employers. I would say in terms of

point about government intervention, ministers have been speaking

regularly with both sides in the dispute, trying to make sure we are

doing everything to encourage them to move to a resolution. The move to

national bargaining was something the unions campaigned for and

something I'm delighted to say this government has delivered. But if a

government has to step in, that is not the success of national

bargaining that, would be the failure of national bargaining. So

ministers will continue to discuss with both sides and do everything we

can to bring the dispute to a settlement. Talks are ongoing today

and certainly tomorrow I would hope we would see resolution of this,

because that is in the interests of college lecturers and students and I

hope that reassures the member that the government will continue to make

shoor we are doing everything possible to bring that about. Four

more questions. I would like to refer members to my register of

interests to ask how the Government is marking mental health awareness

week. Well, I welcome the opportunity to highlight mental

health awareness week. It is important that we all do what we can

to raise awareness. To mark the week, the minister for mental health

met with parents of children and spoke at an event to discuss mental

health stigma. We will hold the first meeting on 23rd June. That is

a specific commitment, because we know working with stake holders will

be key to building on the actions of the strategy. Thank you. In my

opinion, one of the most important actioned in the strategy is to build

a clinical network. Can the First Minister outline how the network

will help mothers experiencing mental health problems? Progress is

being made and I'm happy to confirm that this week the lead clinician

for mental health has been successfully appointed. The Scottish

Government officials attended the conference on Monday and heard at

first hand from mothers their experience in asking for and getting

the right help and I would expect the new network to help us get it

right by driving up standards of care through sbe sbrags of services

and -- integration of services and more collaboration. To ask the First

Minister whether the Scottish Government has had discussions with

SEPA to encourage it to have staff in gaining mouth. -- Grangemouth.

The Scottish government is in discussions about the SEPA estate.

SEPA staff are present in gaining mouth. But I -- Grangemouth. But I

understand following discussions SEPA has agree toad see the benefits

of supporting a Grangemouth site. Thank you. I welcome the fact that

SEPA are going to have those discussions for Grangemouth. Doesn't

require an answer. Question 6. To ask the First Minister what the

Scottish government is doing to better resource planning authorities

in light of an increase in planning fees for major applications from 1st

June 2017. We need a planning system to support business and communities

to deliver high quality development. There has been a general

understanding that fee levels are too low and in many instances not in

proportion to the work involved. We have always been clear that fees and

performance go hand and hand and we are increasing the maximum fee to

provide further resources. The Government will continue to work

wall stake holders to ensure that planning services deliver for

Scotland's communities. The First Minister will be aware that the

national view of planning fee, that maximum fees have Ryz frn 30,000 to

125,000 and let me say this is a welcome resource for local

authorities. Many planning authorities have done an excellent

job, despite cuts. Organisations such as homes for Scotland and

smaller building firms who want to make sure there is an improvement in

the service for those fees, would the First Minister recognise that

these costs could be prohibitive if there is no at dramatic improvement

in waiting times, in particular I'm looking at the figures for house

building where there is an average wait of 48 weeks and I know the

Government has a strong interest in this, planning to build 50,000

houses and I would like to know what the First Minister can do to ensure

the additional costs are spent on improving the planning system

itself? I think it would make two points. First, it is important to

stress the maximum fee and the fee increase only applies to major

applications, that less than 1% of applications. So it wouldn't impact

op plans to deliver 50,000 affordable homes. The second point

is important, the fee increase is about giving councils resources to

improve performance and improving planning performance and doing it on

a consistent basis is one of the things we can do to boost sxhibg

growth in -- economic growth in Scotland and it is vital the

increases lead to that improvement in performance. I should say we are

seeing improvements, reductions in waiting times, but there is more

that can be done and I hope this increase in the fee together with

the actions we will take from the review will help with that in the

period ahead. Question 7. To ask the First Minister in light of local

Government elections whether Scottish Scotland will act to

randomise the names of candidates on ballot papers. For someone whose

surname starts with an S, I can see the attraction. Can I congratulate

all councillors elected, we will wish them well. Following the

successful electronic count, randomised ordering of candidates'

surnames is one innovation the Scottish Government will consider. I

should say no decisions have been taken. But it is one of changes that

will be considered. Thank you. The SNP randomises its own internal SNP

ballot will and so seems reasonable to introduce such a method. In

Glasgow, 40 of the 43 contests with Mo or two candidates from the same

party stood. Glasgow City Council has populated by these names. Does

the First Minister agree that after three elections, under the Single

Transferable Vote, there is something wrong when a surname can

prove a decisive factor and if this not addressed the credibility of the

Single Transferable Vote system is at stake. I think that has to count

as a classic Kenny Gibson question. Can I say just before address the

question, I'm delighted that there was an Aiken electeded in Glasgow.

Councillor Susan atd Ken is' -- - Aitken it set to be the leader of

Glasgow council. It is important that no candidate in any election is

at an unfair disadvantage. I think we would all agree with that. That

is why we have said that we will examine the particular issue that

Kenny Gibson has raised. Its important with any changes to

elections that we build consensus around that. It is not for any one

party to decide on those changes. So as we look at that, we will be

looking at opinion not just across the parties, but across civic

Scotland. So as we do, have this consideration I would everyone to

contribute to it to build consensus. Thank you. That is the end of First

Minister's questions.