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Plenary, 22 Nov 2001

Meeting date: Thursday, November 22, 2001

Official Report 537KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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NHS Dental Services (Grampian)

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards improving the quality of NHS dental services in the Grampian Health Board area. (S1O-4121)

I am aware of current difficulties in the provision of NHS dental treatment in Grampian, due principally to local staff shortages. I understand that NHS Grampian has recently been successful in filling some vacant posts and that urgent cases are still seen quickly as a priority.

In addition, a range of measures is being advanced nationally to improve the supply of dentists and to improve NHS dental services across Scotland.

I thank the minister for that reply. I am sure the minister will realise that there is a shortage of dentists. In Aberdeenshire there is one dentist for every 5,000 people. The British Dental Association says that there should be one dentist for every 2,000 people. There are two solutions and I ask the minister to examine them.

First, will the minister consider recruiting dentists from European Union countries, where there is a surplus of dentists, as a short-term measure? Secondly, could the welcome initiative to attract rural general practitioners to the north of Scotland be extended to attract dentists to rural areas in the north-east of Scotland?

I am pleased to advise Mike Rumbles that work is already under way on that. In Grampian, the board is already investigating whether recruitment from overseas would bring in the necessary staff.

In addition, I understand that four Scottish dental access initiative grants have been awarded in Grampian. Those will contribute to improving the circumstances there. I also say to Mike Rumbles that we acknowledge that many different things need to be done to recruit into rural areas in particular. I am pleased to have met recently with the British Dental Association and held discussions on a range of solutions.

I am also pleased that, only this week, the remote and rural areas initiative held a conference in Perth. It was developing further ideas that we will be progressing.

Will the minister go on record as saying that it is unacceptable for people in Grampian to wait perhaps two to three months for a check-up at the local dentist, and three or four years for treatment from an orthodontist based at the local hospital? Will she give an undertaking to work with local ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to plot a way forward for the service in Grampian and perhaps agree to a meeting with a cross-party group of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to discuss the matter?

I am always happy to work with local ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ when they wish to explore with us, positively and constructively, what practical solutions can be developed. In many parts of the country I have done just that. I am encouraged that remote and rural recruitment issues are being addressed not just as NHS issues, but often through the involvement of local enterprise companies and others. When ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ are prepared to work on a constructive and positive basis, I am more than happy to work with them.

I return the minister to the answer that she gave to Mr Rumbles about advertising for dentists. Does she know that the health board did not pass on all the grant that was available for advertising outwith Scotland last year? Is she aware that we cannot attract trainee dentists into the area because of inadequate training support? There is no institute, as there is in other parts of Scotland. What will the minister do about that?

We must be absolutely clear on two points. As far as the Executive is concerned, we do not shirk from the fact that there are real issues about recruitment into dentistry—particularly in rural areas. We also recognise that the problem is multifaceted and has multifaceted solutions—it is not simply a question of investment. As I indicated in my response to Richard Lochhead, it is not even just an issue of how the NHS responds in isolation to recruitment issues in rural areas. There are many ways forward that must be explored. As I indicated, we are doing that actively, together with the profession.

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Regeneration of Communities<br />(Culture and the Arts)

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to promote culture and the arts as being integral to the regeneration of communities. (S1O-4148)

Many factors contribute to the regeneration of communities. We recognise that the promotion of the arts and the broader cultural agenda is an important element of that regeneration and that many agencies have a part to play in that. For example, we have requested that the Scottish Arts Council ensures that all social inclusion partnerships have an arts component and I am pleased to say that so far 30 of the 48 SIPs are in the process of putting that component in place.

I thank the minister for her reply. Is she aware of interesting initiatives in my constituency, such as the Pollok Kist, the Village storytelling project and the planned heritage centre? They are interesting examples of the way in which the arts and culture are being promoted.

Those initiatives are supported and driven by local people. They are of interest and benefit to the local community, but will the minister reassure me that the Executive recognises the importance of promoting arts and culture and of making the wider community aware of such initiatives? That should create the infrastructure to allow broader accessibility to such initiatives and broader community interest in the arts, which would support economic regeneration in communities such as those which I represent.

I reassure Johann Lamont that the Scottish Executive is well aware of many local community arts and cultural projects. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Rutherglen and Cambuslang, at the invitation of Janis Hughes. Young people there were enabled to produce a play to articulate their experiences of the drugs issue. As we know, Cumbernauld Theatre also does much work with young people, to good effect.

Johann Lamont's central point is correct. Much of Scotland's great art was produced through the experience of ordinary working people. The Executive is committed to assisting people to promote the arts of their local communities and take that to the broader agenda. We always support access to the greatest arts in Scotland, but we also support local community arts and work hard to bring together the social justice and arts agendas.

Does the minister agree that community regeneration should be community-led, not least in arts and culture? What role will KickStart play in that process?

As Kenny Gibson knows, we have pushed forward the KickStart programme and workers are about to be put in place. I am happy to encourage those workers to develop the community arts agenda.

Such work should be community-led, but we are not naive about the need for local support for communities that have been excluded from the arts. We need to support them in articulating their demands through resources and supporting staff in the KickStart programme.

In many areas, the powers that be still do not accept that cultural activity in the community is a great help to young people. Often, all that is needed is a bit of help, a modest amount of money and some professional know-how. Will the minister work with local government, when it is not pursuing such a policy, to encourage it to do that more?

Yes. Donald Gorrie makes his point well. Often, modest amounts of money produce great returns for communities. I have been impressed by the range of activities that local authorities have undertaken. Glasgow City Council is developing a good track record with its arts and cultural strategy. In greater Easterhouse in my constituency, Scottish Opera recently attended a community event at very little cost. Such integrated partnership working between arts agencies and local authorities is the answer to dealing with the great reservoirs of untapped talent in our communities that we are committed to releasing.

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Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce final details of the wind-up of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes. (S1O-4156)

I am keen for ex gratia payments to Scottish Transport Group pension members to be made as soon as possible. However, that cannot happen until the pension schemes are wound up, and that is entirely a matter for the pension scheme's trustees. As soon as the schemes are wound up, the Scottish Transport Group will be dissolved, the surplus will be transferred and ex gratia payments will be processed.

The minister said that the relevant dissolution order would be brought to the Parliament in autumn last year and later changed that date to autumn this year. Bearing that in mind, what is the Scottish Executive's definition of autumn? Will the minister ensure that pensioners receive interim payments from the surplus before Christmas and that the final payments total much more than the £100 million that has been promised, given that the gross surplus is £250 million plus interest?

No one is keener than I am to ensure that the pensioners have justice. The Executive has not delayed. The fact is that we cannot pay out until the trustees have wound up the scheme. We cannot access the detailed information on all the pensioners until the scheme is wound up and the trustees pass that information to us. As soon as we have that information, I think that we should issue full payments and not mess around with interim payments or delay the final settlement that the pensioners have waited far too long for.

Does the minister appreciate that her colleagues at the top of the Government in London blame the Executive for unacceptable delays in paying Scottish citizens their own money? Even the chancellor is said to be furious. Is Gordon Brown right or wrong to be furious at the Executive? Is he furious because payments to pensioners have been delayed or because there has been a delay in the Treasury getting its hands on pensioners' money? Is not it acutely ironic that thousands of ordinary Scots have waited 10 years for their own money, when a First Minister has been handed a chunk of a pension after one year of failure?

I will stick to the substance of the question. The Executive has not delayed. We are working hard to get the schemes through. We will be at the Finance Committee next week to ensure that we have the powers to pay the money.

I want the money to be paid as soon as possible. That is also the UK Government's position. Until we have the final wind-up from the trustees, we cannot pay the money. We must ensure that that work goes ahead as soon as possible, once the Parliament and the Executive have the authority to pay the money.

I am pleased to hear that the minister wants to see this expedited as quickly as possible. From the minister's discussions with the Transport and General Workers Union, she will be aware that many people are unclear about the process. There may also be people who have not yet come forward and others who are unaware that they are entitled to something from the pension fund. Will the minister give an indication of the steps that the Executive has taken and the procedures that are about to be put in place to ensure that everyone who is entitled to a payment from the scheme gets one, as soon as the scheme is wound up?

First, we are in discussion with the trade unions to ensure that they know the criteria on which we will disburse the money. Secondly, as soon as the Executive has the money and we are able to make payments, we will have the widest possible advertising campaign to ensure that every single pensioner who might benefit from the funds knows about it. That will ensure that the records are up-to-date and will allow us to make payments.

The minister will be aware that I have received many representations from constituents in my part of the world. It is essential that the matter be brought to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion. If it is necessary for the minister to co-ordinate with United Kingdom ministers, will she give me an assurance that that will be done?

Absolutely. We have worked closely with UK ministers. We have an Executive team that is ready and waiting to pay out the money as soon as we have it and the records from the STG. We are ready to pay out the money, but we need to have the money for us to be able to do that.

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Road Projects (A830)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its programme for road projects will include upgrading the remaining single-track section of the A830 between Fort William and Mallaig and whether it will seek any European transitional funding for such an upgrade. (S1O-4154)

The remaining single-track section of the A830 is included in the agreed list of schemes for which European transitional funding will be sought. Highland Council will shortly be undertaking the necessary outstanding work, leading to the publication of a draft order. The scheme will be a candidate for future trunk road programme funding, taking account of the availability of European transitional funding.

My question is again one about delay. Is the minister aware of the visit yesterday of the Lord Russell-Johnston? In his maiden speech to the House of Commons, Lord Russell-Johnston raised the question of the Mallaig road. He did that in 1964.

It was a Liberal priority. [Laughter.]

Liberals have a certain sense of timing.

Does the minister agree that the delay is acceptable? Does she consider the delay to be much of an advert for the so-called benefits of the union?

As everybody knows, the Executive was set up at the same time as the Parliament. That was in 1999. Six months after the Scottish Parliament was set up, I gave the go-ahead for work on the second-last stretch of the A830. This summer, I visited the work site. The second-last stretch of the road is now going ahead. The Executive has made that a priority. We have already instructed Highland Council to do the preparatory work for the final stage. Fergus Ewing can take from that that we have a full awareness of the importance of getting on with the work.

Given the large amount of traffic on the A830 from Mallaig harbour, safety is often compromised, not only for travellers but for the communities that are cut off when the road is closed due to accidents. That also prohibits further economic development of the harbour. For those reasons, will the minister explore all funding options, including funds available for road safety and economic development?

I can give Rhoda Grant a commitment that we will do that. We have to make tough choices throughout our trunk roads network, but the fact that we have one final stretch of single-track road in Scotland is a lasting issue, which must be taken into account when we next consider priorities throughout the trunk roads programme.

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Diet

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with its policy of improving the Scottish diet. (S1O-4150)

We are taking forward the Scottish diet action plan "Eating for Health" in a number of areas, for example by appointing the first Scottish food and health co-ordinator, injecting substantial resources from the health improvement fund and working to develop higher nutritional standards for school meals.

Does the minister agree that real long-term improvements involve getting fruit and vegetables into the mouths and stomachs of children—not necessarily the same task—particularly the poorest children, and that that should be a key health priority? Will she welcome and support initiatives such as the cashless school meals system that operates at Turnbull High School in my constituency as examples of the elimination of a stigma that has no place in 21st century Scotland?

This is an appropriate time to praise the efforts that have been made throughout Scotland in communities and schools and by local authorities, voluntary organisations, the health service and many others, to ensure that we make a difference to the diet of our nation. Change will not happen overnight, but it can and will happen if people continue to work together to make a difference. I am pleased that education, health and social justice ministers have joined together this week to take forward our latest series of measures to ensure that children in schools have access to healthy school meals. I welcome steps that have been taken by schools such as that in Brian Fitzpatrick's constituency, which will remove the stigma of free school meals and ensure that the barriers are removed so that the poorest in our society get the healthy, nutritious food that they need.

What is the Executive doing to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity, particularly given the serious impact that that has on health throughout life and on the development of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease? Will she assure us that action on diet will be taken throughout all relevant Executive departments?

Margaret Smith is right to highlight the growing problem of childhood obesity. It is in part a product of diet, but also of other lifestyle factors, not least the lack of exercise that many children experience as a consequence of changed habits. The problem is being tackled throughout Government. I am pleased that much is being done, for example in initiatives such as the Have a Heart Paisley national health demonstration project, to develop exercise and dietary improvement in schools. All of those projects together will start to make a difference. However, it is a big challenge and one that we must address together.

Given that poor diet is second only to smoking as the biggest contributor to early death in Scotland, does the minister agree that it requires radical thought and far-reaching measures? Will she agree therefore that the Parliament should give serious consideration to the free school meals bill?

I agree absolutely that improvement in that area needs radical and far-reaching methods and I am proud that the Executive is developing such measures. Anyone who has been closely involved in that area—and all the experts who gathered together at a food in schools conference earlier this year—would agree that the proposals in Tommy Sheridan's bill would not be an effective use of resources and, just as importantly, would not be effective in ensuring that our children actually eat nutritious meals.

What we are doing, however, is introducing practical measures that will ensure just that. The measures that we have set out this week will introduce minimum nutritional standards in schools and practical measures to end the stigma attached to free school meals. To ensure that we really are successful, we have written this week to directors of education in every local authority in Scotland to involve them in that work.

Is the Executive still on course for achieving the targets, aims and objectives that were set out in "Eating for Health: a Diet Action Plan for Scotland", which was written by my colleague Lord James Douglas-Hamilton when he was Scottish health minister in 1996?

Mary Scanlon may be aware that one of the few occasions when I am on record as praising something from a previous Conservative Government is that on which I praised the Scottish national diet action plan. To this day, there is broad agreement that that plan represents the way forward in improving diet. However, it is not enough to have the plan. We must also put action, energy and investment into implementing it, and that is what we are now doing.

Some 250,000 people in Scotland are at risk of malnutrition, and 310,000 children in Scotland live in poverty. Those are almost third-world figures in relation to our population size. Much more radical action needs to be taken. I suggest that the Executive's investigatory groups look at one place where meals are highly subsidised, very nutritious, delicious and cheap: the Scottish Parliament. Our children should be as well fed as we are, instead of having to buy rubbishy sweets out of vending machines to make schools money.

However desirable it may be, it is not possible to give the nation's children access to the Scottish Parliament canteen. However, a growing number of Scottish children have access to breakfast clubs, to healthy eating initiatives in communities and to fruit in schools and nursery schools. That is the kind of thing that we are doing to reach out and end the problems of generations in this country.

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Schools (Physical Education)

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to promote physical education within the school curriculum. (S1O-4122)

From food to exercise. The Scottish Executive is anxious to promote physical education in all our schools. In terms of the school curriculum, performance measures for physical activity have now been developed and will be included in guidance for local authorities on the preparation of individual school improvement plans.

Does the minister agree that, although we have a tradition of football and rugby in Scottish schools, it is just as important to promote non-competitive sport? Will he join me in congratulating Greenwood Academy, in my constituency, on introducing fitness days which allow pupils to participate in contemporary exercise such as step aerobics, circuits and boxercise?

I am happy to congratulate Irene Oldfather's local school on that initiative. Although I agree that the issue is wider than specific competitive or team sports, I believe that such competitive and team sports are very important. The performance measures that are being issued reflect that balance. There are to be nationally determined performance measures on the percentage of schools with health-promoting school status, and those measures should cover issues such as diet as well as exercise. The measures will reflect the range of physical activity provided by schools including, but not exclusively, sport. There will also be a locally determined measure on the percentage of pupils participating in key cultural, sporting and social activities outside the formal school curriculum.

That will really make the kids want to go out and get into sport. To what extent have the well-known findings of the Linwood primary school PE experiment been incorporated in the minister's programme for PE in schools?

I do not know. [Laughter.]

I admire the minister for his honesty. He will be aware of my considerable interest in the subject. Does he accept that one of the best ways of ensuring that young people and children are involved in physical activity in school is to co-ordinate that within local communities and sports clubs? Will he undertake to examine what action is being taken to ensure that that work is better co-ordinated? If necessary, will he return to the matter and consider what further steps need to be taken in the school curriculum?

I agree that it is important to deliver at local level. Whatever national performance measures we may have, the key is local delivery. That is why we have set up the physical activity task force, under the chairmanship of John Beattie.

I will meet him and other members of the task force this afternoon to consider some of its early proposals. We have made it clear that we are prepared to take on the task force's recommendations and consider its proposals for change. We will consider amending and changing our quality indicators, if the task force sees fit. Members should forgive the pun.

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Water Industry

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to introduce legislation to facilitate competition in the delivery of water and sewerage services. (S1O-4128)

We will not legislate to facilitate competition in the water industry. However, as part of the water environment and water services bill planned for next year, we will establish a legislative framework to ensure that if competition develops, it does so in the interests of all customers, while public health, the environment and our social objectives continue to be safeguarded.

Private water companies will be delighted with the proposal to ask taxpayers to continue to bear the burden of maintaining a costly and heavily-regulated water and sewerage infrastructure. Will the minister explain why that is in the public interest? It seems that the loss-making parts of the industry are to be kept in public ownership while the money-making parts are to be passed over to the real cronies of today's politics—the predatory private companies that are out to stuff their pockets with taxpayers' money at the expense of public services.

Mr McAllion has no evidence to put to Parliament that we have any intention to do other than retain Scottish Water in public ownership for the benefit of the company.

If the Parliament approves the creation of Scottish Water, that company, in public ownership and delivering the highest quality water and sewerage services at the most competitive price, will see off the competition.

Does the minister agree that the establishment of Scottish Water will create the largest quango in Scotland's history, with an annual expenditure of almost £1 billion? With the creation of that super quango, does he accept that it is important to ensure a fair, open and transparent appointment process for board members? Will he therefore give a commitment to submit the list of board members for Parliament's approval? Is this Liberal minister prepared to halt the gravy train of Labour party members being paid from the public service?

I found no substance in John McAllion's opening question and find even less substance in Bruce Crawford's question.

Members will be appointed to the board of Scottish Water on the basis of their ability to contribute to the running of a major public corporation.

On the basis of their ability to contribute to the Labour party.

The member has misunderstood entirely. If any member is suggesting that they would wish to put Scottish Water into private ownership, they can pursue that. The Executive is committed to keeping Scottish Water in public ownership as a public corporation and those who will serve on its board will be chosen entirely on their merits.

Is the minister aware that we use only a small percentage of our own water for domestic requirements? Are studies in hand to find out if we could help out—either commercially or for humanitarian purposes—in the event of drought in developing nations where there could be substantial and urgent demand for water?

I am not aware of such studies, although, as I come from Greenock, I am aware of a surplus of water in Scotland. I will write to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton on whether such surveys exist.

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Territorial Waters (Boundary)

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in relation to the powers granted to the secretary of state for that department to determine the boundary between English and Scottish territorial waters by virtue of section 1(3) of the National Heritage Bill. (S1O-4120)

My officials have worked closely with officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the National Heritage Bill. Any order made under section 1(3) of the National Heritage Bill will be made in consultation with the Scottish Executive and will be consistent with the terms of the Scotland Act 1998 and the Scotland Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 (SI 1999/1126).

As the bill will allow the boundary between English and Scottish territorial waters to be determined solely by the minister in London without any need for consultation with the Scottish ministers or with the Parliament, is the minister concerned that it is contrary to the spirit of devolution? Does it not set an unwelcome precedent for future bills?

For Mr Fraser's benefit, I repeat what I said in response to the initial question—he obviously did not hear it. There is no possibility that that decision will be made other than in the spirit of the concordats that have been agreed between Westminster and us.

I find the sudden Tory interest in boundary issues very odd given that the Tories were completely opposed to the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in the first place. This is my first experience of Mr Fraser. I can certainly see why Andrew Neil, that right-wing publisher of The Scotsman described Mr Fraser last week as the Tory Taliban. I advise Mr McLetchie to watch his back very carefully in future.

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Fish Farming

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to prevent any deterioration of coastal waters resulting from expansion of the fish farming industry. (S1O-4125)

There is a wide range of measures in place to ensure that the impact of fish farming on the marine environment is controlled.

The minister is, of course, aware that fish farming is not the only contributor to nutrients in our coastal waters. Is the minister aware that, under the terms of the European water framework directive, it is not permissible to allow activities that will result in the deterioration of the quality of our surface waters? Will she provide evidence that any expansion of aquaculture will not result in such a deterioration of water quality, thereby resulting in a breach of the directive?

We are obviously aware of the terms of the directive. In the meantime, we will do everything that we can to ensure that anything that we do now does not in any way compromise the objectives of the water framework directive.

The minister will be aware of the evidence that was given to the Transport and the Environment Committee yesterday by people with wild fish interests, shellfish growers and environmental non-governmental organisations. Could she reassure me that the consultation on the development of a strategy of aquaculture will be inclusive and will include those stakeholders as well as the fish farmers?

I am happy to give Maureen Macmillan that categorical assurance. The consultation will be fully inclusive. The consultation paper has already been issued and I am about to embark on a series of meetings with the various stakeholders. I intend to set up an expert group to take that work forward. I pay tribute to the work that the Transport and the Environment Committee has done to examine the issue and especially to the work of Robin Harper and Maureen Macmillan, who are that committee's reporters.

I am glad that the minister mentioned the rolling inquiry and the evidence that is being taken by the Transport and the Environment Committee.

Will the minister consider restricting any further expansion of sea-cage fish farming in our coastal waters until that inquiry is concluded?

I have already said to Mr Harper that we will ensure that nothing that we do compromises the objectives of the water framework directive.

In light of the fact that the fish farming industry is regulated by nine bodies, will the Scottish Executive, in the interests of fish farming and the environment, follow the advice of the Scottish salmon strategy task force report of 1996 and set up a single regulatory body for the aquaculture industry and include paving legislation for that in the forthcoming water environment bill?

As Mr McGrigor knows, we consulted recently on the regulation of aquaculture. I will make the results of the consultation known over the next few weeks.

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Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline Railway Line

To ask the Scottish Executive what priority the reopening of the Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline line has in relation to other rail projects. (S1O-4135)

I regard the reopening of the Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline line as a very important project, which will increase capacity in central Scotland, with benefits for that area and more widely.

I am grateful for that answer. I place on record my best wishes for the minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle. In full recognition of the potential outcome of that, I ask her to make it clear that the views that she expresses are not only hers, but those of the Executive. Does the Executive agree that the Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline line is crucial for the strategic development of transport not only in central Scotland, but throughout Scotland, including the fast ferry port, the Glasgow-Edinburgh route, the Forth bridge and even as far away as Ayrshire? Does the minister agree that the passenger aspects of the project are critical to the railways throughout Scotland and the development of the economy in the area of the line? Would not she be better placed to deliver on all that if she had the same power over railways that she has over roads?

I thank Andrew Wilson for the deep sincerity that he expressed in offering his best wishes before he asked his question.

The issue has nothing to do with a lack of funding and the broader question about railways. It is about getting accurate costings. The benefits of the project are massive. If we were able to get freight trains off the Forth rail bridge that would let us have faster express trains between Dundee and Edinburgh, faster trains between Perth and Edinburgh and much more reliability in the network for passengers in Scotland. It would also open up huge opportunities that do not currently exist for freight. That is why we have a team working on the project and why we have a partnership approach with the council, the local enterprise company and the Strategic Rail Authority. We want to deliver the project, because it will bring benefits to the whole of Scotland. That is why the Executive is working to deliver the project.

As the minister knows—although perhaps the SNP's transport spokesperson does not—the path of the former Alloa to Dunfermline rail link is now a highly effective cycle path. However, a rail link could be provided by using the existing track to Kincardine. There are many competing demands and we know about the economic benefits that would come from a direct link to the west but, given the importance of the Rosyth ferry port to the economic well-being of Scotland, is not that line now the Executive's biggest priority in rail transport?

The line is one of our top priorities. Members regularly ask questions about other projects such as the Gourock and Larkhall to Milngavie line. We want to get on with a series of key projects.

The Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline line is a strategic project for not only central Scotland, but beyond. Getting freight off the Forth rail bridge will bring big benefits for passengers. We are considering the opportunity for freight to go from Stirling to Alloa to Longannet. There are massive opportunities; I am determined that we capture them in the study that is being done and that we ensure that we make progress on the project.

Does the minister agree that when we get accurate costings—which are badly needed—there is still likely to be a significant funding gap? What is the Executive going to do to ensure that that funding gap is bridged and that the project—which is extremely important to Clackmannanshire, west Fife and all the region that I represent—will go ahead and will meet the deadline of completion by 2005?

We inherited a mess of a railway system. The way to get out of that mess is through partnership. That is why we are working with Clackmannanshire Council, the local enterprise company and the Strategic Rail Authority. A partnership approach is the only way to make progress on projects such as this. The Executive is already committed to providing funds for the passenger element and is already committed to the freight element. We must bring in broader support to ensure that we get a package of funding that will ensure that the project goes ahead.

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Renewable Energy (Dumfries and Galloway)

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for developing renewable energy generation in Dumfries and Galloway. (S1O-4155)

I expect to publish soon a report into the potential renewable energy resource for the whole of Scotland.

I thank the minister for that answer. Does she know that at least one major wind power company has said that, because of Ministry of Defence objections, it is not worth applying for planning permission for wind farms in tactical low flying areas? Most of Dumfries and Galloway is a tactical low flying area. Does that mean that the MoD has effectively vetoed wind farm developments in Dumfries and Galloway?

The Executive is aware of the issue. We have been in touch with the MoD on a range of issues, including that one.

I declare an interest, as I was manager of the Galloway hydro-electric scheme in the past few years, which has been a major contributor of renewable energy over the past 70 years.

Does the minister agree that the best way to increase renewable energy from Dumfries and Galloway would be to extend the nuclear generation facilities at Chapelcross?

As Mr Gallie is aware, energy policies are reserved to Westminster. I reiterate that the Executive's position on nuclear development in Scotland is straightforward. Any proposals for new power stations of any kind must come to Scottish ministers for consent under devolved powers.

The Executive recently launched a joint consultation with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a radioactive waste management policy. The results of that consultation will help us to decide future policy on that important issue, and to address public acceptability, environmental protection and safety. We take the view that no decisions on policy on the future of nuclear power or on any new nuclear power stations can be taken before the results of the consultation are available.