Good morning. The first item of business is general question time.
Newburgh (Rail Station)
To ask the Scottish Government when it will conclude its assessment of the case for a new rail station at Newburgh. (S6O-04458)
My officials continue to work collaboratively with the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, which is leading on the Newburgh transport appraisal, and its partner, the Newburgh train station group, and are actively reviewing the latest documents received from SEStran on that. The appraisal involves consideration of a range of multimodal options, including the option of a new station at Newburgh. I have also made clear to my officials that I would like their advice before the end of May, as I understand that the work has been on-going for some time, with Scottish Government support and funding.
I know that the case that has been submitted to Transport Scotland makes a compelling argument for the economic transformation not just of Newburgh but of Abernethy and the surrounding area. However, I feel that the cabinet secretary and officials will fully understand that economic opportunity only if they come to Newburgh and meet people and businesses to understand their vision for economic transformation for the area.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that Willie Rennie, Claire Baker, Murdo Fraser and I wrote to her this week to invite her to Newburgh. I reiterate that invitation and ask the cabinet secretary whether she will consider coming to Newburgh before a decision is made, which, on the basis of her first answer, appears will happen in May.
I appreciate the local community’s efforts in assisting SEStran with its transport appraisal for Newburgh. As I have said, the appraisal involves consideration of a range of multimodal options, including the option of a new station at Newburgh. The context of places is important in those considerations. The next stage would be the business case, and strategic economic and social aspects would be built in to that, if there were a recommendation to proceed.
I reassure Mark Ruskell that I am aware of the reasoning behind the invitation from him and other local MSPs, and I would be delighted to accept that invitation to visit Newburgh, as diaries allow.
One of the arguments made by the successful campaign for Levenmouth was the economic boost that it would bring to the local area. A similar case can be made for Newburgh. How is the Scottish Government evaluating the benefits that have been brought to Levenmouth and using that to inform the case for and its understanding of Newburgh?
We must receive the appraisal from SEStran. It provided additional information as recently as December, and part of the assessment work involves looking at the additional documents.
In relation to the stages, including moving from appraisal under the Scottish transport appraisal guidance to the business case, any lessons learned from elsewhere will inform decision making. However, that decision making must be based on what is put in front of officials and recommended to me, based on the merits of the case in and of itself.
I am delighted that the cabinet secretary is coming to Newburgh on the banks of the Tay. It is a beautiful setting, and the only thing missing is a train station. Therefore, I hope that she agrees positively to the recommendation; indeed, the community is behind it. Given that the option has been considered as part of the budget process, will she give special consideration to having a station at Newburgh and be open to making it happen?
I recognise Willie Rennie’s enthusiasm for and long-time support of a station at Newburgh as the constituency MSP. I will not second guess what recommendations will be made to me, but I look forward to a visit to the most beautiful part of Fife—in his consideration, I suspect; I see from other members that there might be competition—and I fully understand the economic, social and wider need.
Rail Travel (Companions of Blind Persons National Entitlement Card Holders)
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost would be of permanently extending free rail travel to companions of blind persons national entitlement card holders, in light of the campaigning by Sight Scotland and Deafblind Scotland. (S6O-04459)
One of our aims for a publicly owned ScotRail is to make rail travel more accessible to more people. Following representations from Sight Scotland, Deafblind Scotland and MSPs from different parties, I am pleased to announce that, on 1 April, we will launch a 12-month pilot programme providing free travel to companions of blind concessionary card holders on all ScotRail services.
ScotRail will meet the costs associated with the pilot from its existing budget, and Transport Scotland, working with ScotRail, will monitor and evaluate the impact of the pilot to inform the next steps. At that point, they should be able to identify the costs of providing that service on a permanent basis.
It is highly encouraging to witness the expansion to companions and the Government’s dedication to enhancing accessibility in Scotland’s public transportation system. Can the minister confirm when she will next meet Transport Scotland and ScotRail to discuss those plans and any next steps?
I meet my officials at Transport Scotland and ScotRail regularly, and they will be monitoring the impacts of the initiative and keeping me informed of progress over the next 12 months. We all want it to succeed in making travel more affordable and accessible to blind and visually impaired people. I hope that MSPs across the chamber will help promote it locally, too.
The cabinet secretary knows that I have been campaigning for this for years, so I am delighted that there will be a pilot. Does she agree that we do not want the pilot to end suddenly and for a gap to arise as a result? Will there be constant evaluation of the pilot to ensure that, if it is a success, it will just continue?
I want to put on record the efforts of Graham Simpson MSP in pursuing this issue for some time now. I am sure that he will share in the success of the pilot and help promote it locally.
Transport Scotland will monitor and evaluate the pilot over the next 12 months and report conclusions to ministers. Sight Scotland has engaged with blind and visually impaired people through survey and focus groups to support evaluation.
I should say that this is not just about cost; we will also look at how the free travel is used. That qualitative information will be important, too.
Aberdeen City Region Deal
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to build on the reported successes of the Aberdeen city region deal, which is due to conclude its 10-year plan next year. (S6O-04460)
The Scottish Government’s £125 million investment in the Aberdeen city region deal is supporting the long-term development of the regional economy. The deal is delivering support to grow the energy, life sciences, and food and drink sectors, as well as delivering enhanced digital and transport infrastructure. We will build on that through our 10-year, £500 million just transition fund, as well as continuing to work towards delivering the Scottish Government’s offshore wind hub in the north-east. All of that will support innovation in high-growth sectors, secure additional private investment, boost productivity and create high-quality jobs.
As recent reports suggest, Great British Energy still has no employees and United Kingdom Government funding for Acorn has yet to materialise. It is more important than ever for the Scottish Government to continue to invest in Aberdeen and the north-east. Can the minister say any more about the Scottish Government’s plans to boost growth in the region through projects such as the offshore wind hub that he has just mentioned?
North-east business leaders wrote to the UK Government to set out the positive impacts of the Acorn project and the urgency of progressing it. We stand with them and continue to push the UK Government to commit to awarding track 2 status to Acorn and the Scottish cluster.
Our budget sets out a record £150 million of capital investment in offshore wind, as part of our commitment to invest up to £500 million over five years in the sector. We will also establish an offshore wind planning hub in the north-east to provide an additional route for industry to engage. That, alongside our 10-year just transition fund, will maximise the economic opportunities of our journey to net zero and create thousands of well-paid green jobs across Scotland.
The 2016 Aberdeen city region deal included a promise from the Government of £200 million over 10 years to drastically speed up rail journey times to the central belt. However, the Government has covertly dropped “2026” from the project’s title and only £16 million has been spent, with mere months to go. Why has it broken its promise and yet again betrayed the people of the north-east?
The significant investment that I outlined in my answers to Jackie Dunbar demonstrates the Government’s significant commitment to the people of the north-east and its significant investment across a range of areas.
On Mr Kerr’s specific point, an outline business case for the wider Aberdeen route upgrade, including service improvements and route decarbonisation, was concluded, and it has been duly considered by Transport Scotland’s investment decision board. A decision was made to progress the procurement of a replacement intercity train fleet as design works continue, the latter being fully funded this financial year. Options for progressing to the next stage of the Aberdeen to central belt service improvements remain under consideration.
Question 4 was not lodged.
Disability Payments
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to mitigate any impact on disability payment recipients in Scotland of reported United Kingdom Government benefit reductions. (S6O-04462)
The Scottish Government calls on the UK Government to recognise the anger and the real anxiety that it has caused disabled people right across the UK and to scrap the cruel reforms, which drastically reduce financial support for disabled people. As we were given no prior notice of the announcement and as we still await many of the details of the proposals, we will scrutinise what we can to understand the impacts on devolved disability benefits and on the people who rely on this support.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the transfer of disability benefits to Social Security Scotland cannot come quickly enough, given the draconian policies that have been promoted by the current and previous Westminster Governments, and that, without Social Security Scotland, some of our most vulnerable citizens would be left without the support that they need? Does the cabinet secretary also agree that the behaviour of the two principal unionist parties towards the most vulnerable in our society highlights why we need independence—and soon?
James Dornan is quite right on both counts. I reassure him that the case transfer process will be completed on time. All the estimations are that that part of the project is going very well. However, I share his deep concerns about the proposals that are coming forward—from a Labour Government. Whether or not the proposals have been consulted on, there is real concern about their impact.
I will meet with disabled people’s organisations this afternoon, and I have written to the secretary of state once again, asking for an urgent meeting and for the publication of the equality impact assessments. However, we must recognise that the changes that are being pushed through by the UK Labour Government will push more disabled people into poverty. This is austerity on the backs of some of the most vulnerable in our society.
Housing Emergency (Fife Council)
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of Fife Council to discuss the housing emergency. (S6O-04463)
The permanent secretary and the director of local government and housing met with the chief executive of Fife Council on 27 November 2024 to discuss the housing emergency, and I will meet with Councillor Hamilton in due course. In addition, Scottish Government officials meet with Fife Council officials regularly on a range of housing-related matters, including the housing emergency response.
I refer the minister to recent correspondence about a housing case that I have raised with Fife Council, which I copied the minister in to. In that case, which has, sadly, been going on for some years, the health visitor commented:
“I can categorically state that, in my 20 years of community nursing, of which 12 health visiting, I have never seen such living conditions and high level of environmental risk to children.”
I ask the minister what has to happen, in 21st century Scotland, for this family to get a decent home.
I am aware of the case and we are engaging with Fife Council on the issue. The standard of temporary accommodation is important, which is why the Scottish Government published the temporary accommodation standards framework in 2023, to ensure that accommodation is of a high standard and that households receive the support services that meet their needs. Reducing the number of households—particularly households with children—in temporary accommodation and the time that they spend in it is a top priority for this Government.
Increasing housing supply is key to reducing homelessness, and we will continue to work with partners to deliver more affordable homes, the majority of which will be for social rent. Acquiring larger properties that are suitable for families will help to reduce the number of households—including families with children—that are in temporary accommodation. Scottish Government funding of £42 million in 2024-25 will help to increase the supply of social housing of the right type and size where it is needed most.
Before I call Meghan Gallacher for a brief supplementary question, I would be grateful if members entering the chamber could take their seats quickly and quietly.
Given the responses to amendments this morning at the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am not sure that what the minister says is quite accurate. Fife Council underspent its housing budget by almost £9 million this year, despite declaring a housing emergency a year ago. Included in that £9 million was £3.5 million for the property acquisition programme. Acquisition plays a key role in any council’s housing approach, but it does not necessarily add properties to the overall stock. Will the minister engage with council officials to ensure that all levers are available to local government to prevent slippage? Will he also give an update on the roll-out of the planning hubs? We have not heard much about those since the Government’s announcement.
On that particular point, during the first half of this session of Parliament, we made a record sum of funding—£120 million—available to Fife Council. This year, Fife Council’s budget will increase from £26.2 million to £30.1 million, and those additional funds, which are the council’s share of the national £40 million fund, are intended for the acquisition of properties. The purpose of acquiring properties and of the work that we are doing with Fife Council in relation to voids is to bring properties into circulation as soon as possible.
Deposit Return Scheme
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the deposit return scheme, including whether it will be appointing a deposit management organisation on schedule in April 2025. (S6O-04464)
The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering an interoperable deposit return scheme with England and Northern Ireland in 2027 and continues to move ahead with preparations. We have received an industry-backed application to run Scotland’s DRS as well as the scheme in England and Northern Ireland.
We are currently assessing the application jointly with the United Kingdom Government and Northern Ireland. As it will be an industry-run scheme, we must be assured that the applicant can deliver DRS and act on behalf of all businesses. Any appointment will be announced once the assessment concludes, which we expect to be in April.
In November 2024, the Welsh Government announced that it would include glass in its deposit return scheme. The regulations for Scotland’s DRS, which were passed in 2020, include glass. Before the minister changes those regulations to undo the will of the Parliament and remove glass from Scotland’s scheme, will he explain how Wales has been able to secure an exemption to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 in order to implement its own scheme, which includes glass, when Scotland has not?
I realise the member’s commitment to the issue. Her question is one that would be usefully addressed to the UK Government, as the matter is not a shining example of the usefulness to Scotland of the so-called UK internal market act, which has again prevented a devolved nation from moving forward with the deposit return scheme as intended. Urgent action is needed from the UK Government to repeal the internal market act and restore the full powers of devolved Parliaments, so that they might undertake useful schemes of that kind.
Biffa is suing the Scottish ministers for a reputed sum of £160 million. Has the Scottish Government made, or will it make, any provision in its annual accounts for potential losses not only in that case but in cases of other major companies incurring costs of tens of millions of pounds due to faith in assurances that the former minister apparently made?
As the member is well aware, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on live litigation—[Interruption.] I do not know why people find it unusual that ministers cannot comment on live litigation. However—[Interruption.]
Let us hear the minister.
However, I confirm to the member that we will deal with the question of the accounts as a contingent liability in line with our public finance rules and commitments.
Since the disastrous collapse of the Scottish Government’s last attempt at DRS, a UK-wide scheme is being planned and a Scottish Government circular economy strategy is being prepared, in addition to the extension of producer responsibility. Can the minister confirm that work is being carried out to assess the impact of those changes on local authorities with regard to jobs, finances and recycling services?
Let us have a brief response, minister.
Once appointed, the scheme administrator will work closely with stakeholders, including local government, to ensure that those questions are taken account of. It is worth saying that more than 50 countries around the world have similar schemes.
We all recognise the important contribution that such schemes can make to tackling problems such as littering and our carbon footprint in Scotland. I hope that all members will work together to ensure that the scheme is progressed, and I am sure that local authorities will be part of that.
That concludes general questions.
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First Minister’s Question Time