Hansard

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

We understand the difficulties of trying to assess what may or may not be in ministers' minds.I will take you back into your comfort zone of facts and numbers, which might be our comfort zone as well. How many agencies or organisations—although I presume that we are happy to u...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

24 Oct 2006

Budget Process 2006-07

How are you working with other agencies on some of the overarching objectives that we have touched on today? We spoke about transport a moment ago. We have a new strategic transport agency for Scotland; what links are in place to ensure that, at strategic Scotland-wide level, ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Consultative Steering Group Inquiry

That is another point on which we probably all agree in principle. However, it is a question of getting the mechanism right. It is a good idea to have access to the civil service. The suggestion about the DCLO is good, as long as an approach can be facilitated and co-ordinated...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Apr 2004

“Overview of the National Health Service in Scotland 2002/03”

I appreciate the substance of Trevor Jones's answer to Margaret Jamieson's question about what is happening with regard to health improvement and the timescale that is involved, and I acknowledge that what will deliver results is action across Government and not just within th...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

In essence, you say that there is no current end point, but that consideration may be given to one in the future. I guess that we cannot speculate on the matter. However, over time, surely the context surrounding each relocation decision will change. We started from a zero bas...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

08 Nov 2000

Community Care

I will do my best to address the range of issues that has been raised. A recurrent theme runs through Dorothy-Grace Elder's question and Irene Oldfather's question—the fact that many different agencies and professionals are involved in the delivery of community care services. ...

The Minister for Health and Community Care (Susan Deacon): Lab Chamber

15 Feb 2001

Children's Services

I welcome today's debate and the tone and substance of the discussion. It has been a relatively short debate, but all members who have spoken should be congratulated on covering so much ground. I know that I will be unable to respond to all the points that were raised. However...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

27 Jun 2006

“Community planning: an initial review”

I welcome the report. Caroline Gardner is right to say that it tells us much that we already know, but sometimes it is useful for such matters to be set out for us to see. Over the years, the Audit Committee has expressed concern to Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission t...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

You said that the second aim was to bring services closer to the public that they serve. How successful has the policy been in achieving that objective? Will you clarify who those communities are? A number of agencies serve a diverse range of communities, so how will the Execu...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I want to return to a few of the numbers that you mentioned earlier. I shall round up for ease of reference for the purposes of the discussion but, if I captured what you said correctly, about 40 agencies and 4,000 posts have been part of the review process. At what point will...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I have a few final questions. The agencies and organisations concerned, their management and, in some cases—when we are talking about arm's-length bodies and NDPBs—their boards have views and insights and are required to have some input into the process. Will you give us an ov...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Finally, are you working or liaising with colleagues in other parts of the UK or elsewhere on the development of the policy and its implementation? Have you considered the point that was made in Audit Scotland's report, that elsewhere agencies have a greater say over the final...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Apr 2004

Budget Process 2005-06

In an earlier response, particular emphasis was placed on the need to develop voluntary and community endeavour to implement the active schools programme and wider aspects of the physical activities strategy. I ask you to tell us in fairly focused terms—I am being rushed by th...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

05 Oct 2004

Arts in the Community Inquiry

Reading the Scottish Arts Council's enjoyable submission and listening to the evidence today have reinforced my view that our inquiry is very much an exercise in asking the "How?" question rather than the "What?" question. In other words, given the broad spectrum of agreement ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

30 Nov 2004

Business Growth Inquiry

Quite. I recognise the fact that the pursuit of major longitudinal studies in a quite scientific, structured way requires considerable investment. However, I come back to my point about the need to weave some of the mechanisms into the way in which enterprise agencies work. It...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

30 Nov 2004

Business Growth Inquiry

I will stop searching for that holy grail and move on to something that is even more difficult to get a handle on: entrepreneurial spirit.I am struck by the fact that you identified that all 10 of the agencies that you looked at gave priority to"encouraging a greater spirit of...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

24 Jan 2006

Enterprise Agencies (Restructuring)

I would like to record that I am unhappy with how the committee is dealing with this. The restructuring is critically important, which is why several of us made the effort to go to the briefing. It was incredibly helpful, although with one exception, which I will come to in a ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

24 Jan 2006

Enterprise Agencies (Restructuring)

Having logged that concern, I have only one point to make on the paper on the restructuring of the enterprise agencies. Paragraph 4 discusses planning units in Edinburgh and Glasgow. I recall asking for clarification on that at the briefing meeting. The substance of the propos...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Oct 1999

Arbuthnott Report

Is Arbuthnott sufficient to address our priorities? No. Is it an integral part of a much bigger picture? Yes.In terms of some of the detailed methodology that is recommended in Arbuthnott, I do not want to say that everything in the report is perfect. That would negate the pur...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

10 May 2000

Budget Process

It is important not to generalise. Significant additional resources are going into a number of the areas Kay Ullrich mentioned. Respite care is an obvious example: funding there has been doubled to support the carer strategy. That said, there are always enormous and growing de...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

10 May 2000

Budget Process

On drugs expenditure, one of the exercises that has been going on within the Executive over recent months is an audit exercise to establish precisely what money is spent and where. From that, we will examine how it can be spent most effectively.A recurrent theme in this discus...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

25 Oct 2000

Budget 2001-02

I shall answer the point about voluntary organisations first. I share the view that the voluntary sector will have an immense role to play in the delivery of effective health and community care services in future. The tragedy is that, all too often, insecurity and uncertainty ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

08 Nov 2000

Community Care

Given the range of issues raised in Richard Simpson's question, I will be happy to give the committee more information in writing. I will give members some information now, however. The first question was about how resources that have been allocated this year are being perform...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

12 Mar 2002

Parliamentary Questions

I have a final question on a different but related topic. If NDPBs, executive agencies et al are expected to be directly accountable for their actions in the way that the ministers have described this morning—in the main I have no difficulty with that—significant changes will ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

17 Dec 2002

Consultative Steering Group Inquiry

I endorse what Paul Martin is suggesting. It can be relatively easily incorporated, possibly following on from what is already in the report, which talks about MSPs as a resource. That resonates with me, because I was at a meeting of Lothian MSPs with Lothian NHS Board just la...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

11 Feb 2003

Consultative Steering Group Inquiry

I strongly endorse what has been suggested, including the convener's suggested course of action. In addition, mention should perhaps be made earlier in the report—possibly in the methodology section—of the fact that we did not take in-depth evidence from Government agencies, n...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

03 Mar 2004

New Petitions

I welcome the opportunity to add to Mr Beatson's comments. First, I thank the committee for hearing the petition and I join the Leith Links residents association in asking the committee to consider street prostitution and its impact on communities.I acknowledge that there is a...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

08 Jun 2000

Question Time · Health Services

Scott Barrie raises a very important point that we have touched on many times, about the link between the NHS and social care agencies. In order to get effective link-working between the NHS and other agencies, it is important to get effective link-working within the NHS itsel...

Susan Deacon: Lab Chamber

03 May 2001

Child Health

We have discussed at some length in the chamber the importance of exercise for young people. I echo the view of other ministers who share an interest: physical education is an important area for us to continue to work in. However, in that area, as in others, we must recognise ...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Chamber

21 Dec 2005

Kashmir Earthquake

I join other members in congratulating Des McNulty on securing this debate and on the work that he is continuing to do in the Parliament, through the cross-party international development group, to raise awareness of such issues. I also join other members in recording my recog...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

28 Sep 2004

“Commissioning community care services for older people” and “Adapting to the future: Management of community equipment and adaptations”

That is helpful. I have four specific questions. First, you recommend in your report on adaptations, "Adapting to the future", that updated national guidance is needed to support new ways of joint working between social work, housing and the national health service. Is more na...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

23 Nov 2004

“Commissioning community care services for older people” and “Adapting to the future: Management of community equipment and adaptations”

You have partly answered my question, but I would like you to elaborate on the main incentives for local delivery agencies—notably the health service and local authorities—to come together to provide effective, joined-up equipment and adaptations services. What more could be d...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

28 Jun 2005

Section 22 Reports

You gave a full explanation of how you identify that there is demand for places. Will you comment on any discussion that has taken place, particularly with other agencies, about the need for further education provision? There is significant growth and expansion in the Lothians...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

18 Apr 2006

“Performance management in Scottish Enterprise”

At the beginning of his report, the Auditor General set out the genesis of this work and the background to it. Years ago, through this committee, some of us were involved in that. It is, therefore, simply coincidental that this report has appeared at a time when parallel discu...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

27 Jun 2006

“Community planning: an initial review”

Thank you. I appreciate those comments.The final issue that I wish to raise is public involvement, or community engagement, to use the correct term in this context. I am aware of the references in the report to that and to the national standards for community engagement, which...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I have a number of questions for the Auditor General. I read his report with interest and have listened to his briefing. I will declare a dual interest in the matter. The announcement on the policy was made seven years ago, at which time—in a previous life—I was involved in dr...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Thank you. I seek further clarification on the device of ministerial direction. Over the years, in other contexts, ministers have described the use of a direction as the "nuclear option". How frequently is a ministerial direction sought or required because an accountable offic...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Thank you. I move on to address a wider point about the length of time it takes—or has taken in the past—for the decision on a relocation to be reached. You spoke earlier about the impact that such delays can have on staff morale and organisational performance.While acknowledg...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

The Registers of Scotland is an example of an organisation in which there has been considerable external and internal assessment of the possible costs, benefits and consequences of relocation—two sizeable appraisal studies have been conducted. In ploughing through those report...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I would like to pursue the issue that Margaret Smith raised earlier regarding the explaining of decisions. I realise that you cannot comment on something that is live but, given what you have said in your report and what the Finance Committee has said previously about the need...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Finally, I have a couple of questions on the overall policy. Your report makes it clear that the Executive has no overall targets for the number of posts that will be relocated or considered for relocation. Given that we are seven years into the policy, that the decisions have...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

26 Sep 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

In your work, have you found any evidence that the Executive is investigating fully the scope for relocation within its set criteria, but within Edinburgh and the Lothians? One of the criteria relates to social needs and deprivation. Of course, many parts of Edinburgh and the ...

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): Lab Committee

05 Dec 2006

Community Planning Partnerships

I apologise for missing the beginning of the session and part of the previous discussion on community planning. I am happy to be cut off at any point if I stray into the wrong area or repeat a question that was asked earlier.I was late in getting here because, among other thin...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

If I may speak on behalf of the committee, I thank you for your opening remarks and for the other documentation that you mentioned. I suggest, however, that the range of documentation and, indeed, debate on the matter might be clouding any shared understanding of the policy an...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I am grateful for that summary and will explore each of those points in turn. You identified the first aim as being to have a positive impact on the area to which the agency or organisation is relocated. How does the Executive assess that impact in general and with reference t...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I will resist the temptation to pursue that last point. I have heard a robust counter-argument that it sends the wrong message about SNH's role, but that may be a point for other members to take up.Given the difficulties that you identified in measuring success against your st...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

The Executive has said clearly that it has not set any targets. In the most recent update report submitted to the Finance Committee and circulated to this committee, the Scottish Executive says that it"has not set targets or a wider strategic scope of relocation policy."That a...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I am not quick enough at arithmetic to confirm that calculation, nor to convert it into percentages. Perhaps you can give me percentage figures. Nevertheless, would it be true to say that the vast majority of the organisations and the posts within them that have been reviewed ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Can you convert that into percentages?

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

What proportion of that 96 per cent have been relocated to Glasgow?

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Does it not concern you that a policy that is supposed to deliver economic and wider benefits to all parts of Scotland—successive ministers have consistently stated that that is its aim—appears not to be sharing those benefits around the country? More than half the posts conce...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I appreciate that. However, in the interests of good policy development and implementation, ought there not to be a wider strategic overview of the policy to determine whether it is fulfilling the wider dispersal functions that it is intended to fulfil?

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

I am conscious that I must cover several other areas, so I will resist the temptation to probe that issue further. Other colleagues might wish to pursue it.Will you say briefly—a yes or a no—whether any particular considerations ought to be factored into the implementation of ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Thank you for that.I will round up some of the issues and ask about them together. We are keen to continue to explore the objectives governing the relocation policy, which we have talked about in general terms. However, with reference to specific relocations, to what extent ha...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

How have you sought to ensure consistency, given the timelines of individual relocation decisions which, as has been identified in a number of discussions and reports, sometimes meant that the objectives evolved or developed—or, to put it more pejoratively, the goalposts shift...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

Margaret Jamieson's final question leads neatly to my wider question, which is about the timescales of decisions. What is the average time from the announcement of a review to the announcement of a decision on relocation? Audit Scotland's report states that, for the bodies tha...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

As well as giving that average, the Audit Scotland report states that, in several cases, the relocation process has gone on for four years, five years or more. I am sure you agree that, whatever the outcome of the decision-making process, it is undesirable for organisations to...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

You addressed retention but not recruitment. Do you accept that, for individuals who are considering going to work for an organisation, the question of where it will be in the future is material? Do you accept that it is impossible to assess how many people have changed their ...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

On timescales, there can be many reasons why relocation decisions become protracted. I understand that one is that further information might be requested or further studies might be commissioned. Registers of Scotland is a case in point—there has been uncertainty there for alm...

Susan Deacon: Lab Committee

19 Dec 2006

“Relocation of Scottish Executive departments, agencies and NDPBs”

The Registers of Scotland example is interesting in many ways. It has to be open to question whether it should take five and a half years to reach the rather sensible conclusion that location decisions should be embraced as part of the organisational change programme that the ...