Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 June 2011
08 Jun 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Taking Scotland Forward: Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy
It is an honour for me to address the Parliament for the first time, representing the people of Edinburgh Western. The debate is about taking Scotland forward. I am sure that every member in the chamber shares the same goal and aspiration of taking Scotland that step further towards becoming a more equal and prosperous nation. What we may disagree on is how that can be achieved.
Before I dwell on the politics of the debate, I pay tribute to the work of my predecessor, Margaret Smith. I say that not merely in the spirit of maiden speech tradition but in the knowledge that she served the constituency well for 12 consecutive years in the Parliament. Despite our political differences we were able to work together on different issues and, on a personal level, we have always had an amicable relationship. Margaret is respected among the communities of Edinburgh Western and I am sure that members will join me in wishing her well in all her future endeavours. [Applause.]
My colleagues have touched on the progress that has been made in the Government’s health and wellbeing portfolio; my speech will focus predominantly on the Government’s cities strategy, which is closely linked.
Edinburgh Western could not be any more relevant to a debate on city development. Its prime location as an internationally competitive business location makes the area an indispensable component of the city’s economy. It contains Edinburgh airport, the Royal Highland showground, Edinburgh Park, the Forth bridges, the Gyle shopping centre, Edinburgh zoo and more than 1,000 other businesses, many of which are supported by the Edinburgh business gateway. Further, the tourism that is generated by areas such as Cramond and South Queensferry makes western Edinburgh a hub of economic growth and potential.
Edinburgh Western is also a diverse constituency, comprising suburban areas such as Corstorphine and Blackhall and the rural villages such as Dalmeny. It would be too easy for me to spend my six minutes acknowledging Edinburgh's successes, Edinburgh as the tourism and festival city and Edinburgh’s ability to drive economic growth. Although all that is true, as in every other city there are fields that deserve particular attention. One of them is housing.
For decades, areas such as Muirhouse and Drylaw in my constituency have had to cope with inadequate housing that has often contributed to the cycle of poverty, crime and poor health. To that end, I welcome the Scottish Government’s priority for urban regeneration. The City of Edinburgh Council is leading a major investment project in social housing that is worth up to £150 million. The 21st century homes project will include Muirhouse and Pennywell. The redevelopment of those areas will contribute to Edinburgh delivering 12,000 new affordable homes over the next 10 years. For the first time in a generation, after decades of neglect, council homes will be built in Edinburgh.
More important, regeneration will give the residents of those communities an opportunity to look to the future. We all aspire to live in prosperous, safe and healthy communities, and it is our duty as parliamentarians to fight for the equality of place and people, creating new opportunities and horizons for all.
The argument for developing a coherent cities strategy has a driving economic focus, but the social elements of the strategy should never be neglected. There is an unequivocal correlation between poor health, drugs, crime, low educational attainment, poverty, unemployment and poor housing. The rate of hospital admission that is related to alcohol misuse is around three times higher in the most deprived areas. That is why any cities strategy cannot fail to address the social inequalities that are present in our society.
The fact that the Scottish Government has made the cities strategy a priority and has integrated it into the Deputy First Minister’s portfolio, along with health and wellbeing, reassures me that the link between growth and tackling inequalities has truly been made. Indeed, the Scottish Government has already taken action to address some of those inequalities and has supported the idea of community empowerment.
The climate challenge fund has allowed 261 communities to benefit from 331 awards and, in 2011-12, the scheme will be extended. Cashback for communities has invested more than £20 million in a range of youth and sport projects, benefitting more than 300,000 young people. The town centre regeneration fund has also invested in community-led projects.
Undoubtedly, some work still needs to be done to tackle deep-rooted social problems in our most disadvantaged areas. To that effect, policies such as those on minimum pricing, to reduce excessive drinking, and on short-term prison sentences, to reverse reoffending, will be pivotal.
Edinburgh is in a good position in comparison with most of its UK counterparts. I am confident that the actions that the Government is taking will prove effective in redressing the imbalances that exist.
Cities act as hubs. They are unquestionably the drivers of our national and regional economies. Regenerating many of our communities and redressing the inequalities that exist will be essential to achieving our cities’ long-term success.
16:04
Before I dwell on the politics of the debate, I pay tribute to the work of my predecessor, Margaret Smith. I say that not merely in the spirit of maiden speech tradition but in the knowledge that she served the constituency well for 12 consecutive years in the Parliament. Despite our political differences we were able to work together on different issues and, on a personal level, we have always had an amicable relationship. Margaret is respected among the communities of Edinburgh Western and I am sure that members will join me in wishing her well in all her future endeavours. [Applause.]
My colleagues have touched on the progress that has been made in the Government’s health and wellbeing portfolio; my speech will focus predominantly on the Government’s cities strategy, which is closely linked.
Edinburgh Western could not be any more relevant to a debate on city development. Its prime location as an internationally competitive business location makes the area an indispensable component of the city’s economy. It contains Edinburgh airport, the Royal Highland showground, Edinburgh Park, the Forth bridges, the Gyle shopping centre, Edinburgh zoo and more than 1,000 other businesses, many of which are supported by the Edinburgh business gateway. Further, the tourism that is generated by areas such as Cramond and South Queensferry makes western Edinburgh a hub of economic growth and potential.
Edinburgh Western is also a diverse constituency, comprising suburban areas such as Corstorphine and Blackhall and the rural villages such as Dalmeny. It would be too easy for me to spend my six minutes acknowledging Edinburgh's successes, Edinburgh as the tourism and festival city and Edinburgh’s ability to drive economic growth. Although all that is true, as in every other city there are fields that deserve particular attention. One of them is housing.
For decades, areas such as Muirhouse and Drylaw in my constituency have had to cope with inadequate housing that has often contributed to the cycle of poverty, crime and poor health. To that end, I welcome the Scottish Government’s priority for urban regeneration. The City of Edinburgh Council is leading a major investment project in social housing that is worth up to £150 million. The 21st century homes project will include Muirhouse and Pennywell. The redevelopment of those areas will contribute to Edinburgh delivering 12,000 new affordable homes over the next 10 years. For the first time in a generation, after decades of neglect, council homes will be built in Edinburgh.
More important, regeneration will give the residents of those communities an opportunity to look to the future. We all aspire to live in prosperous, safe and healthy communities, and it is our duty as parliamentarians to fight for the equality of place and people, creating new opportunities and horizons for all.
The argument for developing a coherent cities strategy has a driving economic focus, but the social elements of the strategy should never be neglected. There is an unequivocal correlation between poor health, drugs, crime, low educational attainment, poverty, unemployment and poor housing. The rate of hospital admission that is related to alcohol misuse is around three times higher in the most deprived areas. That is why any cities strategy cannot fail to address the social inequalities that are present in our society.
The fact that the Scottish Government has made the cities strategy a priority and has integrated it into the Deputy First Minister’s portfolio, along with health and wellbeing, reassures me that the link between growth and tackling inequalities has truly been made. Indeed, the Scottish Government has already taken action to address some of those inequalities and has supported the idea of community empowerment.
The climate challenge fund has allowed 261 communities to benefit from 331 awards and, in 2011-12, the scheme will be extended. Cashback for communities has invested more than £20 million in a range of youth and sport projects, benefitting more than 300,000 young people. The town centre regeneration fund has also invested in community-led projects.
Undoubtedly, some work still needs to be done to tackle deep-rooted social problems in our most disadvantaged areas. To that effect, policies such as those on minimum pricing, to reduce excessive drinking, and on short-term prison sentences, to reverse reoffending, will be pivotal.
Edinburgh is in a good position in comparison with most of its UK counterparts. I am confident that the actions that the Government is taking will prove effective in redressing the imbalances that exist.
Cities act as hubs. They are unquestionably the drivers of our national and regional economies. Regenerating many of our communities and redressing the inequalities that exist will be essential to achieving our cities’ long-term success.
16:04
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on taking Scotland forward: health, wellbeing and cities strategy. I call Nicola Sturgeon to open the debate.14:35
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
I am delighted to open the debate. In recent years, really significant progress has been made, under the Scottish National Party Administration and previous ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am listening carefully to what the cabinet secretary is saying, but I have also been reading the report “Review of Community Health Partnerships”, which wa...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I hope that, when Mary Scanlon hears the rest of what I have to say, she appreciates the thrust of my argument, which is that, although we have seen improvem...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
Does the minister agree that it would be a good idea to introduce a certificate of competence for everyone who works with old people, whether in care homes o...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
In light of what I said earlier this week about the priority that I attach to that issue and that agenda, I am of the view that we should consider anything t...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I am in the Presiding Officer’s hands.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The cabinet secretary is just about to close.
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I apologise to Sarah Boyack—I will ensure that I take her interventions in future debates. I was told that I had 14 minutes for my speech today.I look forwar...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Before I call Jackie Baillie to speak, I point out that the proceedings thus far have been interrupted three times by a mobile phone, a BlackBerry or a pager...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this early opportunity to debate some of the headline issues in the cabinet secretary’s expanding portfolio and look forward to working with her an...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member cast her mind over issues other than the price of alcohol? What, for example, is her response to local authorities such as my own that have c...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
Such moves are clearly disappointing. After all, if we do not fund projects on the ground to enable diversion to take place, we are simply storing up trouble...
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP
I hope that we can build some consensus. I would never seek to diminish what happened in the Vale of Leven hospital, but in the interests of balance and fair...
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I am happy to acknowledge that. The cabinet secretary will recall that we wanted a tougher target than that which the Government set at the beginning, as we ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
No.We need an approach that has early intervention at its heart. It is tragic that a child’s life chances can be determined by the time that they are three. ...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Will the member give way?
Jackie Baillie
Lab
I am running out of time.The poverty strategy was published only at the tail end of the previous session. I am disappointed that that was the case, but there...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity, at this early stage in this session, to debate the Government’s priorities on health, wellbeing and cities. I congratulate the cab...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Does Murdo Fraser agree that drug replacement could happen if exercise was available as a prescription in a much more imaginative way than it currently is?
Murdo Fraser
Con
That is the sort of imaginative approach that needs to be looked at. Whether we need to provide prescriptions for exercise is a different issue, but we need ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in the first debate in the new parliamentary session to have a focus on Scotland’s cities. I am also pleased to see that there will be ...
John Mason
SNP
Does the member agree that significant investment made over the past four years—including, for example, the completion of the M74—has greatly benefited citie...
Bob Doris
SNP
I completely agree. Unfortunately, however, I have to point out that the unemployment rate in Glasgow east is 7.7 per cent, in Glasgow north-east it is 7.5 p...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn)
Lab
I, too, welcome Nicola Sturgeon to her new extended portfolio and the concentration on sport that Shona Robison is now being allowed to have. I am sure that ...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I am interested in Ms Ferguson’s comments about the cancellations of major projects. I am most interested in how Labour would have paid for those projects an...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I am not in the game of playing one project off against another. A more interesting question that the member might like to consider is why almost all SNP mem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Jim Eadie to make his first speech in our Parliament.15:20