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Police Officers (Protective Clothing)
7. Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with research into protective clothing for police officers, and if he will make a statement. [25056]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: A £100,000 research project, largely funded by my Department, is currently under way at the university of Strathclyde. It will, I hope, pave the way for the development of a lighter vest to protect police officers against stabbing attacks.
Mr. Shaw: I welcome the news that the Government have made that finance available. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that that was possible because police funding in Scotland is ring-fenced? Does he accept that the issue of drug abuse, which was raised earlier, is connected with our ability to protect the police from stabbings and other threats to the body, and that protective clothing is clearly necessary in such circumstances?
Mr. Forsyth: I am grateful for my hon. Friend's words of welcome. Police funding is not ring-fenced in Scotland. Funding for that particular project came from central funds, from my budget, following representations made to me last year by the Police Federation. I strongly believe that we have a duty to ensure that our police on the streets are equipped with all the means we can find to protect them when carrying out their difficult duties.
Mr. Charles Kennedy: On the subject of protective clothing, will the Secretary of State ensure that his research also takes into account the findings from last night's incident, when the police and others in the vicinity of the Skye bridge were placed at risk due to explosive material left behind by the developers? The material had to be safely taken care of and detonated at a nearby quarry. The Minister of State spoke to me about the matter over the telephone this morning, and there is local anxiety that the inquiry for which the Scottish Office has called is to be carried out by the company and not by the police. No individual would get away with that, so why should the company?
Mr. Forsyth: If indeed it turns out that the blasting explosives were left by a subcontractor, that is not the
same as the company doing it. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware of the distinction. I understand that the main contractor--the company--is inquiring into how the explosives were left behind. As the hon. Gentleman pointed out, it is a serious matter. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and I am sure that the whole House is grateful for that. When the company has produced a report, we shall consider whether further steps are necessary.
Mr. Stephen: Will my right hon. Friend confirm that, in the current year, Scottish local authorities will receive an increase of 7 per cent. in the police grant which will enable them to equip police officers even better than at present? Does he recall that, when Labour left office, the Scottish police service was undermanned and underpaid, and experienced police officers were leaving in droves?
Mr. Forsyth: My hon. Friend is correct. We are determined to see more policemen on the beat and we have provided more resources in the public expenditure survey round to facilitate that. Although we never anticipate succeeding PES rounds, I am happy to confirm to the House that the police will again be a priority in the next PES round.
Mr. McFall: The Opposition welcome the funding of research into protective clothing, which is necessary, in part, because of the Government's complacency about law and order. Since the Conservatives came to power, the number of recorded crimes has more than doubled, to almost 1 million per year. Despite the Minister's warm words, the culture of knives prevails in society, with increases in the number of offensive weapons crimes, violent assaults and drug-related crimes. Is it not clear that the soundbite politics that is cheered at Tory party conferences does not help to solve the problem? The message is that today's streets are more dangerous than ever before because of Conservative law and order policy. When will the Secretary of State do something to assist beleaguered communities?
Mr. Forsyth: The hon. Gentleman is looking increasingly ridiculous. He speaks for a party that has opposed virtually every measure that we introduced to make life tougher for the criminal. In recent days, he criticised me for calling for longer sentences for criminals and for more prisons to put them in. If we are to have safe streets, we must lock up the criminals. The hon. Gentleman and his party oppose that policy.
Tourism
8. Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent measures he has adopted to promote tourism in Scotland. [26057]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend has increased the resources made available to the Scottish tourist board this year by £3 million, or 20 per cent.
Mr. Coombs: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that most encouraging information. Is he able to reveal the financial and the commercial success of last year's Autumn Gold campaign? I understand that the marketing campaign resulted in a substantial number of inquiries, but
was it a success financially? What support do the newly established local tourist boards receive from local authorities throughout Scotland?
Mr. Kynoch: My hon. Friend, who takes a great interest in tourism matters, is absolutely right: Autumn Gold has been a remarkable success in its early stages in seeking to extend the tourist season in Scotland. Some 37 per cent. of those who requested an Autumn Gold pack then took an autumn break in Scotland in October and November 1995, which was an increase on previous seasonality campaigns. I am sure that the campaign has contributed to the 11 per cent. increase in the number of tourists from England who visited Scotland in 1995.
Mr. Maxton: Does the Minister agree that local authorities play an essential role in maintaining our tourism industry, by providing funding for the arts, halls, museums and recreation areas as well as by enforcing health and safety standards in our hotels and restaurants? Does he further agree--as he is nodding--that the swingeing cuts that he and the Secretary of State have imposed on local authorities will damage our tourist industry?
Mr. Kynoch: I agree with the first part of what the hon. Gentleman said, but I disagree totally with the second part of his question. The hon. Gentleman does not seem to have got it into his head that this year the Government have provided an extra 3.7 per cent. of local government funding. In addition, most local authorities have increased their council tax far in excess of inflation--there have been 10, 12 and 15 per cent. increases, and some were even greater. Therefore, local authorities have more than enough resources to spread around the services.
I hope that local authorities play their due part in the partnership that is needed in tourism to ensure that their areas are promoted. Tourism is important to small and medium-sized business. It makes a considerable contribution to the Scottish economy, and local authorities have a significant part to play in encouraging it.
Mr. Stewart:
Is it not a matter of concern to my hon. Friend that so many tourists visiting Scotland go to Edinburgh, where they encounter one of Scotland's leading slums called Prince's street and sit around in the virtually permanent traffic jam there? Does he agree that it would be better for Scotland if tourists were encouraged to visit the city of Glasgow, which has superb facilities, thanks to the partnership between the public and private sectors? While they were there, they could also visit the superb facilities in Rouken Glen park in Eastwood.
Mr. Kynoch:
My hon. Friend is always a staunch supporter of his part of the world, but I hasten to add that there is a much larger section of Scotland north of the central belt. I would like all tourists to Scotland to experience the benefits of the entire country. I was particularly pleased that, recently, the Scottish tourism co-ordinating group which I chair discussed ways of getting tourists to travel further afield in Scotland.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: most tourists visit Edinburgh. There are many reasons why they should go further north. Some airlines, particularly Ryan Air and Easy Jet, are considering taking favourable fares for tourists further north. I hope that we shall be successful
in our campaign, because much of Scotland's heritage, history and countryside, which are of great benefit to tourism, is further north.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
Following on from what he has just said, does the Minister acknowledge that, although it is fine to promote attracting visitors to Scotland, they need information on the ground? In the light of that, the cuts in local government support for tourism have reduced the number of information centres: there are now no information centres whatsoever between Aberdeen and Fraserburgh since the closure of Ellon, Turriff and others. In those circumstances, does the hon. Gentleman recognise the need to increase funding, to provide local information centres? That will ensure just what he wants--tourists visiting all parts of Scotland, not just the capital.
Mr. Kynoch:
I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman has the cheek to raise that question here, as he is referring to the action of the Liberal Democrat administration in Aberdeenshire and the Labour-controlled Aberdeen city council, which decided to reduce their funding of the new area tourist board. I hasten to point out that central Government, through the Scottish tourist board, have put an extra £700,000 into the area tourist board network.
It is for local authorities to decide their own priorities. Aberdeenshire has been given more money than ever before and has certainly increased the council tax by some 20 per cent. across the area, yet it has decided not to give as much to the area tourist board. If local authorities decide not to make tourism a priority, they must be accountable to their electorates. I hope that the Liberal Democrats will stand up and be counted.
Mr. Foulkes:
Has the Minister seen the report in The Herald today on the threat to tourism in my constituency from the sludge dumped in the Clyde in the 1970s and 1980s containing dangerous chemicals that are now being dispersed throughout the firth? Why has he kept the marine laboratory's report secret? What action are the Government taking to protect public safety and ensure that there are no threats to tourism in Ayrshire and beyond?
Mr. Kynoch:
I have not seen that article in The Herald, but I shall draw it to the attention of my hon. and noble Friend Lord Lindsay, the Minister with responsibility for the environment and for the new Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which I am sure will be interested in looking into the matter.
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