Parliamentary questions
Irene Oldfather
1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable it has set for introduction of compulsory fitting of identification tags on all legal snares.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17515 on 12 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the proposals announced on 20 February 2008 to combat illegal snaring to be fully implemented.
Answer · Michael Russell: I have established the membership of the PAW sub-group that will deal with legislation, regulation and guidance. The remit of the sub-group will be to review the operation in practice of wildlife legislation and regulations; identify areas for improvement and…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with key stakeholders in Scotland regarding the link up between the Enterprise Europe Network and the US-EU Match Network.
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage those who care for elderly people to enter the flu vaccination programme.
Answer · Shona Robison: Newly designed marketing materials supporting this year''s vaccination programme highlight the importance of the vaccination to those who care for elderly people, particularly in the case of unpaid carers, who are entitled to the vaccination free of charge. T…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by elderly people.
Answer · Shona Robison: Uptake of the flu vaccination by those aged 65 and over continues to be in excess of the 70% national target, and in the last two years has been around or in excess of the 75% World Health Organization target. Although we are currently therefore exceeding our…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by those groups most at risk.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has launched a completely new marketing campaign for this year''s flu season with newly designed marketing materials including posters and leaflets. A new television commercial has also been produced for this year''s flu season. A pilo…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether supplies of flu vaccine are sufficient to meet demand from at-risk groups.
Answer · Shona Robison: The amount of flu vaccine ordered each year in Scotland is based on experience from previous years'' vaccine requirements for the at risk groups. There is nothing to indicate at this stage that the vaccine ordered for Scotland for this year will be insufficie…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when flu vaccinations will be made available in 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: 80% of the total flu vaccination supply ordered for Scotland was available by mid October 2008 with 99% due to be delivered by the end of October 2008. The vaccination programme itself commenced on 1 October 2008 and many GP practices across Scotland have al…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued in 2008 in relation to flu vaccinations for health care workers.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Chief Professional Officers of the Scottish Government, in their letter of September 2008, make clear that NHS organisations should provide the flu vaccination free of charge to staff directly involved in patient care. In addition, a new information leafl…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued in 2008 in relation to flu vaccinations for care home staff.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Chief Professionals Officers of the Scottish Government, in their letter of September 2008, recommend that social care organisations should consider offering the influenza vaccination to staff. In addition, a new information leaflet for health and social…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake was of the flu vaccination by health workers in 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally, however a study carried out by the Scottish Executive in 2002 suggested that the level of vaccination uptake amongst health workers was around 20%.</p>
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the uptake was of the flu vaccination by care home staff in 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.</p>
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether health workers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Chief Professional Officers'' advice to NHS boards on the seasonal flu vaccination has recommended that local occupational health services offer the seasonal flu vaccination to staff since 2002. It is likely that some boards will have offered the vaccinat…
8 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether care home staff qualify for free flu vaccinations in 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recommends that everyone who works in health and social care should be vaccinated against seasonal flu. All staff within the NHS can access the vaccination for free from their employers. While the Scottish Government recommends that st…
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the findings of the European Urban Audit for cities in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government makes use of various data sources when formulating policy. The importance of any data source will depend on the issue being investigated. Urban Audit can provide a useful comparison with other European cities, however more information …
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and other key stakeholders regarding the European Commission’s EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-12.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Discussions have been held at an official level with the UK Government on the content of the EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-12 to ensure it is consistent with our new drugs strategy, <i >The Road to Recovery</i>, which was published on 29 May 2008. Many of the…
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and key stakeholders regarding the promotion of Job Day Europe 2008.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Jobcentre Plus has been involved in organising the UK engagement with Job Day Europe. Jobcentre Plus regularly meet with the Scottish Executive on a wide range of employment related matters.</p>
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested funding to support the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Funding for events and programmes under the Year of Creativity and Innovation will come from existing funding arrangements under the proposals agreed by the European Commission and member states.</p>
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the appointment of national co-ordinators for the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: As part of the discussions on the Year of Creativity and Innovation, Scottish Government officials and Scotland Europa have discussed the appointment of national co-ordinators, but no decisions have yet been taken. These discussions have however led to the ap…
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to showcasing Scottish Enterprise’s Proof of Concept programme as part of the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Consideration will be given to showcasing a number of programmes from the Scottish Government and its agencies in the proposals to the European Commission.</p>
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have held discussions with Scotland Europa and its key stakeholders on drawing up proposals for the Year of Creativity and Innovation.</p>
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the promotion in Scotland of European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have had discussions with the UK Government on the Year of Creativity and Innovation which have led to the appointment of Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam of the Glasgow School of Art as a member of the steering group of national …
23 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the construction of the Dalry bypass in supporting the recovery of the North Ayrshire economy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We recognise the importance of the bypass to the North Ayrshire economy. The A737, including a bypass of Dalry is being considered as part of the STPR to identify a programme of transport interventions for the period 2012 to 2022 along Scotland''s key nationa…
23 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the upgrading of the A737 in supporting the recovery of the North Ayrshire economy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive acknowledges the importance of the A737 in supporting the North Ayrshire economy.</p> <p >In examining the longer term needs of Scotland''s nationally strategic transport network, Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Revi…
23 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in North Ayrshire on the construction of the Dalry bypass.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Discussions have taken place with representatives from North Ayrshire Council, Statutory Consultees and the land owners likely to be affected by the proposals with a view to identifying the preferred route for a Dalry Bypass.</p>
23 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in North Ayrshire on the upgrading of the A737.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A737 forms part of the national strategic corridor linking Glasgow to Ayrshire which is being considered as part of Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).</p> <p >During the STPR process, Transport Scotland has been engaging wi…
23 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on ensuring good transport links between North Ayrshire and the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has established its key purpose as increasing the nation''s sustainable economic growth. The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) will prioritise those nationally significant transport interventions that best contribute to achiev…
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average it takes a secondary school teaching graduate to find a job from the point when their probationary year is completed.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally. Results from the General Teaching Council for Scotland survey of the previous cohort of post probation teachers indicated that by April 2008, 92.7% were in teaching posts in Scotland.</p>
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average it takes a primary school teaching graduate to find a job from the point when their probationary year is completed.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally. Results from the General Teaching Council for Scotland survey of the previous cohort of post probation teachers indicated that by April 2008, 92.7% were in teaching posts in Scotland.</p>
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teaching graduates have applied for a single secondary school vacancy in North Ayrshire in 2008, also expressed as a percentage of all applicants for secondary school vacancies during that time period.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>