Irene Oldfather

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether health workers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2007.

Answer · Shona Robison: Every year since thestart of the programme, the Chief Medical Officer’s letter has recommended thathealth boards and NHS employers in Scotland should offerfree influenza immunisation to employees directly involved in patient care. Thisremains the case for the…

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance in relation to free flu vaccinations for carers has changed since the policy was introduced.

Answer · Shona Robison: There has been nosignificant change to guidance following the introduction of free flu vaccinationsto carers in 2005-06, but the definition of carers was amended in 2006-07 to reflectthe definition used more generallyin general medical practice in Scotland.</…

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether carers qualified for free flu vaccinations prior to 2007.

Answer · Shona Robison: Carers were firstincluded amongst the groups to be offered the free flu vaccination in the 2005-06seasonal influenza campaign. This followed a recommendation from the Joint Committeeon Vaccination and Immunisation.</p>

29 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether carers qualify for free flu vaccinations.

Answer · Shona Robison: Carers currently qualifyfor free flu vaccinations. The current definition of carer is someone, who, withoutpayment, provides help and support to a partner, child or neighbour, who could notmanage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or menta…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations on park home legislation it has had with insurance companies.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have commissionedresearch to provide an accurate picture of the use of park homes as dwellings inScotland as the basis for the development of policyin this area. The research has considered the extent to which any problems identifiedare addressed by the ex…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations on park home legislation it has had with owners of mobile home parks.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5624 on 31 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations on park home legislation it has had with mobile home owners.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5624 on 31 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has undertaken on park home legislation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5624 on 31 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to undertaking a review of park home legislation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have commissionedresearch to provide an accurate picture of the use of park homes as dwellings inScotland as the basis for the development of policyin this area. The research has considered the extent to which any problems identifiedare addressed by the ex…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to bring the Mobile Homes Act 1983 into line with changes made to legislation in England.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Mobile Homes Act1983 has been amended in part by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 which affords new protections for park home residents, and containssimilar provisions to those introduced in England by the Housing Act 2004.</p><p>The 2006 act alsoconfers o…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will incur fines if they do not introduce three bin collection systems.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. However, the Scottishministers do have the power to fine local authorities if they fail to meet targetsto divert waste from landfill under the Landfill Allowance Scheme.</p>

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact three bin collection systems have had on recycling targets.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are currently11 local authorities offering three bin systems to some or all of their households.Information on these authorities and their recycling/composting rate for 2006-07,as reported by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is shown as follow…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with North Ayrshire Council regarding recycling targets.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We held a Waste Summiton 3 October 2007, to which all local authorities were invited to discuss the wayforward with regard to waste and recycling, including targets. North Ayrshire Councilwas represented at this event.</p>

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to impose financial penalties on local authorities that fail to achieve recycling targets and, if so, what these penalties may be.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to questionS3W-5618 on 2 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes in respect of local authorities failing to reach recycling targets.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are currentlyno specific statutory targets for local authorities in relation to recycling. However,authorities have to comply with the limits laid down in the Landfill Allowance Schemeon the amount of biodegradable waste they send to landfill. If author…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have introduced a three bin collection system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5621 on 8 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the timescale for the implementation of a three bin collection system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to questionS3W-5615 on 2 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the introduction of a three bin collection system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions on collectionsystems are a matter for local authorities. Remade Scotland published a report in February 2007 on <i>Kerbside Collections – Factorsfor Success</i> This report includes information on three bin collection systemsand can be viewed at:</p…

22 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that the public can be satisfied that dental work carried out is charged for appropriately.

Answer · Shona Robison: The items oftreatment which dentists can provide under NHS arrangements and the associatedfees which they can charge are set by the Scottish Government and are containedin the Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR), which is publicly available. Anexercise is …

22 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce free universal dental treatment for people aged 70 and over.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are nocurrent plans to introduce free universal NHS dental treatment for people aged70 and over, although free universal dental examinations are already in place.</p>

22 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce free dental treatment for pensioners on low incomes.

Answer · Shona Robison: Help with thecost of NHS dental treatment for pensioners on low incomes is alreadyavailable. Those, and their partners, in receipt of Pension Credit guaranteecredit are entitled to free NHS dental treatment while others on low income maybe entitled to help un…

22 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is in place to help pensioners who are being charged for dental work.

Answer · Shona Robison: Those people, andtheir partners, in receipt of Pension Credit guarantee credit are entitled tofree NHS dental treatment. Help is also available under the NHS Low IncomeScheme for those who are not automatically entitled to free NHS treatment buthave difficult…

22 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review dental charges for older people.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are nocurrent plans to review NHS dental charges for older people.</p>

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote uptake of the flu vaccination by health care workers.

Answer · Shona Robison: All health boardsare providing the flu vaccination free of charge to health care workers and willbe encouraging staff to take up the offer of the vaccination. Leaflets promotingthe vaccination of health care workers are available to NHS employers.</p><p>No ot…

8 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote uptake of the flu vaccination by care home staff.

Answer · Shona Robison: Care homes, along with hospitals, GP practices and other health care services, have received promotional materials aimed at both health care workers and residents or patients. No specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the va…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage those who care for older people to enter the flu vaccination programme.

Answer · Shona Robison: No specific marketingactivity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst carers.The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering fromlong-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However,…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase uptake of flu vaccination among older people.

Answer · Shona Robison: The seasonal flu campaignis every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designedto increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged65 and over and those suffering for a long term medical condition…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase uptake of flu vaccinations from groups most at risk.

Answer · Shona Robison: The seasonal flu campaignis every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designedto increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged65 and over and those suffering for a long-term medical condition…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether supplies of flu vaccine are sufficient to meet demand from at risk groups.

Answer · Shona Robison: Supplies of vaccinethis year are sufficient to meet the demands of the seasonal flu vaccination programme.Over 1.1m doses of vaccine have been ordered for Scotland and by the week commencing 5 November 2007 all vaccine will have been delivered to the major Sc…

14 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the current modern apprenticeship scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As announced in theSkills Strategy which we launched on 10 September I am pleased to confirm that wewill implement the conclusions of the MA consultation and in particular we willextend MAs to S/NVQ level 2 (SCQF 5) and phase out the Skillseekers programme. W…