Irene Oldfather

23 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is undertaking to encourage school pupils to participate in volunteering projects.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting young people to achieve their potential through recognised awards for volunteering. Youth Achievement Awards and ASDAN certificates are both levelled against the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework a…

23 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Answer · John Swinney: We are in discussions with the other administrations in the UK about the implementation and financing of the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship 2011. We fully expect to engage with Scottish stakeholders as soon as the basic ele…

23 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government officials have been working with stakeholders since early 2009 on the preparations for, and launch of, the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. In particular, a wide range of stakeholder groups were engaged in the prep…

23 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is undertaking to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for funding for eco-innovation projects under the 2010 Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, through Scotland Europa, has raised awareness of the call for application for funding for eco-innovation projects under the 2010 Competitiveness and Innovation Programme with Scotland Europa members, which include companies, business …

23 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was represented at the European Tourism Stakeholders Conference on 14-15 April 2010.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish and UK Governments were not represented at the recent European Stakeholders Conference. We are not aware of the Scottish Government being invited to attend the conference. We understand that the UK Minister for Tourism, Margaret Hodge MP, was not…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been undertaken in the last 10 years regarding revising legislation relating to bonds of caution.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32618 on 7 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding revising legislation relating to bonds of caution.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32618 on 7 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review legislation relating to bonds of caution.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Requirements for bonds of caution are in a number of areas of legislation including in relation to executors of estates under succession law, judicial factors and adults with incapacity.</p> <p >On executors, the Scottish Law Commission published a Report on…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive through what process the names of people asked to take part in the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme surveys were collated.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: For the Better Together Inpatient Survey each NHS boards compiled a list of patients who had been in hospital overnight in the last year for their board area. Only the last visit of each patient was used. Patients on the General Register Office for Scotland d…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme surveys distributed have been sent to households for both a second and third time following non-response.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Three hundred and ninety-seven thousand, three hundred and sixty-four people (42,591 inpatients and 354,773 people registered with a GP) were sent a first reminder.</p> <p >Three hundred and fourteen thousand, one hundred and twenty-three people (36,127 inp…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of the Better Together: Scotland’s Patient Experience Programme surveys have been distributed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Five hundred thousand and forty-seven, five hundred and sixty-two people have been sent a Better Together questionnaire this year. Sixty-two thousand, one hundred and eighty-two to inpatients and 485,380 to people registered with a GP.</p> <p >One million, …

11 Mar 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on Scotland’s maritime heritage.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the great importance of Scotland''s maritime heritage. Just last month we passed the Marine (Scotland) Bill to allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea. Around our coast, heritage designatio…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the clipper ship, City of Adelaide or HMS Carrick, is preserved as part of Scotland’s and Australia’s joint social, cultural and maritime heritage.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W- 31510 and S3W-31511 on 3 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.sco…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the possible relocation of the clipper ship, City of Adelaide or HMS Carrick, from the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has been working closely with a number of stakeholders to explore what realistic options exist for securing the future of this category A listed ship. Historic Scotland has recently commenced a detailed evaluation of possible options i…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the possible relocation of the clipper ship, City of Adelaide or HMS Carrick, from the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Officials from the Scottish Government and from Historic Scotland have held a wide range of discussions with a number of bodies and individuals regarding this Category A listed ship. These have included the Scottish Maritime Museum, the Advisory Committee of …

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken on the potential impact of an aging population on the future composition of the workforce.

Answer · John Swinney: In 2005, the Scottish Government and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) co-funded Scotland''s Demography Research Programme, which was also supported by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). The programme aimed to develop greater under…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is regarding the use of hospital ward shared toilet facilities by a patient confirmed to be carrying the Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase organism.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards are required to follow Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICP) and specifically SICP guidance on control of the environment when managing patients with the ESBL organism. This guidance is available on the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) …

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is regarding the admission of a patient confirmed as an MRSA carrier to a ward with at-risk patients.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In addition to Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICP), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have also published guidance on transmission based precautions (TBP) which is available through their website using the following link:</p> <p ><a href="http://www…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fraudulent claims have been made to the national concessionary travel scheme since 2006.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since the introduction of the scheme in 2006, three suspected fraudulent claims have been referred to the police. Of these, one has been called to court and is awaiting a hearing. The remaining two cases continue to be progressed.</p>

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the UK Government regarding offering production incentives to film producers in order to promote investment in the Scottish film industry.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is in contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including matters relating to the film industry. On 19 March 2009, Scottish Screen submitted a response to the House of Lords Communications Committee''s inquiry into Brit…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many film productions there have been in Scotland in each year since 2005.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31418 on 25 February 2010. 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…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage film production in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31418 on 25 February 2010. 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/Ap…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices who have been made redundant since January 2009 are still without a placement.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. However, for your convenience, as of the 8 February 2010 the Skills Development Scotland database shows that since January 2009 545 individuals have been made redundant, not re-started training an…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided to redundant apprentices to enable them to complete their training.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Adopt an Apprentice scheme, launched in June 2009, provides a financial incentive of £2,000 to encourage employers to recruit a redundant apprentice. The Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), training providers, and sector skills council…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken to assess the impact of its safer streets initiative.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Early indications show that the safer streets initiative has been very effective in reducing violent crime and antisocial behaviour.</p> <p >Community Safety Partnerships will each submit evaluation reports on the effect that the safer streets initiative has…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there were on emergency workers while on duty in 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return, and do not record the occupation of the victim. However, following the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005, a new distinct crime classification…

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of illegal use of airsoft guns were recorded in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Statistics on firearm and air weapon offences in Scotland are available in the bulletin Recorded Crimes and Offences Involving Firearms, Scotland, 2008-09. Some offences involving airsoft guns may be recorded within the categories of imitation firearms, air w…

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licenses were granted for the snaring of (a) mountain hares and (b) other protected species in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No licenses have been issued to snare mountain hares or other protected species between 2007 and 2009.</p>

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions for illegal snaring there were in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30147 on 7 January 2010. 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/Apps2…

16 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what system it has in place to record incidents of illegal snaring.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Reports of illegal snaring offences are included in the Police Recorded Crime Record.</p>