Irene Oldfather

9 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued regarding the sharing of patient information and whether a patient or a patient’s representative requires to give consent to information being shared.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In July 2003, the Scottish Government published the <i >NHS Code of Practice on Protecting Patient Confidentiality</i>, which sets out when to obtain consent from patients regarding the disclosure of their information.</p> <p >When information is shared with…

9 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures confidentiality of patient records.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Personal health information is protected by the Data Protection Act and the common law duty of confidentiality.</p> <p >It is the responsibility of NHS board chief executives to ensure the confidentiality of patients records within their respective NHS board…

23 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met animal welfare groups.

Answer · Richard Lochhead : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1001-01.htm">http://www.scot…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any differences in the guidance it has issued in 2009-10 compared with that issued in 2008-09 regarding the manner in which discretionary funds can be used by universities to assist students in hardship as a result of changes to student income and, if so, whether it will…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The main changes for the 2009-10 guidance for Discretionary Funds relate to the Part-time Discretionary Fund. Support for this has been extended to eligible learners studying part-time advanced level courses (HNC, HND, a Degree course, PDA or CPD at SCQF leve…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5628 by Stewart Maxwell on 31 October 2007, what further work it has undertaken with regard to improving the rights of park home residents.

Answer · Alex Neil: Following consideration of Scottish Government research which was commissioned to provide an accurate picture of residential park and mobile homes in Scotland, I have agreed to a programme of work on mobile homes policy which will respond to the concerns of t…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it intends to allocate to the safer streets projects in North Ayrshire in December 2009.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I announced on 22 September 2009 that Safer Streets funding of £400,000 will be made available to support Community Safety Partnerships between November 2009 and March 2010. This brings our investment in Safer Streets since 2007 to £2.6 million.</p> <p >It…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards with regard to ensuring that patients’ fluid intake charts are completed in full.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Adequate fluid intake is fundamental to the care of all patients and as such is the responsibility of everyone involved in the care of patients. Accurate recording of fluid balance for those at risk of, or suffering from dehydration, is key to providing a saf…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards with regard to ensuring that checks-ups following surgery are undertaken to ensure that post-operative infection is speedily identified.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Specific guidance for NHS boards is contained in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) publication <i >Postoperative Management in Adults - A Practical Guide to Postoperative Care for Clinical Staff</i>. This guidance is available from the SI…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients contracted the winter vomiting virus in NHS Ayrshire and Arran hospitals in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is not possible to specifically identify the numbers of patients contracting norovirus (the pathogen responsible for winter vomiting) in NHS hospitals in Scotland.</p> <p >The following table shows (a) the number of confirmed and suspected outbreaks of no…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards with regard to ensuring that the dignity of patients dying in hospital is respected.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance was issued to NHS boards in October 2008 when the Scottish Government launched <i >Living and Dying Well</i>, Scotland''s first national action plan for the provision of palliative and end of life care. This is available from: </p> <p ><cite><a href…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to NHS boards with regard to the monitoring of hygiene standards in hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Good hand hygiene and a safer and cleaner patient environment are key to reducing the spread of infection in our hospitals and our HAI Task Force Delivery Plan is focused on improving standards and performance in both these areas.</p> <p >A range of guidanc…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list engagements undertaken by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism between 1 April and 30 August 2009, broken down by date.

Answer · John Swinney: The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism has undertaken the following official engagements between 1 April and 30 August 2009.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=108 valign=top > <p align=center >Date…

9 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on valuing Care Commission and NHS staff.

Answer · Shona Robison : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm">http://www.scot…

2 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist economic development in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Jim Mather : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-01.htm">http://www.scot…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will maintain the subsidy level at £25,000 per unit for local authorities that wish to embark on programmes of new-build housing for social rent.

Answer · Alex Neil: Local authorities have been invited to submit applications for a second round of funding to incentivise the construction of new council housing at a subsidy of up to £25,000 per unit. No decision has been taken yet on whether or how to extend support for coun…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support North Ayrshire Council in achieving the goal of improving the availability of affordable housing as set out in its single outcome agreement.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is supporting the single outcome agreement through the provision of affordable housing in North Ayrshire. In 2009-10 funding of £7.681 million will be provided for a range of development projects in North Ayrshire. This investment will…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative sources of private finance it has considered with regard to the funding of affordable housing in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Alex Neil: The raising of private finance is the responsibility of the registered social landlord managing the project. Whilst no alternatives for sources of private finance specifically in North Ayrshire have been considered for affordable housing the Scottish Governme…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the funding of affordable housing in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26786 on 9 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

5 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Skills Development Scotland has any role in liaising with businesses, employability agencies, training agencies, colleges and Jobcentre Plus.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) works both directly and in partnership with a range of employers, employability agencies, training agencies, Colleges and with Jobcentre Plus across Scotland. SDS co-ordinates its activity with Community Planning Partners, w…

5 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of Skills Development Scotland regarding the apprenticeship guarantee for displaced apprentices continuing with training.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland solely manages the funding of the <i >Adopt an Apprentice Scheme </i>on behalf of the Scottish Government. In the first instance training providers of displaced apprentices, contracted by Skills Development Scotland, should work w…

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeship placements have been secured in North Ayrshire as a result of the Adopt an Apprentice scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Adopt an Apprentice applications have been received from employers covering 24 local authority areas. North Ayrshire is one of the eight areas which has not received an approach as yet.</p>

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it expects will benefit from the Future Jobs Fund in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the question S3W“26226, answered on 14 August 2009. 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…

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has information on which companies in North Ayrshire have made bids to the Future Jobs Fund.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Future Jobs Fund is a UK Government initiative managed and administered in Scotland by Jobcentre Plus. The Scottish Government does not possess the information requested. For further information, please contact Jobcentre Plus Office for Scotland, Corunna …

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to valuation boards with regard to the appeals process for council tax bandings.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not issue guidance to valuation boards in relation to the appeals process.</p>

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the present six-month time limit on appeals with regard to council tax bandings to be appropriate.

Answer · John Swinney: Regulations state that an appeal must be lodged within six months. In practice, the Scottish assessors may relax this requirement in the interests of fairness, for example where a genuine valuation error has occurred. This seems reasonable. However, we remain…

29 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it undertakes to monitor the work of valuation boards with regard to council tax bandings.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not routinely monitor the work of valuation boards, which act independently of the government.</p>

6 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review of the HC1 NHS Low Income Scheme claim form to make it more service friendly.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-25610 on 23 July 2009. 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/A…

6 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the HC1 NHS Low Income Scheme claim form to be service friendly.

Answer · Shona Robison: The NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) is administered by the Business Services Authority (BSA), a special health authority, on behalf of the health departments in Scotland, England and Wales.</p> <p >Anyone can apply for help through LIS and, therefore, the HC1 fo…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many reasoned opinions, under Article 228 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, relating to the transposition of EU legislation in Scotland have been received in each of the last five years, broken down by directive.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our records indicate the following:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=44 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td width=101 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Infraction Case Number</p> …

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters, under Article 228 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, relating to the transposition of EU legislation in Scotland have been received in each of the last five years, broken down by directive.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our records indicate the following:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=44 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td width=113 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Infraction Cas…