Parliamentary questions
Irene Oldfather
1,035 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to develop the national strategy for dementia and what will be involved in the wide-ranging consultation process referred to in its news release of 28 May 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Dementia Strategy will be developed by Scottish Government officials working in consultation with the Scottish Dementia Forum set up to offer multi-representative expert<i > </i>advice on driving the priority agenda forward. These experts<i > </i>include …
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to primary and secondary school head teachers with regard to smoking in school premises and on school buses.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has published guidance for local authorities and schools on health promotion to support the implementation of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. The guidance includes information on substance misuse, incl…
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage and promote healthier food options for young people at school.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the Scottish diet and we have taken action to build on the excellent work in Scottish schools to provide and promote healthier food options by introducing new nutritional requirements for food and drink in sch…
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing to small and medium-sized companies in North Ayrshire during the economic downturn.
Answer · Jim Mather: Small and medium-sized businesses in North Ayrshire can obtain comprehensive help and advice, specifically addressing the challenges arising from the current economic downturn, from the Business Gateway via its website, telephone enquiry service and local adv…
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage schools to be more environmentally conscious.
Answer · Keith Brown: Understanding environmental issues and sustainable development are key elements of the learning experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is also funding the eco schools programme, part of an international initiat…
27 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage and promote street cleaning initiatives among young people.
Answer · Keith Brown: Litter is a prominent element of the Scottish Government-funded Eco Schools Scotland programme, which involves over 3,300 schools and pre-school centres. In addition, we provided a further £115,000 to the organisation Keep Scotland Beautiful to raise the prof…
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of figures that indicate a fall in modern language learning, what action it is taking to promote uptake.
Answer · Keith Brown: There has not been a fall in modern languages learning in Scotland, with increases at nearly all levels and languages and year on year in most cases since 1999.</p> <p >For example, total presentations for French have increased from 39,466 in 1999 to 41,018 …
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16028 by Shona Robison on 12 September 2008, what progress has been made on the review of national care standards and whether the review will be open to public consultation.
Answer · Shona Robison: I previously advised that work on the review of the National Care Standards would begin during 2009-10 and that is still the intention. It is likely however that it will be later in 2009 before that happens. Consultation will be a part of the review.</p>
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the promotion of fair trade products in schools.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government remains committed to helping Scotland become a Fair Trade nation by channelling its support through the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, who receive funding of £60,000 a year for three years until 31 March 2010. We would also encourage loca…
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has received to support the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Neither the European Commission nor the UK Government has a funding stream dedicated to the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. No funding has, therefore, been received by the Scottish Government.</p>
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17530 by Stewart Maxwell on 12 November 2008, what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010.
Answer · Alex Neil: Discussions with stakeholders are taking place on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010. There is an active stakeholder group set up to influence and inform the UK programme. This group began meeting in February 2009. The group …
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research on the impact of changes to the process of student income assessment on the drop-out rate of students.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretary gave evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 2 September 2008 with regards to the Education (Means Testing) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008, and agreed to share information on the use of discretionary …
20 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the criteria for Students Awards Agency for Scotland applications.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland applications reflect the eligibility criteria as set out in the Students'' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007: <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2007/ssi_20070153_en_1">http://www.opsi.gov.uk/le…
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that park home residents are offered the same level of protection as in England and Wales.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23984 on 26 May 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/Bu…
14 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5628 by Stewart Maxwell on 31 October 2007, whether it intends to introduce new park home legislation in this parliamentary session.
Answer · Alex Neil: I am currently reviewing options for the future development of mobile homes policy in Scotland. I will make an announcement shortly.</p>
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been undertaken in relation to drug dealing offences in North Ayrshire and how many have resulted in conviction since 2004.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics about prosecutions and convictions at a local authority level are based on the location of the court at which the case was heard. Whilst local authority and court areas are not co-terminous, this provides the best available approximation to local a…
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support victims of sex trafficking.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Under the terms of the <i >Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings</i>,<i > </i>which was ratified by the UK Government on 17 December 2008, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an individual is a victim of tra…
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been undertaken in relation to sex trafficking offences and how many have resulted in conviction since 2003.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Data supplied by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service indicates that to date, there has been one case identified where a person has been proceeded against in relation to sex trafficking offences under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Ac…
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs will be created in North Ayrshire as a result of the £95 million in European Structural Funds announced under round two of the 2007-13 Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: Within the total jobs created by the European funding announced on 18 April 2009, projects including North Ayrshire in their coverage have indicated that they will create a total of almost 1,100 jobs.</p>
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £95 million in European Structural Funds announced under round two of the 2007-13 Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme will be available to stakeholders in North Ayrshire.
Answer · Jim Mather: Within the total £95 million of European funding announced on 18 April 2009, ESF projects approved and indicating that they would be available to beneficiaries in North Ayrshire have been awarded just over £12 million of grant, and ERDF projects approved and …
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that online communication networks are safe from cyber attacks.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has implemented the provisions of the Police and Justice Act 2006 which amend the Computer Misuse Act 1990. These ensure that there are adequate and more effective penalties for the offence of unauthorised access to computer material, …
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote and encourage the maintenance and expansion of Scotland’s international air connections.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland''s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland''s profile within the airline sector, including at global events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision…
29 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote and encourage the use of scientifically proven alternatives to animal-based testing.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulates the use of animals in scientific procedures in the UK. This is a reserved area of legislation. In May 2004, a National Centre for the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) w…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve end-of-life care for people with dementia.
Answer · Shona Robison: <i >Living and Dying Well</i>, Scotland''s first national action which was published on 2 October 2008 indicated NHSScotland would develop a single, comprehensive approach to the provision of palliative and end-of-life care that would be embedded across Scotl…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the development of structured peer support and learning networks for people with dementia.
Answer · Shona Robison: Throughout Scotland opportunities are provided for those with dementia and their carers to provide mutual support and have the chance to learn from each other and experts. These are often facilitated by the voluntary sector such as Alzheimer Scotland and the …
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that people with dementia have easy access to care, support and advice following diagnosis.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have a specific timetabled NHS target linked to the GP register that focuses on early detention and earlier, better support. We are also investing £600,000 in our work with Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre to design effective…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that good quality information is provided to people diagnosed with dementia and their carers.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Scotland''s publications <i >Coping with Dementia “ a Handbook for Carers</i> (Bib. number No. 47699) and the recently updated <i >Worried about your Memory?</i> (Bib. number 47925) and <i >Facing Dementia: how to live well with your diagnosis</i> (Bib. n…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve public and professional awareness of dementia.
Answer · Shona Robison: Following research we commissioned last year into public attitudes and understanding of dementia we recently launched a pilot campaign in Dundee to raise awareness of the symptoms of dementia and signpost people (or their families) who are worried about signi…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the UK Government’s national dementia strategy to have relevance in Scotland and, if so, what action it intends to take.
Answer · Shona Robison: Dementia is a national priority for the Scottish Government and we already have in place a range of initiatives to increase the focus on dementia and support activity. This work has been developed through liaison with the Dementia Forum of experts of dementia…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the allocation of funding in relation to dementia to match the investment announced by the UK Government in Living Well with Dementia: A National Dementia Strategy.
Answer · Shona Robison: Spend for mental health services, including dementia, is drawn from the record funds allocated to NHS boards and local government. For 2009-10, £11.03 billion will be available for health and £11.2 billion for local government.</p> <p >We are also investing …