Irene Oldfather

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided in relation to dementia in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22615 on 29 April 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/…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to the publication of information materials relating to dementia.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government funds NHS Health Scotland, NHS boards, Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre, all of whom prepare and publish information relating to dementia.</p>

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether national co-ordinators have been appointed for the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.

Answer · Michael Russell: Each member state appoints a national co-ordinator for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009. The national co-ordinator for the UK is Tim Heyes, who was appointed by the UK Departments of Children, Schools and Families and Culture, Media and Spo…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16523 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, what discussions it has had with key stakeholders regarding the EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-12.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Between October and December last year, I undertook a programme of visits across Scotland meeting with key stakeholders to discuss our national drugs strategy <i >The Road to Recovery</i>. As the EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-12 is consistent with our strateg…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra places on modern apprenticeship schemes have been created for people aged (a) 16 to 20 and (b) over 20 in North Ayrshire in the last 12 months.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland allocates apprenticeship places in response to demand from employers rather than on a geographic basis. Final allocations to training providers are based on discussions with local partners, employer intelligence and previous provid…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to increase the number of apprenticeships in Ayrshire.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: School Development Scotland have contracted for 1,517 modern apprenticeship places in Ayrshire and they are currently working with training providers and employers in the area to ensure that these opportunities are made available to young people and adults wh…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the Interreg IVA Cross Border Territorial Programme.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with, amongst others, officials in Northern Ireland to discuss matters relating to the Cross Border Cooperation Programme.</p> <p >In addition to routine meetings of the Programme Monitoring Committee, the…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in North Ayrshire regarding the Interreg IVA Cross Border Territorial Programme.

Answer · Jim Mather: In order to best facilitate and encourage Scottish participation in the Cross Border Cooperation Programme a National Contact Point (NCP) for Scotland, hosted by Scotland Europa, has been appointed. The role of the NCP is to engage directly with stakeholders,…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the regeneration of the North Ayrshire economy.

Answer · Alex Neil: Both the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are represented on the board of Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (URC), which is leading regeneration efforts in North Ayrshire. Officials are in regular contact with the URC on local issues, and have …

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the European Commission’s Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion.

Answer · Jim Mather: The European Commission''s Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion was discussed on a number of occasions at scheduled policy group meetings between officials of the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the other Devolved Administrations.</p> <p >Additiona…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will attend the EU Finance Day for small and medium-sized enterprises in London on 30 June 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: Yes, officials from the Business Enterprise and Energy Directorate of the Scottish Government will attend the EU Finance Day for small and medium-sized enterprises event in London on 30 June 2009.</p>

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requests it has made under the European Commission’s General Block Exemption Regulation to assist small and medium-sized enterprises.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government State Aid Unit has registered, on behalf of all Scottish local authorities, the enterprise network and Scottish Government, 11 summary notifications with the European Commission under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), to a…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding revisions to the European Commission’s Education and Training 2010 work programme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In December 2008, the European Commission published its Communication <i >An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training</i>. The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with the UK Government on proposed revisions t…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Small Business Act for Europe.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is entirely supportive of the Small Business Act for Europe. We responded direct to the European Commission''s consultation on the EU Small Business Act providing examples of devolved activity in Scotland, and are in broad agreement wi…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many attacks there have been on emergency workers while on call out, broken down by type of (a) emergency worker and (b) offence, in each year since 2005.

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…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken to assess the effectiveness of taxi marshals.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22070 on 30 March 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/…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to taxi marshals in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22070 on 30 March 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/…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of funding for safer streets projects in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22070 on 30 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to safer streets projects in North Ayrshire.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: North Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has been allocated a total of £106,000 for Safer Streets projects over the last three festive periods, which comprises £40,000 in 2006-07, £40,000 in 2007-08 and £26,000 in 2008-09. The CSP distributed this fu…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is undertaking to assist industrial museums in accessing funds to protect and promote industrial history.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22065 on 31 March 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/…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has put in place for industrial museums for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Answer · Michael Russell: Funding for non-national museums, including industrial museums, is routed through Museums Galleries Scotland. Planned funding for Museums Galleries Scotland in 2010-11 is £3.109 million. £600,000 of this is ring-fenced for the Scottish Mining, Maritime and Fi…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all Scottish industrial museums are eligible for grants in order to undertake structural repairs.

Answer · Michael Russell: Funding is available from Historic Scotland and local authorities, amongst others. Eligibility depends on the criteria which apply to the particular funds.</p>

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it attaches to the preservation of industrial heritage, including the Scottish Maritime Museum.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scotland''s industrial museums do excellent work in preserving and allowing access to this important part of our heritage. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of these museums both locally and nationally. I look forward to discussing the work of…

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has undertaken of the long-term financial needs of industrial museums.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government funds Museums Galleries Scotland to work with museums across Scotland, including industrial museums, on their development and business planning and their financial requirements. Museums Galleries Scotland are working with the industria…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of late fetal deaths per 1,000 live births was in 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is currently not available. This will become available when the annual <i >Scottish Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Report for 2008</i> is published by Information Services Division (ISD) at the end of November 2009.</p>

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of stillbirths per 1,000 live births was in 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The rate of stillbirths is normally calculated as the rate per 1,000 live and still births. This will be included in table P2 in the General Register for Scotland''s 2008 Preliminary Return, which was published on 12 March 2009:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births was in 2008, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information will be included in table P2 in the General Register for Scotland''s 2008 Preliminary Return, which was published on 12 March 2009. Link to latest preliminary return:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-a…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on immersion teaching of modern languages.

Answer · Keith Brown: Immersion teaching of modern languages is one amongst many ways of teaching languages. Curriculum for Excellence encourages cross-cutting and interdisciplinary approaches to make learning and teaching more interesting, relevant and engaging. Local authorities…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils achieved grades A to C in a modern language at higher level in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Answer · Keith Brown: The number of grades A to C gained in higher exams in modern languages by pupils from publicly funded secondary schools in the last five years is given in the following table.</p> <p >Higher Grades A to C in Modern Languages</p> <table border=1 cellspacing…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage (a) primary and (b) secondary school children to learn modern languages.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are encouraging the learning of modern languages in primary and secondary schools through Curriculum for Excellence, which aims to raise the bar of modern languages learning and teaching in Scotland. Draft experiences and outcomes for modern languages were…