Jackie Baillie

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20532 by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009, when the Scottish Enterprise strategy for aerospace, defence and the marine industry will be published.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Enterprise strategy for the aerospace, defence and marine industry is in the process of being developed in consultation with the Industry Advisory Group. A publication date has not been set yet, as this will be dependent on progress in the develo…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement all of the recommendations in Waterwatch Scotland’s report, Affordability of Scottish Household Water and Sewerage Charges: Historic Trends and Current Position.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23429 on 14 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…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the effectiveness of the water charges reduction scheme in providing financial relief to households unable to pay for water and sewerage charges.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23429 on 14 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…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, using the definition of water poverty as those spending more than 3% of their income on water and sewerage charges, how many households were in water poverty in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2008-09.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Data from 1999-2000 does not provide a basis for comparison with that from 2008-09 because charges at the former time were set at the regional level by three separate water authorities.</p>

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the definition of water poverty as those spending more than 3% of their income on water and sewerage charges.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We recognise that this figure has been used by Waterwatch but we do not use it to guide policy in relation to water charges.</p> <p >Our policy is to deliver fair charges for all customers. Domestic water charges in Scotland are on course to be the third lo…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the proposals in Waterwatch Scotland’s report, Affordability of Scottish Household Water and Sewerage Charges: Historic Trends and Current Position.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government responded to Waterwatch Scotland on publication of its affordability report in September 2008. That response set out that we continue to be committed to introducing a fairer local tax based on ability to pay. Such a change would have i…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence, particularly from the last few months, of creditors instigating legal action earlier in the debt recovery process, as suggested by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Creditors who wish to use legal means to pursue debt must do so by using a prescribed process. For example, a debtor must be served with a Debt Advice and Information Package prior to the instigation of legal action to recover debt. The debt must be constitut…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether courts can stay debt recovery actions for up to 12 months for individuals experiencing debt problems.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are a number of mechanisms available to individuals experiencing financial difficulties which, subject to sheriff approval, allow the repayment of debt without the threat of further legal action.</p> <p >The sheriff may grant a time to pay direction o…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce provisions similar to those in the Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 to establish enforcement restriction orders.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is not currently our intention to introduce provisions similar to those proposed in the Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.</p> <p >Scottish debtors have had access to provisions which offer them protection against enforcement of debt by their cred…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it expects the Airdrie to Bathgate line to open.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Airdrie to Bathgate Railway improvement is currently planned to open on 12 December 2010 which is in line with the original schedule given by the project sponsors, Network Rail.</p>

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns that planning for transition does not commence in sufficient time for young people with additional support needs leaving school, as set out in the code of practice for the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, planning for post-school transitions must begin at least one year prior to a child or young person leaving school.</p> <p >If the parent of a child with additional support needs, or a…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Adam Ingram: As part of their general inspection programme Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) continue to review and report on provision for children with additional support needs in all schools across Scotland. In November 2007, they published a report, comm…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans for the Additional Support for Learning Transitions Development Officer to coordinate the promotion of and issue guidance on improved practice in relation to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Code of Practice will be revised and consulted on in due course and will contain developed guidance on all matters relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act including post-school transitions.</p> <p >The National Transiti…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the incidents of Clostridium difficile since the outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital was identified in May 2008, broken down by hospital and showing the number of people infected and subsequent fatalities.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An incident of Clostridium difficile is defined by NHS boards as (a) two or more linked cases of the same strain of Clostridium difficile in the same clinical area (i.e. ward) or (b) where case numbers breach what is referred to as the statistical upper contr…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, how many staff have had training on Clostridium difficile over the last two years; what the training consisted of, and what percentage of staff this represents.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Orkney has confirmed that all new staff receive a two hour face-to-face infection control session as part of their induction training. The training is delivered by clinical staff and includes sessions on how infection spreads, the different types of infec…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, whether NHS Orkney has an antimicrobial prescribing policy in place; when this was adopted, and how it has been implemented

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Orkney introduced a draft antimicrobial policy in February 2009 and this was formally adopted in April 2009. An antimicrobial team has been established to audit compliance with the policy, and an antimicrobial pharmacist is in post and has the responsibil…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, how many ribotype samples were sent to the national reference laboratory by NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Twenty-two toxin positive specimens were sent by NHS Orkney to NHS Grampian. The Consultant Medical Microbiologists within NHS Grampian decide on which toxin positive samples are cultured for Clostridium difficile based on clinical details, outbreaks and seve…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, what ribotype of Clostridium difficile was identified in the outbreak in NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There were six cases ribotyped, broken down as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=74 valign=top > <p align=center >Ribotype</p> </td> <td width=60 valign=top > <p align=center >Cases</p> …

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, for what reasons there was a delay of one month before it was notified of the outbreak of Clostridium difficile in NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There was an unacceptable delay before NHS Orkney notified the Scottish Government of the Clostridium difficile outbreak. NHS Orkney has accepted this and their lines of communication have been completely revised to ensure any future incidents are reported qu…

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, what would trigger an investigation into the incidence of Clostridium difficile at NHS Orkney and whether this was applied in the recent outbreak.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: National guidance requires the setting of local trigger thresholds for each clinical area. Following the recent outbreak these are now in place across NHS Orkney and have been set at two cases for each ward within any 30 day period.</p>

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, whether it will publish the outcome of the review by Health Protection Scotland of infection control arrangements in NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A copy of the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) report has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48082).</p>

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, whether it will publish the outcome of the review by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland of the clinical governance arrangements in place across NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) has confirmed the report will be published on its website by end June 2009.</p>

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) in Healthcare Settings in Scotland, published in October 2008 by Health Protection Scotland and due for review in March 2009, will be published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have confirmed the review will be published in September 2009 and in the meantime that the current guidance remains extant.</p>

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to implement Rapid Review Panel products in its strategy to reduce healthcare associated infections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Products which receive the recommendation of the Health Protection Agency''s Rapid Review Panel (RRP) will be automatically considered for possible use in NHS Scotland by the HAI Commodities Advisory Group. This is a strategic group hosted by National Procure…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the containment of Clostridium difficile spores to be a priority and, if so, what guidance it offers on containment measures.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Clostridium difficile spores represent the main source of cross infection with the organism and their containment is, therefore, a top priority. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) issued guidance in October 2008 titled <i >Guidance on Prevention and Control of …

22 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent incident of Clostridium difficile at the Edinburgh Western General Hospital and, if so, how many patients have been affected and what additional measures have been taken to contain the infection.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lothian has confirmed that there has been no recent incident of Clostridium difficile at the Western General Hospital. NHS Lothian has an upper control limit of two cases in one ward per week. Any breaches of the upper control limit triggers investigation…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it anticipates receiving a report from the Crown Counsel on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital and whether this will be an interim or final report.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23027 on 5 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/Bus…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the commitment made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at a meeting with the C. diff Justice Group in December 2008 to consider a public inquiry into the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital if there was a delay in receiving a final r…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23027 on 5 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/Bus…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20313 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 February 2009, when it expects the report on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital to be available, given that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing stated, at a meeting with the C.…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23027 on 5 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/Bus…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20313 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 February 2009, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing received reports from Strathclyde Police, the area procurator fiscal or the Crown Counsel in March 2009 on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at th…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the statement I made to Parliament on 22 April 2009 when I confirmed that there will be a Public Inquiry into the Clostridium difficile<i > </i>outbreak at the Vale of Leven following the conclusion of on-going police and Health and Safe…