Chamber and committees

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 http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

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 .http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

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:

http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/infection-control/transmission-based-precautions/contact/mic-p-contact-2009-04.pdf.

 

TBP are implemented when patients are either suspected or known to be infected with a specific infectious agent or when the aim is to prevent and control spread, particularly in relation to healthcare associated infections (HAI).

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 understanding of the key aspects of fertility, migration and ageing to inform the evidence base on demographic issues in Scotland.

The programme was completed in 2007 and the research outputs were published on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/by-topic/public-services-and-gvt/Demography-Research-Prog.

This included research by Strathclyde University on the Macroeconomic Impacts of Demographic Change in Scotland, and research by Stirling University on Scotland''s Ageing Population. Following this, GROS and the Scottish Government commissioned Strathclyde University to update their analysis to incorporate the 2006-based population projections. This analysis was published on the Scottish Government website in August 2008:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/by-topic/public-services-and-gvt/Demography-Research-Prog/Macroeconomic-Impacts.

The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has also produced analysis which considers potential changes to the composition of Scotland''s population using the most recent population projections. In October 2009, GROS produced a paper providing a detailed analysis of the 2008-based population projections for Scotland:

 http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based-publication/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based.pdf.

In February 2010, GROS published an analysis of the 2008-based Population Projections for Scottish Areas:

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based-publication/projected-population-of-scotland-2008-based.pdf.

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) website using the following link http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/guidelinedetail.aspx?id=31229.

Early indications show that the safer streets initiative has been very effective in reducing violent crime and antisocial behaviour.

Community Safety Partnerships will each submit evaluation reports on the effect that the safer streets initiative has had over the festive period. We expect to receive these reports in April.

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 weapons, unidentified and other weapons.

Specific information about illegal use of airsoft weapons is not collected centrally.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/26113527/0.

No licenses have been issued to snare mountain hares or other protected species between 2007 and 2009.

The information requested is not available. There is no requirement for operators of snares to keep records or submit returns on numbers of animals caught in snares.

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 http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.