- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to respond to the EU 2020: a new strategy to make the EU a smarter, greener social market consultation.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s own economic strategy been in place for over two years now and very much aligned with the aims of the Lisbon Strategy. We welcome the consultation on the EU 2020, published on the 24 November 2009. The Scottish Government will be putting in a response to the consultation as well as contributing to the UK response.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wildlife crime officers there are.
Answer
All Scottish police forces have police officers whose responsibilities include dealing with wildlife crime. Information on numbers of officers who have a specific responsibility for such matters is not held centrally.
The current number of police wildlife crime co-ordinators is six. Two of these are full-time support staff and four are police officers who carry out this role as part their duties. Two forces currently do not have a wildlife crime co-ordinator.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 8 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the top 10 dishes served at Bute House in 2009, broken down by cost per head.
Answer
Menus for ministerial hospitality at Bute House are supplied by outside caterers. The Scottish Government aims to source sustainable, local produce, showcasing what Scotland has to offer. This therefore means suppliers and menus differ on most occasions, hence there are no top dishes at this venue. All events organised at Bute House are arranged with cost effectiveness as a priority.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing proposals to combat illegal snaring announced on 20 February 2008.
Answer
I expect to lay an Order before Parliament very shortly, which will make changes to the regulation of snaring in Scotland. I expect any changes to the regulation of snaring which would require primary legislation to be progressed through the government''s proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by at-risk groups.
Answer
Increased uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine amongst the at-risk groups remains a priority for the Scottish Government and in recent years we have made good progress in increasing uptake of the vaccine amongst this group.
As in previous years, we have delivered an extensive marketing and awareness raising campaign to support the seasonal flu vaccination programme. Leaflets and posters have been widely distributed to GP surgeries, community pharmacies, NHS boards as well as to charitable organisations and local libraries to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of the seasonal flu vaccination programme. Additionally, GPs locally have been encouraged to write to those under the age of 65 with clinical risk conditions to encourage them to attend for vaccination.
This year, we have also deployed local advertising in areas where vaccination uptake has initially appeared to be lower than other areas.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 4 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by older people.
Answer
Seasonal flu vaccination uptake amongst those aged 65 and over continues to be in excess of the 70% national target (and in the last three years has been around or in excess of the 75% World Health Organization target).
Although we are currently exceeding our target for this group, we are not complacent and will continue to use a national call-up letter for all those over the age of 65 as well as ensuring that marketing materials are distributed as widely as possible to reach this audience.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 23 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs have been relocated since May 2007.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22228 on 21 April 2009. 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.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 20 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made since May 2007 of the relocation of civil service jobs.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s relocation policy was launched on 28 January 2008, in conjunction with the report on the review of asset management. The relocation policy can be accessed at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/govt-locations/location-policy/asset-management.
Following this report, any decisions on the location of public sector bodies must give maximum value for the taxpayer whilst ensuring operational effectiveness. Our policy on managing public sector property is rooted in the best use of existing assets, and while relocation of existing bodies is an option, it will only happen after a rigorous and transparent process that shows there are efficiencies for the whole of Scotland.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increasing passenger numbers at Glasgow Prestwick Airport can contribute to the regeneration of the Ayrshire economy.
Answer
Airports can contribute to economic growth at the local, regional or national level.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 20 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in identifying options regarding an air route development fund.
Answer
The European Commission has stated its intention to review its 2005 guidelines on start-up aid to examine their effectiveness and suitability. We will meanwhile continue to pursue our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland''s international air connectivity, as set out in my answer to question S3W-23391 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:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.