Chamber and committees

The second round of applications to the Fund has been widely publicised, and promoted in a number of ways.

Our website includes full details. I have ensured that all MSPs, Community Planning Partnerships, Town Centre Managers, Local Authorities, Business Improvement Districts and Urban Regeneration Companies have received details of the Fund and a link to the information available on our website. I have also released details of the application process, including the existence of a second round of applications, to the press.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/town-centres/tcrf.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24672 on 17 June 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.

To assist local authorities and independent community care providers in planning for pandemic influenza, the Scottish Government issued two publications in November 2007:

Planning for pandemic influenza in community care: an operational and strategic framework: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/23104313/0.

Planning for pandemic influenza in adult community care: guidelines for community care staff: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/23095221/0.

The strategic framework covers all community care services for adults including care homes and care at home, and the guidelines for community care staff include infection control guidance.

In addition, the Scottish Government, the Association of Directors of Social Work and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities jointly issued a self assessment tool to all local authorities on 1 May 2009 to assist them further with their pandemic flu planning for community care.

Local authorities are responsible for delivering community care services at home, for vulnerable older people in their area who have been assessed as needing care. Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, local authorities are required to plan for the continuing performance of their functions in the event of an emergency such as the outbreak of pandemic influenza. They are also required to come together with other organisations that will be involved in responding to an emergency, including health boards, to form Strategic Co-ordinating Groups (SCGs). All care services registered with the Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, are also required by regulations to have procedures in place for dealing with emergencies.

Guidance on specific health issues such as the prevention of the transmission of swine flu is also available from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and is routinely updated as further information becomes available.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24672 on 17 June 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24672 on 17 June 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.

One of the core aims of Homecoming Scotland is to deliver additional tourism visits and revenue for Scotland. An extensive and robust monitoring and evaluation process is underway to measure the impact of Homecoming Scotland. The results of this exercise will be available after the Homecoming year has come to an end. It is not practical or cost efficient to assess the impacts on a regional basis throughout the year. All events within the Homecoming programme that are receiving funding are being evaluated on an individual basis and this will allow for some assessment of the economic impact of Homecoming Scotland on a regional basis as part of the overall evaluation programme.

One of the core aims of Homecoming Scotland is to deliver additional tourism visits and revenue for Scotland. An extensive and robust monitoring and evaluation process is underway to measure the impact of Homecoming Scotland. The results of this exercise will be available after the Homecoming year has come to an end. It is not practical or cost efficient to assess the impacts on a regional basis throughout the year. All events within the Homecoming programme that are receiving funding are being evaluated on an individual basis and this will allow for some assessment of the impact of Homecoming Scotland in terms of visitor numbers in regions across Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24576 on 12 June. 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-24576 on 12 June. 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.

The National Care Standards for care homes were published in November 2001 and set out what residents in care homes can expect from the provider. The standards cover such things as personal plans and what should be recorded in them, indoor and outdoor activities, the physical environment, and the administration of medication.

Remember, I''m still me highlighted a number of areas in which the care of older people with dementia in care homes needs to be improved. The report''s findings demonstrated that the requirements in the standards are not always being met and that guidance, such as that relating to Adults with Incapacity, is not always being followed.

The Scottish Government accepted the recommendations made in the report and is fully committed to taking action to improve the quality and safety of care for those with dementia living in care homes.

I announced on 28 May 2009 that we would be developing a national dementia strategy for Scotland to ensure that we deliver the dementia care that people need. The strategy will be developed in consultation with the Scottish Dementia Forum and other partners. The quality of care, treatment and support for people with dementia is one of the areas which will be considered as part of the strategy.