- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the development of structured peer support and learning networks for people with dementia.
Answer
Throughout Scotland opportunities are provided for those with dementia and their carers to provide mutual support and have the chance to learn from each other and experts. These are often facilitated by the voluntary sector such as Alzheimer Scotland and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, as well as health and social work. The Scottish Government encourages collective advocacy and agencies work hard to ensure that those with dementia and their carers are able to feed into processes that locally influence new developments and prioritisation of resources.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated to the publication of information materials relating to dementia.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided in relation to dementia in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09.
Answer
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
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, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the UK Government’s national dementia strategy to have relevance in Scotland and, if so, what action it intends to take.
Answer
Dementia is a national priority for the Scottish Government and we already have in place a range of initiatives to increase the focus on dementia and support activity. This work has been developed through liaison with the Dementia Forum of experts of dementia care and others involved in dementia care, including people with dementia and those who care for them.
We are always looking for opportunities to improve services and support for people with dementia, and if we feel that the UK Government''s national dementia strategy offers such opportunities, these will be considered.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve public and professional awareness of dementia.
Answer
Following research we commissioned last year into public attitudes and understanding of dementia we recently launched a pilot campaign in Dundee to raise awareness of the symptoms of dementia and signpost people (or their families) who are worried about significant changes to their memory, to seek help and advice. Entitled
Worried about your memory?, the campaign uses the visuals and main messages from an information booklet on dementia created and recently updated and disseminated by NHS Health Scotland.
Over the next three months, adverts will appear on buses, bus stops, post offices and newspapers and on pharmacy bags. Leaflets with the Alzheimer Scotland helpline number will be posted to homes and GP surgeries. A TV advert will also be screened in GP surgeries.
Once this is completed, we will fully evaluate how the campaign was run and how effective each part proved to be.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 24 April 2009
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
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 assist small and medium sized companies. Within these notifications there is also scope to support large companies for some activities. See attached table of GBER schemes in Scotland. More information on these individual schemes can be found on the Scottish Government State Aid website:
www.stateaidscotland.gov.uk.
Scottish Notifications Under GBER 2009
| Basis of Approval | Scheme Number & Title | Scheme Expiry Date | Scope |
| Regional Aid Guidelines Scheme implemented 01-01-2007 | XR/15/2007 Regional Selective Assistance Scottish Government Scottish Enterprise Highlands & Islands Enterprise. | 31-12-2013 | Provision of grants for eligible costs of initial investment or job creation - Regional aid limits apply depending on location and size of Enterprise. |
| GBER | X 72/2008 Investment Support for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) Scottish Government. | 31-12-2013 | Allows Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) type grant assistance to SMEs in Tier 3 areas (non-assisted). |
| GBER | X 133/2008 Scottish Investment Fund Scottish Enterprise. | 31-12-2013 | Allows discretionary funding to support businesses in the third sector in a number of areas under the GBER. |
| GBER | X 155/2008 Scottish Property Support Scheme Scottish Enterprise Highlands & Islands Enterprise Scottish Local Authorities. | 31-12-2013 | To assist the development of commercial property in cases where a market failure exists. |
| GBER | X 159/2008 Scottish Local Authority Support for Regional Investment, SME Investment & Employment Aid Scottish Local Authorities. | 31-12-2013 | To assist the development of most disadvantaged regions by supporting investment and job creation. To stimulate entrepreneurial initiatives by supporting business start up & early stage development of small enterprises. To provide investment and employment aid to SMEs in all parts of Scotland. |
| GBER | X 160/2008 Scottish Local Authority Support for Training & the Employment of Disabled & Disadvantaged Workers Scottish Local Authorities. | 21-12-2013 | To assist enterprises to develop the skills of their staff, to create trained and adaptable workforce- Provide incentives to employ disadvantaged/disabled workers- |
| GBER | X 161/2008 Scottish Local Authority Support to SMEs for consultancy & for Research and Development Scottish Local Authorities. | 31-12-2013 | To support the economic development of SMEs in Scotland through the provision of consultancy services and support for R & D. |
| GBER | X 43/2009 Scottish Enterprise Business Support Scheme Scottish Enterprise. | 31-12-2013 | To provide consultancy support for SMEs and first time attendance at trade fairs & exhibitions. |
| GBER | X 47/2009 Scottish Enterprise Training Scheme 2009-13 Scottish Enterprise. | 31-12-2013 | To support businesses developing the skills of their staff through general & specific training. |
| GBER | X 151/2009 Western Isles Business Support Scheme 2009-13 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. | 21-12-2013 | To provide a small business loan scheme. |
| GBER | X (Still to be allocated) Highlands & Islands General Block Exemption Scheme Highlands & Islands Enterprise. | 21-12-2013 | To support businesses under a range of areas under the GBER. |
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 24 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders in North Ayrshire regarding the Interreg IVA Cross Border Territorial Programme.
Answer
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, provide support and advice to potential project applicants and to coordinate activity involving Scottish organisations.
Discussions on potential projects have been held between the NCP, North Ayrshire Council and other interested parties. In addition, stakeholders from North Ayrshire have attended many of the Cross Border Cooperation Programme briefing and information sessions which have taken place throughout the eligible area.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being given to increase the number of apprenticeships in Ayrshire.
Answer
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 who wish to undertake a modern apprenticeship.
The Scottish Government is hosting an Apprenticeship Summit on 28 April 2009 involving a wide range of employers and other partners, including a number of representatives from Ayrshire. The aim of this event is to ensure that we work together to create and maintain flexibility and agility within the apprenticeship programme and to remove barriers to opportunity.
S
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 24 April 2009
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
In December 2008, the European Commission published its Communication An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training. The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with the UK Government on proposed revisions to the Education and Training 2010 work programme. A revised framework covering the period to 2020 will be adopted by the Education Youth and Culture Council on 11 to 12 May.
- Asked by: Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 24 April 2009
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
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.
Additionally, the UK Government consulted the Scottish Government on the substance of its proposed response to the consultation. The Scottish Government shared its response with the UK Government prior to submission to the European Commission.
