Chamber and committees

The Higher Education Undergraduate and Postgraduate Discretionary and Childcare Funds Guidance is updated and issued annually to all institutions. The guidance is issued at the same time that institutions are notified of their discretionary and childcare allocations for the coming academic year, which is generally at the end of May to the beginning of June each year. The guidance and allocations for academic year 2008-09 were sent to SAAS, for distribution to all institutions, on 6 June 2008.

I met with a wide cross section of Ayrshire public and private sector stakeholders on 14 January this year to discuss the opportunities for the area''s economy.

In addition, Scottish Enterprise continues to engage with partners and stakeholders in relation to a range of projects across Ayrshire.

All NHS boards currently follow the guidelines set out in the Department of Health Circular HSG (95)18: Hospital Laundry Arrangements for Used and Infected Linen. This Circular is currently under review. Each would decide, in light of the advice it receives from its infection control team, on the circumstances under which it would launder contaminated personal items during ward closures.

During outbreaks, each NHS board would also be required to follow the NHSScotland Code of Practice for the Local Management of Hygiene and Healthcare Associated Infection which was published in May 2004. The code is available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/05/19315/36624.

Paragraph 5.3 of Chapter 5 Prevention and Control of Infection Guidance describes how laundry should be handled during outbreaks and how incidents should be documented by staff.

The Scottish Government consulted all NHS boards on its NHSScotland Code of Practice for the Local Management of Hygiene and Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI). The code of practice sets out the responsibilities that NHS boards have for delivering safe clinical care through ensuring high standards of hygiene in the healthcare environment, including the provision of information to patients and relatives on healthcare associated infection. The code of practice does not prescribe how such information should be disseminated to patients or relatives, or what the exact content should be: that is a matter for each NHS board to decide.

To support the information in the code of practice, the Public Involvement and Communications Team''s (PICT), a participatory member of the Scottish Government''s HAI multi agency task force, produced an HAI Public Information Strategy for NHS boards. Their strategy was sent to all chief executives of NHS boards on 20 March 2008 to set out how PICT considers that information on HAI could be best conveyed to the public and to set the benchmark for how good quality HAI information should be produced.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11401 on 14 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10817 on 19 March 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 does not make any separate provision in relation to sheltered housing. Under the act, local authorities and registered social landlords cannot vary the terms of a Scottish secure tenancy except by written agreement between the landlord and tenant or by court order if the tenant refuses or fails to agree the variation. They must consult on any proposed increases in rent or charges and take account of tenants'' views before issuing a notice of the increased rate at least four weeks before it becomes payable. They must also consult tenants and registered tenant organisations on changes in housing management policy which significantly affect the tenant. The act does not specify the form that consultation should take, but guidance to landlords is contained in SEDD Circular 7/2002, Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 Guidance on Tenant Participation. This can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/09/15487/11221.

The Scottish Government published research on sheltered housing Review of Sheltered Housing in Scotland in January 2008. This can be viewed at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/11131906/28.

The research provides a comprehensive picture of sheltered housing provision in Scotland and an evidence base for further work on older people''s housing which is now being taken forward. No further research on sheltered housing is planned at this time.

We recognise the valuable services wardens provide in sheltered housing schemes around Scotland, but also that there are other ways of providing support to residents of sheltered housing. In response to a number of developments, notably the EU Working Time Directive, sheltered housing providers and those commissioning services are considering other methods of supporting older people in sheltered and mainstream housing. Telecare services and visiting support are becoming more widespread alternatives. Local authorities and other providers are best placed to determine which services will provide the best and most cost effective way of supporting older people to maintain independent living in their areas.

This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.