Chamber and committees

Scotland''s Railways, outlines an aspiration to address overcrowding by lengthening trains to Ayrshire. Our High Level Output Specification (HLOS) confirms that aspiration.

Transport Scotland, First ScotRail and Network Rail are working together to plan for the introduction of a fleet of new Electric Multiple Units along with any necessary associated infrastructure, to achieve our aspiration of improving journey times and increasing capacity.

Additionally, the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland liaise with regional transport partnerships and local authorities as appropriate to ensure the efficient management and operation of the trunk road network.

The Scottish Government has notapplied for European Commission funding to promote the European Year of InterculturalDialogue 2008 (EYID). We have taken steps to promote the initiative though our culturalagencies and the local authorities. However, the Office of the European Commission in Edinburgh has indicatedthat it has set aside a small budget for promoting EYID in Scotland.

Older and Wiser centres on findings from unannounced visits to NHS ContinuingCare Wards, not care homes. However, the Scottish Government places the highest importance on maintaining standards in carehomes, including ensuring that residents are provided with adequate nutrition.

The NationalCare Standards – Care Homes for Older People address the issue of help with eating and drinking. TheStandards require care home staff to arrange whatever help residents need in orderto be able to eat and enjoy their food and drink. For example the provision of liquidisedfood, adapted cutlery or crockery, or help from a staff member.

Care homes are regulated by theCare Commission, which takes the National Care Standards into account in carryingout its regulatory role.

To support delivery of the NationalCare Standards, the Scottish Government is funding the Care Commission-led Promoting Nutrition in Care Homes Project.This aims to improvenutrition and food and eating practices within the care home sector through theeducation and facilitated support of staff.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008. Allanswers 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.

It is the responsibility ofhealth boards and staff in continuing care wards to ensure that patients have accessto mental and physical activities appropriate to their individual needs and wishes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8133 on 23 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite; the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We have no plans for nationalaction to monitor noise levels within continuing care wards or care homes.

It is the responsibility of NHSboards to provide an acceptable environment for patients within continuing carewards.

Within care homes the responsibilityfor providing adequate care, including the care environment, rests with providers,care home managers and staff. The vast majority of residents have single rooms.

Scottish Government officialshave, from an early stage, monitored the development of proposals for this initiative,and in doing so have liaised regularly with their counterparts at the Departmentfor Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS has designated EUCLID, the UK’s EU CulturalContact Point, as the organisation best placed to promote the European Year of InterculturalDialogue within the UK. The Scottish Government has disseminated informationthrough its national cultural agencies and its local authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8144 on 28 January 2008.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite; 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-8144 on 28 January 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.