Chamber and committees

The Mobile Homes Act1983 has been amended in part by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 which affords new protections for park home residents, and containssimilar provisions to those introduced in England by the Housing Act 2004.

The 2006 act alsoconfers on Scottish ministers the power to make further amendments to the 1983act. These powers can be used to introduce changes, for example, through regulationto further improve protection for park home owners by revision of the implied termsand written statement which sets out the agreement between resident and site owner.

We have commissionedresearch to provide an accurate picture of the use of park homes as dwellings inScotland as the basis for the development of policyin this area. The research has considered the extent to which any problems identifiedare addressed by the existing legislation, including that recently implemented bythe 2006 act.

We expect to publishthe research later this year. This will assist us in setting out our future policyfor mobile homes.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5624 on 31 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We have commissionedresearch to provide an accurate picture of the use of park homes as dwellings inScotland as the basis for the development of policyin this area. The research has considered the extent to which any problems identifiedare addressed by the existing legislation, including that recently implemented bypart 6 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 which introduced new protections for parkhome residents.

The research alsosought to identify the number and location of park home dwellings, and to explorein detail the reasons why people are living in park homes and the types of issuesand problems experienced by residents in connection with their occupation and useof these homes.

The study was overseenby a research advisory group which included membership drawn from national organisationsrepresenting park home residents and site owners. The researcher also conductedextensive interviews with park home residents.

We expect to publishthe research later this year. This will assist us in setting out our future policyfor mobile homes.

No specific marketingactivity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst carers.The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering fromlong-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, themarketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisionsabout the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the seasonalflu review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improvinguptake amongst other groups.

The seasonal flu campaignis every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designedto increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged65 and over and those suffering for a long term medical condition such as asthma,diabetes or heart disease.

In recent years theuptake of the flu vaccine by the elderly has exceeded our 70% target and last yearalso exceeded 75% target set by the World Health Organization. We are thereforecontinuing to make use of the marketing approaches that have proven successful inthese recent campaigns, including a television advert targeted at audiences aged65 and over that will be screened regularly throughout the campaign and a directmailing to everyone aged 65 and over in Scotland encouraging them to attend fora flu vaccination.

Care homes, along with hospitals, GP practices and other health care services, have received promotional materials aimed at both health care workers and residents or patients. No specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst care home staff. The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the Seasonal Flu Review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

 

The following is the original answer (published on 23 October 2007); see below.

 

Care homes, along with hospitals, GP practices and other health care services, have received promotional materials aimed at both healthcare workers and residents or patients. No specific marketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongst carers. The priority this year has been to communicate messages to those suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk from the flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluation which will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the work being carried out by the seasonal flu review group on increasing uptake will also give consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

All health boardsare providing the flu vaccination free of charge to health care workers and willbe encouraging staff to take up the offer of the vaccination. Leaflets promotingthe vaccination of health care workers are available to NHS employers.

No other specificmarketing activity is taking place this year to target uptake of the vaccine amongsthealth care workers. The priority this year has been to communicate messages tothose suffering from long-term medical conditions who would be most at risk fromthe flu. However, the marketing campaign every year is subject to an evaluationwhich will inform decisions about the campaign in subsequent years, and the workbeing carried out by the seasonal flu review group on increasing uptake will alsogive consideration to improving uptake amongst other groups.

Supplies of vaccinethis year are sufficient to meet the demands of the seasonal flu vaccination programme.Over 1.1m doses of vaccine have been ordered for Scotland and by the week commencing 5 November 2007 all vaccine will have been delivered to the major Scottishpharmaceutical wholesalers.

The seasonal flu campaignis every year supported by a significant marketing and communications exercise designedto increase uptake amongst those individuals most at risk, specifically those aged65 and over and those suffering for a long-term medical condition such as asthma,diabetes or heart disease.

This year a rangeof approaches have been taken to promote the message to the at risk groups. Thisincludes a strong marketing message highlighting the risks of flu for those sufferingfrom long-term conditions that will be delivered in and around pharmacies. As wellas posters, leaflets and pharmacy bags, the marketing campaign this year will makeuse of posters on bus shelters in the direct vicinity of pharmacies. Interactivemedia such as text messaging and interactive posters on bus shelters will also beused.

We have provided allgeneral practitioners with resource packs to make it easier for them to write toat risk groups to encourage them to attend for their vaccination. We have also workedwith voluntary organisations for people who are at risk to promote the need forthe flu vaccine, and undertaken media briefings with journaliststo ensure the key messages are communicated through the press and other media.

As announced in theSkills Strategy which we launched on 10 September I am pleased to confirm that wewill implement the conclusions of the MA consultation and in particular we willextend MAs to S/NVQ level 2 (SCQF 5) and phase out the Skillseekers programme. Weshall also seek to embed the SCQF into the MA programme to help participants togain credit for their skills within further study.