Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21150 on 18 March 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.

The key Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) training programme for all NHS staff, new and established, is the Cleanliness Champions programme - a comprehensive national programme which provides staff with the knowledge and understanding of why it is important to follow certain principles and procedures in the healthcare environment; and to recognise infection risks and the action that is appropriate “ including hand hygiene. Cleanliness Champions act as role models for others to influence their behaviour in their workplace. To date, over 5,800 nurses have completed the programme.

Standard 5 of the recently revised NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards requires all NHS boards to develop an action plan to deliver on the national strategy for HAI education and training and to ensure that nationally and locally identified priority areas for HAI education are addressed. All NHS boards are assessed against these standards, both in terms of organisational structures and compliance with HAI policies.

The national HAI strategy on HAI education and training is itself contained in Delivery Area 2 of the Scottish Government''s three-year HAI Task Force Delivery Plan which sets out the 13 HAI-related education and training work packages that are being developed for the NHS over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. NHS Education for Scotland (NES) lead on this section of the HAI Task Force Delivery Plan with input and assistance from key stakeholders including Health Protection Scotland, NHS QIS and Health Facilities Scotland. The link to the HAI Delivery Plan is:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/1.

NHS boards receive annual funding allocations for both revenue and capital expenditure on the basis of a formula that takes account of a range of demographic and geographical factors. Island NHS boards also receive an additional allocation of capital resources to cover planned capital investment projects within their delegated authority not covered by the formula allocation.

Over and above these allocations, £30 million of capital resources are allocated across NHSScotland annually to support the purchase and replacement of medical equipment. NHS boards are required to plan and prioritise the use of capital resources locally.

NHS boards are expected to fund the running costs of capital projects from their existing revenue allocations.

Of the six rural general hospitals, five have CT scanners. These are in Lerwick, Wick, Stornoway, Oban and Fort William.

It is a matter for the relevant NHS board to decide if a CT scanner is required within their area.

Rural Priorities opened for expressions of interest (Statements of Intent) in April 2008. The number of expressions of interest received each month is shown in the following table.

Applications are counted from the first submission of an expression of interest although the majority of these have now moved on to final applications (Proposals).

These figures exclude any applications which have subsequently been withdrawn.

April 2008	259
May 2008	360
June 2008	610
July 2008	754
August 2008	636
September 2008	622
October 2008	647
November 2008	394
December 2008	475
January 2009	312
February 2009	226
March 2009	334
April 2009	253
Total	5,882

 

Following a letter being sent to local authorities at the end of April asking whether such meetings would be beneficial, eleven authorities have finalised arrangements, with the first meeting scheduled for 12 June. It is anticipated that the majority of councils will participate over the coming months.

We have not run out of funding for the Rural Priorities scheme for 2009.

Rural Priorities is successfully investing in rural Scotland, and in four rounds we have approved £124 million for 1,800 projects in rural Scotland. SRDP has a huge role to play in Scotland''s economic recovery and the funding delivered so far demonstrates the Scottish Government''s commitment to rural Scotland.

By making £10 million available for the next round we are giving rural businesses “ large and small “ the chance to start even more projects which will create sustainable rural communities for future generations.

With that in mind, we will hold two further funding rounds in this calendar year; one in August for 2009 funding, and one in November, which will concentrate on opening up the 2010 budget. The closing date for the August round will be June 22.

I can also confirm that in the future we intend to hold three funding rounds per calendar year which will give potential applicants a clear timetable for the remainder of the scheme.

The high number of applications so far shows that Rural Priorities has captured the imagination of rural Scotland and their increasing quality demonstrates that its objectives are increasingly understood, although we recognise the need for improving certain elements.

The applications process for Rural Priorities has not been closed or suspended.

The deadline for applications was extended, as a direct result of the success of the most recent assessment round in February. However, the facility has remained available throughout for applicants and their agents to submit Statements of Intent or Proposals using the online applications system.

The amount actually available for new commitments under Rural Priorities will depend on a number of factors, including the level of uptake for demand-led elements within the relevant budget headings, and any future policy changes.

At the start of the SRDP, taking assumptions for the amount of spending on the other elements within the relevant budget headings, around £500 million was expected to be available for new commitments under Rural Priorities overall.

So far we have committed nearly £125 million under the RPAC rounds to date, so assuming spend under other linked budget headings remains steady, there is about £375 million still to commit.

However, in the light of UK budget outcome, there is no guarantee that the resources available for commitment under the SRDP will remain at currently anticipated levels. The Scottish Government will need to consider effects of UK budget on all its expenditures.

sty