- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S10-3985 by Malcolm Chisholm on 1 November 2001 and the announcement by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 30 January 2003 in response to the Audit Scotland report, Hospital cleaning, what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made in the report.
Answer
The Health Department has written to all NHS trusts stressing the need to respond positively to the recommendations of the Audit Scotland report and asking for copies of their individual action plans. Progress with implementing the recommendations will be monitored by their auditors. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is expected to review performance against the Cleaning Services Standard next year.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-28726 and S1W-30468 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 September and 10 October 2002 respectively, when the feasibility study on the refurbishment of Peebles Sheriff Court will be published and when the consultation paper will be issued.
Answer
The feasibility study on the refurbishment of Peebles Sheriff Court has already been issued to all interested parties. The public consultation will commence when discussions regarding the potential relocation of the court to the council premises at Rosetta Road have concluded.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) seasonal workers have been employed in each industry sector in each year since 1999-2000, expressed also as a percentage of the total workforce.
Answer
The following tables show the number of full-time, part-time and seasonal workers by industry sector, in Scotland, in each year from 1999-2002. Each table also shows the number of worker expressed as a percentage of the total workforce.1999
| | Number in Employment | Percentage of Total Workforce |
| Full-Time(000) | Part-Time(000) | Seasonal(000) | Full-Time% | Part-Time% | Seasonal% |
|
| A-B: Agriculture and fishing,C,E: Energy and water | 100 | 9 | .. | 4.3 | 0.4 | .. |
| D: Manufacturing | 331 | 24 | .. | 14.2 | 1.0 | .. |
| F: Construction | 173 | 9 | .. | 7.4 | 0.4 | .. |
| G-H: Distribution, hotels and restaurants | 265 | 190 | 6 | 11.3 | 8.1 | 0.2 |
| I: Transport and Communication | 135 | 27 | .. | 5.8 | 1.1 | .. |
| J-K Banking, Finance and Insurance etc | 235 | 56 | .. | 10.1 | 2.4 | .. |
| L-N: Public admin education and health | 435 | 206 | .. | 18.6 | 8.8 | .. |
| O-Q: Other services | 86 | 50 | .. | 3.7 | 2.1 | .. |
| Workplace outside of UK | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| All industries | 1,763 | 574 | 15 | 75.4 | 24.6 | 0.6 |
2000
| | Number in Employment | Percentage of Total Workforce |
| Full-time(000) | Part-Time(000) | Seasonal(000) | Full-Time% | Part-Time% | Seasonal% |
| A-B: Agriculture and fishing,C,E: Energy and water | 111 | 8 | .. | 4.6 | 0.3 | .. |
| D: Manufacturing | 326 | 26 | .. | 13.6 | 1.1 | .. |
| F: Construction | 180 | 11 | .. | 7.5 | 0.5 | .. |
| G-H: Distribution, hotels and restaurants | 268 | 199 | 6 | 11.2 | 8.3 | 0.3 |
| I: Transport and Communication | 135 | 28 | .. | 5.6 | 1.2 | .. |
| J-K Banking, Finance and Insurance etc | 248 | 50 | .. | 10.3 | 2.1 | .. |
| L-N: Public admin education and health | 452 | 210 | .. | 18.8 | 8.7 | .. |
| O-Q: Other services | 90 | 48 | .. | 3.8 | 2.0 | .. |
| Workplace outside of UK | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| All industries | 1,812 | 587 | 15 | 75.5 | 24.4 | 0.6 |
2001
| | Number in Employment | Percentage of Total Workforce |
| Full-Time(000) | Part-Time(000) | Seasonal(000) | Full-Time% | Part-Time% | Seasonal% |
| A-B: Agriculture and fishing,C,E: Energy and water | 110 | 9 | .. | 4.6 | 0.4 | .. |
| D: Manufacturing | 317 | 25 | .. | 13.2 | 1.1 | .. |
| F: Construction | 175 | 8 | .. | 7.3 | 0.3 | .. |
| G-H: Distribution, hotels and restaurants | 269 | 200 | .. | 11.2 | 8.3 | .. |
| I: Transport and Communication | 140 | 23 | .. | 5.8 | 1.0 | .. |
| J-K Banking, Finance and Insurance etc | 257 | 59 | .. | 10.7 | 2.4 | .. |
| L-N: Public admin education and health | 464 | 199 | .. | 19.4 | 8.3 | .. |
| O-Q: Other services | 92 | 44 | .. | 3.8 | 1.8 | .. |
| Workplace outside of UK | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| All industries | 1,825 | 571 | 9 | 76.2 | 23.8 | 0.4 |
2002
| | Number in Employment | Percentage of Total Workforce |
| Full-Time(000) | Part-Time(000) | Seasonal(000) | Full-Time% | Part-Time% | Seasonal% |
| A-B: Agriculture and fishing,C,E: Energy and water | 98 | 7 | .. | 4.1 | 0.3 | .. |
| D: Manufacturing | 300 | 26 | .. | 12.4 | 1.1 | .. |
| F: Construction | 167 | 7 | .. | 6.9 | 0.3 | .. |
| G-H: Distribution, hotels and restaurants | 271 | 205 | 6 | 11.2 | 8.5 | 0.2 |
| I: Transport and Communication | 132 | 25 | .. | 5.5 | 1.1 | .. |
| J-K Banking, Finance and Insurance etc | 268 | 70 | .. | 11.1 | 2.9 | .. |
| L-N: Public admin education and health | 484 | 214 | .. | 20.1 | 8.9 | .. |
| O-Q: Other services | 87 | 47 | .. | 3.6 | 1.9 | .. |
| Workplace outside of UK | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| All industries | 1,806 | 605 | 12 | 74.9 | 25.1 | 0.5 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring takes place regarding personal hygiene standards in controlling the transmission of infections.
Answer
The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) - Infection Control standards, include a practice standard on hand hygiene. This standard requires NHS trusts to have "a clear hand hygiene policy and mechanism to ensure effective implementation is in place." Also compliance with this policy should form part of a systematic review by trusts.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out, or commissioned, into the use of the antibiotic drug cefuroxime in the specific treatment of MRSA and what its position is on the effectiveness of the drug its therapeutic effect against MRSA and whether it may encourage MRSA colonisation and infection in patients, as reported in The Scotsman on 9 June 2003.
Answer
The prescribing of medicines for patients is a matter for clinicians operating within the appropriate professional guidelines.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measurable improvements in staffing levels there have been following the agreement between NHS employers and trade unions to introduce the minimum pay rate of #5.18 per hour, as announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 30 January 2003 in response to the Audit Scotland report, Hospital cleaning.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has on whether infection control is seen as a core part of NHS nursing, medical and domestic staff training and what specific action it is taking arising from any such concerns.
Answer
The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) Standard for Infection Control makes clear that all staff including those involved in support services must receive training in the prevention and control of infection.A number of actions to support training are under way. The Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) Task Force led by the Chief Medical Officer is overseeing the design of generic and specialist training at all levels. This includes:- mandatory induction training on HAI and hygiene- a training programme for staff to champion prevention and control of infection developed by NHS Education Scotland and- an outline of the training requirements for domestic staff as part of the technical specification for cleaning services.Work is also progressing on a Scottish Executive Health Department funded project to develop materials for medical undergraduate training on prudent use of antibiotics.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 23 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive who has been appointed to the Chief Medical Officer's task force on healthcare-associated infection announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 30 January 2003 in response to the Audit Scotland report, Hospital cleaning; how often the task force has met; what actions it has taken to implement its remit and, in particular, to decrease the prevalence of hospital-acquired infection, and how often the task force has reported to the minister.
Answer
The membership of the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force is detailed in the table.
| Dr Mac Armstrong, Chief Medical Officer, | Chair |
| Dr Frank Bone, Consultant Microbiologist | Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary |
| Mr Tim Brett, General Manager | Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health |
| Mr Alistair Brown, Head, Performance Management Division | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr James T Brown, Head, Public Health Division | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Ms Susan Brimelow, Manager | Independent Healthcare Division, Central West Region |
| Dr Peter Christie, Senior Medical Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Dr Michael Cornbleet, Senior Medical Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Dr Brian Cowan, Medical Director | South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Mrs Rosslyn Crockett, Director of Nursing | Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust |
| Dr Andrew K Fraser, Deputy Chief Medical Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr John Gallacher, Joint Secretary | Scottish Partnership Forum |
| Mrs Liz Gillies, Director of HAI Initiative | NHS Education for Scotland |
| Mr John Glennie, Chief Executive | NHS Borders |
| Mr Robert Howe, Head of Environmental Services | South Lanarkshire Council |
| Miss Anne Jarvie, Chief Nursing Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr Adrian Lucas, Chief Executive | Scottish Ambulance Service |
| Mrs Maggie McCowan, Senior Manager, Infection Control | Infection Control Nurses Association (Scotland) |
| Mr Ian McLuckie, Chief Executive | The Property and Environment Forum |
| Mrs Hazel Meechan, National Development Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mrs Diane Murray, Partnership and Employment Practice | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr Mike Palmer, Assistant Director Workforce and Policy | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr Robert B F Peat, General Manager | Eastern Glasgow LHCC |
| Mr Tom Reilly | Lay representative |
| Mrs Marjory Russell | Lay representative |
| Dr Charles Saunders, Consultant in Public Health Medicine | NHS Fife |
| Ms Lynda Sawers, Corporate Communications Manager | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr Ross Scott, Policy Implementation and Development | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Dr David Steel, Chief Executive | NHS Quality Improvement Scotland |
| Mrs Margaret Tannahill, Project Leader, HAI Task Force | Scottish Executive Health Department |
| Mr Ray Watkins, Chief Dental Officer | Scottish Executive Health Department |
The task force, which has met on two occasions and will meet again in the autumn, is overseeing work already in progress and commissioning several new working groups to address a number of specified tasks which are set out in the Hospital Acquired Infection Action Plan. I am regularly updated on progress.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 18 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now consider rucksack funding of children with special educational needs which follows the child throughout his or her education, in light of paragraph 4.44 of chapter 4 of the Auditor General's report Moving to mainstream : The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is planning to provide 35% more in additional grant funding next year than at present, lifting new annual spending to over £50 million per year, to support children with special educational needs. This funding, together with local government general revenue, allows education authorities to allocate resources according to the needs of children in their area. We have no plans to introduce rucksack funding.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 16 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to increase the level of average gross weekly earnings in the Scottish Borders Council area from #346.20, as referred to in Scottish Economic Statistics 2003, to the national average
Answer
Scottish Enterprise is charged with pursing the strategic priorities for economic development contained in A Smart, Successful Scotland. These priorities include improving productivity and competitiveness to enhance the long-term growth rate of the economy of the Scottish Borders, to generate greater prosperity and employment and reduce poverty.
