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I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15037 on 22 July 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 question S3W-15037 on 22 July 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-15037 on 22 July 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-15037 on 22 July 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.

This information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Agricultural College has recently produced a report for the Scottish Government assessing the impact of rising input costs (including fertiliser costs) on the farming industry. It found that although the rise in fertiliser prices has increased the cost of production, the impact of increasing costs has been largely offset by rising market prices.

Almost all the information requested can be found on the website of the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). The numbers of (a) births, (b) births outside marriage, (d) marriages, (f) divorces and (g) deaths broken down by gender, for each year from 2000 to 2007 (provisional figures), are available from Table P1 of the Registrar General’s “2007 Preliminary Return”, which was published on 13 March 2008, and can be found at:

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/preliminary-return/2007-preliminary-return.html .

The other numbers which were requested are available, for 2006 and earlier years, from the Vital Events Reference Tables, which can be found via:

http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital-events/index.html.

The following table provides the relevant table numbers and the provisional figures for 2007.

	2006 and Earlier Years - Relevant Vital Events Reference Table	2007 Provisional Figures
(c) Births to Teenagers	Table 3.1	4,304
(e) Civil Marriages	Table 7.6	15,480
(i) Average Age at First Marriage	Table 7.3	Men - 32.2 years Women - 30.3 Years
(ii) Length of Marriage at Divorce	Table 8.2	Median - 15 Years

 

The final figures for 2007 will be published on the GROS website in August. As is conventional with such data, the average age at first marriage is given separately for men and for women, and the median is used as an overall summary measure of the “average” length of marriage at divorce.

We are determined to tackle the continuing rise in the number of people in Scotland with diabetes.

The two main modifiable risk factors in relation to type 2 diabetes are smoking and unhealthy bodyweight. We want to build on the success of the ban on smoking in public places, and in May 2008 published Scotland’s future is smoke-free, a smoking prevention action plan. Backed by £9 million over three years, the plan includes action to restrict the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products at the point of sale, and update statutory controls on the sale of tobacco products.

Population level interventions to reverse obesity trends are a key factor in reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes. In June 2008 we published Healthy Eating, Active Living:  an action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011). This outlines our plans to spend over £56 million on diet, physical activity and the promotion of healthy weight, and gives a particular focus to action to support children in their earliest years.

SIGN Guideline 97 on risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease recommends the use of the ASSIGN risk calculator so that those at greater than a 20% risk of cardiovascular disease over 10 years can be offered lifestyle interventions or considered for treatment. ASSIGN has been designed to suit Scottish circumstances by the inclusion of family history and social deprivation. Its use is being piloted in association with the first wave of the “Keep Well” programme, which provides anticipatory interventions for those aged between 45 and 64 within deprived communities at high risk of CHD and diabetes.

The Scottish Government will shortly start the commissioning process for the evaluation of campus police officers in schools. We expect research contractors to be appointed in the autumn and to publish a report of the evaluation in summer 2009.

Primary legislation to amend the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 would be required to give trading standards officers such a responsibility. As emphasised during the Scottish Parliament debate on alcohol on 25 June 2008, the Scottish Government is keen to ensure everything possible is done to ensure the effective enforcement of licensing law. We are currently exploring with COSLA and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, therefore, the scope for giving trading standards officers a role, alongside the police, in the enforcement of the law in relation to off-sales and, more specifically, in the organisation and execution of test purchasing programmes.