Chamber and committees

The use of covert surveillance in Scotland is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. Section 8(3) of the act gives local authorities the power to authorise the use of covert surveillance for the purpose of preventing crime or detecting crime or preventing disorder; in the interests of public safety, or for the purpose of protecting public health. The Scottish Government does not collect any information on the use made of these provisions by local government.

Independent oversight of this process is provided by the Office of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, who reports annually. Copies of his latest annual report for 2006-07 are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43165).

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12086 on 28 April 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-12086 on 28 April 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.

Information on the number of falls and recording of such falls within hospitals is not held centrally. Recording and investigating the circumstances of falls and subsequent action is the responsibility of NHS boards.

Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government issued guidance last year which included advice for NHS boards, Community Health Partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

The guidance set out a number of recommendations for NHS boards to do locally, including the need for accurate recording and reporting of incidents, including falls.

The decision to reduce energy consumption in the members'' building by changing lighting controls was taken by the Director of Technology and Facilities Management. The Environmental Performance Manager developed the details of the scheme.

The lights above desks in the MSP building have not been permanently switched off. The lighting controls in the area have been amended to allow the lights above researcher''s desks to be switched off by the central lighting system when the desks are mostly likely to be unoccupied; previously these lights were on 24 hours a day. This will reduce electricity use in the building and contribute towards our environmental policy to improve energy efficiency. These changes will reduce electricity and maintenance costs and will pay for themselves in approximately three years.

All members and their staff were informed by e‘mail of the changes which were due to be made to the area, but it is accepted that more detail could have been provided and consultation on the details of the changes undertaken. The evolving needs of building users will be taken into account and the lights programmed accordingly.

The Parliament''s consumption of energy needs to be managed responsibly and the support of all building users in achieving our energy reduction targets is appreciated.

Based on electricity used in the building between 1 March and 19 April 2008, on average 4,141kWh of electricity was used on Monday and Tuesday evenings (18:00 to 24:00) and 4,210kWh on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, a difference of 1.6% in terms of overall usage.

It is the responsibility of NHS boards to provide relevant training for their staff.

Following the work of the falls prevention group, the Scottish Government issued guidance last year which included advice for NHS boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The letter is available on the Scottish Government web site at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

The guidance set out a number of recommendations for NHS boards to promote falls prevention, including appropriate falls awareness education and support and guidance for all staff, regardless of their role in the hospital, where patients may be at risk of falling.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government does not hold centrally the information requested.

I am however able to provide information on the number of British Sign Language interpreters registered with the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI), by region, as at 31 December 2007

Area	Interpreters	Trainees
Aberdeen and Moray	Registered: 4	Trainee: 1
Tayside	Registered: 3
Fife	Registered: 3
Edinburgh	Registered: 9	Trainee: 2
Highland	Registered: 6
Glasgow	Registered: 18	Trainee: 6
Ayrshire	Registered: 5	Trainee: 1
Dumfries and Galloway	Registered: 1
Central Scotland	Registered: 4
Outwith Scotland	Registered: 2
Total	Registered: 55	Trainee: 10

Note: Registered Interpreters are interpreters who have been assessed and registered by the association as fit to practice in all domains.

Associate Interpreters are interpreters who have been granted membership of the association and are undertaking the post registration associates program leading to full registration.