Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31711 on 19 February 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The evaluation of the act’s implementation is on-goingand it is therefore to early to draw any firm conclusions on its overall impact.

Under the Scottish PublicServices Ombudsman Act 2002, the ombudsman in the exercise of her functions isnot subject to the direction or control of any member of the Parliament, anymember of the Scottish Executive or the SPCB.The Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman has a complaints procedure in place for anyone who disagrees with adecision reached or for anyone who is dissatisfied with the service provided bythe office. Details are available on the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’swebsite using the following link http://www.spso.org.uk/complain/article.php?ssi=36.

As part of the recentbudgetary round, the SPCB was made aware that since 2004-05 there had been anincrease in complaints and enquiries received by the Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman. The latest Annual Report highlights the increase in the number ofcomplaints between 2004-05 and 2005-06 at 24% and a 99% increase in enquiriesreceived.

To address the impact ofthis, the SPCB approved a 7.6% budget increase (over the 2006-07 approvedbudget allocation) for 2007-08. This will provide funding for seven additionalmembers of staff taking the staffing complement up to 45 which should assistthe Scottish Public Services Ombudsman with her workload.

I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answersto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues includingdefence and defence procurement. The Ministryof Defence procurement processes must comply with Public ProcurementRegulations, which are applicable under United Kingdom and European Union law. Iunderstand, however, that two companies based in Scotland are among thecompanies being considered for the supply of kilts for the Royal Regiment ofScotland.

TheStaff Governance Standard commits NHSScotland employers to providing a staff witha safe and secure environment.

To help employers, the HealthDepartment has invested over £700,000 in the last few years on measures aimed atreducing violent and abusive behaviour towards NHSScotland staff. This includeszero tolerance awareness poster campaigns for hospitals in 2003 and 2005 with furtherposters planned for 2007. Last December we issued awareness posters specificallydesigned for GP practices. Around £500,000 has been provided to NHS boards for localprojects to reduce the risk of violence to staff. Examples of what this providedare:

installing door entry systems

provision of alarms and panicbuttons

increased security

mobile phone contact, such asguardian angel for staff working in the community.

It is proposed to gather informationon what NHS boards are doing locally and to share good practice with otherboards.

NHS employers have also installedCCTV cameras and some have a hot line to the local police or have a police presenceat accident and emergency wards. The Emergency Workers Act provides legal protectionto nurses and doctors and anyone helping them in an emergency. This applies to anyoneworking in the in the hospital setting. In addition, NHS employers also have a sanctionto withdraw treatment in specific instances.

Statistics related to violenceis collected and can be seen at Current publishedon the Scottish Health Statistics website under workforce statistics, www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

The Scottish Squirrel ActionPlan was prepared by a Working Group comprising Forestry Commission Scotland,Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Executive. Successful implementationof the plan will call for a similar level of co-operation and partnership workingbetween these bodies who have the lead responsibility as well as others with aninterest. I do not think that the appointment of a single individual to direct implementationof the plan would enhance the partnership approach that is required.

The Forestry Commission Scotland(FCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are providing £103,000 of combined financialsupport, over the current financial year, to a Defra-led project that aims to testand adapt fertility control agents. These agents were initially developed for usein the USA on several wild and domestic species and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are currently investigating their suitabilityand effectiveness as a measure for grey squirrel control in Britain.