Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19980 on 29 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

In 2017, 21% of SMEs in Scotland were women led, ahead of the UK figure of 19%.

We are committed to bringing forward proposals during the course of this Parliament to introduce a Compulsory Sales Order mechanism to help tackle the blight of abandoned buildings and small plots of land in our towns and communities.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) have recommended that quadrivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season contain the following:

• an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
• an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage); and
• a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus (B/Yamagata/16/88 lineage).

It is recommended that the influenza B virus component of trivalent vaccines for use in the 2018-2019 northern hemisphere influenza season be a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus of the B/Victoria/2/87-lineage.

Whilst WHO have made these recommendations, it is difficult to predict what the circulating strains will be this season as this can change throughout the season. Health Protection Scotland coordinates a surveillance system to monitor circulating virus and their impact in the population, and published an weekly report on this throughout the season.

The Lord Advocate is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious and unexplained deaths which occur in Scotland. Where a death requires investigation, this is undertaken by COPFS on behalf of the Lord Advocate.

The Crown provides advice, support and direction to investigators from Police Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Local Authorities and other regulatory agencies throughout the course of an investigation.

The investigations led by COPFS into this incident are continuing under the direction of a Senior Advocate Depute. Incidents of this nature mean that detailed and lengthy investigations are required, often involving complex technical issues which require expert opinion.

A decision as to whether there should be a prosecution can be made only when the investigations are complete and final reports have been submitted by Police Scotland and others to the Crown. That stage has not yet been reached.

Officials continue to keep the families of the deceased updated in accordance with the Family Liaison Charter which the Lord Advocate laid before the Scottish Parliament in September 2016.

Information provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advised that at October 2018, there are 71.36 WTE vacancies in the Clyde area, broken down by hospital in the following table:

Information provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advises that an additional 26 beds have been identified at the Royal Alexandria Hospital for this winter. The Board also plans to extend the availability of 18 existing beds at the RAH to create additional overnight and weekend capacity. An additional 20 beds have been identified at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and an additional 12 beds at Vale of Leven Hospital.