Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government has not considered introducing legislation to give tenancy rights to people with residential moorings.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendations outlined in the report by the Scottish Commission on Older Women, Older Women and Work: Looking to the Future. I welcome the Scottish Commission on Older Women's report, which I read with interest. The Scottish Government absolutely agrees that supporting women of all ages in the labour market is a key priority and that older women face particular challenges. Female employment is at a historically high rate, and over a third of the increase in overall employment over the last year came from women aged over fifty getting jobs. We recognise that beneath this there is more work to be done to enable a level playing field for women. We are already making progress on a number of these issues and will do everything within our power to help older women play a valuable role in the Scottish economy. We will certainly take into account the recommendations helpfully outlined in the report.

The UK Government has set out details of the proposed grace period relating to the closure of the renewables obligation for new onshore wind projects in a policy paper which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-obligation-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind/information-on-the-proposed-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind

Figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate (DECC) show that, as at March 2015, there were 126 onshore wind sites in the planning system awaiting consent in Scotland. This data is published by DECC at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-energy-planning-data The Scottish Government publishes a local authority breakdown of this data on a quarterly basis. This data is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/Energy/planningdata

The Renewables Obligation (RO) is a scheme which supports the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity generating stations in the UK. It puts an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers to source some of their supply from renewables, a proportion which increases every year. The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the authority) is the body responsible for administering the RO. Information on the number of certificates issued can be found at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/renewables-obligation-ro-annual-report-2013-14

Figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate show that, as at March 2015, Scotland had 5.1 gigawatts of installed capacity from existing onshore wind projects.

The Scottish Government’s position is that grace period criteria relating to the closure of the renewables obligation should extend to all projects in planning to afford reasonable protection to developers who have made significant investments. We have made that case to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The UK Government is finalising its policy on the proposed grace period ahead of bringing forward primary legislation to implement the final policy. Before framing the terms of the legislation, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has sought information from developers with projects which are currently in the planning system but which have not yet secured consent. The UK Government has set out further information on this process in a policy paper which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-obligation-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind/information-on-the-proposed-ro-grace-period-for-new-onshore-wind The UK Government has not yet confirmed whether onshore wind will remain eligible for support under the Feed-in Tariff or Contracts for Difference schemes.

NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde are undertaking a study of the patient flow for emergency services at hospitals across all sites. This work will consider attendances for one full year from June 2015 through May 2016 so as to take account of the seasonality in emergency services. NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde will continue to pursue improvement in unscheduled care and engage in national improvement programmes. The Scottish Government and local boards are engaged in a range of programmes and initiatives to improve patient flow across Scotland in order to provide the best possible care across Scotland.

NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde are undertaking a study of the patient flow for emergency services at hospitals across all sites. This work will consider attendances for one full year from June 2015 through May 2016 so as to take account of the seasonality in emergency services. NHS greater Glasgow and Clyde will continue to pursue improvement in unscheduled care and engage in national improvement programmes. The Scottish Government and local boards are engaged in a range of programmes and initiatives to improve patient flow across Scotland in order to provide the best possible care across Scotland.

The following tables show the average number of available staffed beds in maternity specialties by NHS board of treatment (table 1) and the average number of available staffed beds in maternity specialties by hospital (table 2) from financial year 2007-08 to 2014-15.

The provision of beds is for each NHS board to determine as part of their management planning of all healthcare services in their area. This should take account of demographics such as birth rates and the clinical need of women and families. The length of stay in hospital for mothers and babies has decreased by about one day, on average, over the last ten years. However all women have postnatal care by midwives in their community setting when they return home, as required until the baby is at least 10 days old.

The expectation is that postnatal discharge planning processes and mechanisms are person centred, safe and effective. The Scottish Government expects NHS boards to have integrated discharge planning processes and pathways of care in place tailored to individual need.

In February 2015 the Scottish Government announced plans to review NHSScotland maternity and neonatal services to make sure that Scotland has the right services in place to continue to deliver, and enhance, the excellent care provided. As part of this process the Scottish Government will be engaging with maternity staff and service users about what matters to them.

Table 1: Average number of available staffed beds in maternity specialties by NHS board of treatment from 2007-08 to 2014-15.

Financial Year

NHS Board	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
NHS Ayrshire and Arran	70	68	61	56	53	54	38	36
NHS Borders	19	19	19	18	22	22	22	22
NHS Dumfries and Galloway	25	30	34	29	32	31	30	31
NHS Fife	55	49	44	37	38	57	57	53
NHS Forth Valley	45	45	35	34	33	28	27	28
NHS Grampian	130	130	109	97	101	101	101	100
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	256	249	244	216	216	199	184	174
NHS Highland	71	69	60	55	54	46	48	47
NHS Lanarkshire	78	74	74	77	93	89	74	61
NHS Lothian	82	83	114	121	122	120	120	120
NHS Orkney	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
NHS Shetland	6	6	5	4	4	5	5	5
NHS Tayside	*	*	*	69	70	73	73	60
NHS Western Isles	12	12	9	4	8	8	8	8
Scotland	*	*	*	823	853	839	793	750

* figures unavailable

Source: ISD(S)1

Ref: S4W-27651

Date: 23-07-15

 

Table 2 Average number of available staffed beds in maternity specialities by hospital from 2007-08 to 2014-15

Financial Year

Hospital	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Arran War Memorial Hospital	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
University Hospital Crosshouse	68	66	59	54	53	54	38	36
Borders General Hospital	19	19	19	18	22	22	22	22
Cowal Community Hospital	3	2	1	1	1	1	2	1
Islay Hospital	1	1	1	1	1	0	1	1
Victoria Hospital	3	3	1	1	1	0	1	1
Lorn and Islands Hospital	4	4	3	2	1	1	2	2
Campbeltown Hospital	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Vale of Leven General Hospital	3	3	3	2	2	2	2	2
Inverclyde Royal Hospital	4	4	4	2	2	2	2	2
Royal Alexandra Hospital	58	51	50	47	51	40	38	38
Victoria Hospital	-	-	-	-	-	5	0	-
Victoria Maternity Unit	55	49	44	37	38	53	57	53
Glasgow Royal Infirmary	-	-	-	-	0	0	0	0
The Princess Royal Maternity Unit	82	82	86	81	80	77	72	69
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital 1	57	58	67	83	81	78	71	63
Royal Hospital for Children	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-
Queen Mother’s Hospital	52	52	33	-	-	-	-	-
Caithness General Hospital	9	9	8	7	6	6	6	6
Raigmore Hospital	44	44	41	38	38	32	31	29
Belford Hospital	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Mackinnon Memorial Hospital	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Mid-Argyll Community Hospital and Integrated Care Centre	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	2
Mull and Iona Community Hospital	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-
Wishaw General Hospital	78	74	74	77	93	89	74	61
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
Aboyne Hospital	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	0
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital	96	97	80	69	72	71	71	76
Peterhead Community Hospital	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	2
Fraserburgh Hospital	6	6	1	1	1	1	1	0
Chalmers Hospital	6	6	2	1	1	1	1	0
Dr Gray’s Hospital	13	14	20	19	20	20	20	21
Balfour Hospital	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
St John’s Hospital	36	30	42	44	41	39	39	39
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France	46	52	73	77	82	81	81	81
Ninewells Hospital	*	*	*	55	56	59	59	47
Perth Royal Infirmary	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Arbroath Infirmary	-	-	1	4	4	4	4	4
Montrose Royal Infirmary	-	-	1	4	4	4	4	3
Stirling Community Hospital	45	45	35	34	10	-	-	-
Forth Valley Royal Hospital	-	-	-	-	23	28	27	28
Western Isles Hospital	10	10	7	2	6	6	6	6
Uist and Barra Hospital	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary	18	24	26	21	28	29	28	29
Galloway Community Hospital	7	6	8	8	4	2	2	2
Gilbert Bain Hospital	6	6	5	4	4	5	5	5

* figures unavailable

- No available beds

0 = Representive of very small average number (i.e 0.003)

Source: ISD(S)1

Ref: S4W-27651

Date: 23-07-15

1. Known as the Southern General Hospital prior to 2014-15