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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-07812

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 17 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how much public spending has been determined by Community Choices budgeting in each year since 2011.

Since June 2014 the Scottish Government has been promoting and supporting Community Choices, also known as participatory budgeting.

Between 2014 and 2017 the Scottish Government has invested over £2.7 million in Community Choices. This includes project funding for local authorities and communities in addition to support costs to ensure their Community Choices processes are meaningful and inclusive. Also included is funding for a national support programme consisting of consultancy and digital support; an evaluation programme; a network and website; an international conference; learning events and publications; and a facilitator training programme.

Further to this investment local authorities have provided additional match funding for projects of £1,033,250.

The total level of expenditure for the Community Choices programme since 2014 is £3,754,256 and this is broken down by year as follows:

Year	SG Funding for projects	SG Support Funding	SG National Support Programme	Local Authority match funding	Total
2014-15	0	0	£51,000	0	£51,000
2015-16	£419,000	£111,267	£162,275	£419,000	£1,111,542
2016-17 (to date)	£1,237,750	£457,932	£281,782	£614,250	£2,591,714
Total:	£1,656,750	£569,199	£495,057	£1,033,250	£3,754,256

Question reference: S5W-07813

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether all local authorities had at least 1% of their budgets subject to Community Choices budgeting, and what the estimated value of public spending determined by this method will be in the current financial year.

The Programme for Government 2016-17 states that councils will have at least 1% of their budget subject to Community Choices budgeting. We are working with COSLA to take forward the commitment. At this stage, no local authority has at least 1% of their budget subject to Community Choices budgeting.

In relation to the estimated value of public spending determined by Community Choices in the current financial year, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07812 on 16 March 2017. 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”

Question reference: S5O-00628

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 1 February 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how UK Government plans to reduce housing benefit for people under 35 will impact on those affected as well as on the social rented sector.

We are extremely concerned about the potential impact of the UK Government's decision to apply local housing allowance rates to the social rented sector from April 2019. Single people under the age of 35 are likely to be most affected as support for their housing costs will be capped at the shared accommodation rate. We know from current Housing Benefit caseload information that more than 25,000 social sector households come into this category and could face a cut in benefits if their rents are above the shared accommodation rate for their area.

We are also aware that social landlords’ have concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s plans and will continue to work closely with our housing partners and stakeholders to fully understand the implications of the proposed policy.

Question reference: S5F-00861

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 January 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2017

To ask the First Minister what representations the Scottish Government has made to the UK Government regarding the announcement of further jobcentre closures in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-06364

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 January 2017
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Shona Robison on 20 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication date for the review of maternity and neonatal services report.

Question reference: S5O-00546

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 12 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports public transport in Glasgow.

In 2016-17 the Scottish Government is providing around £17 million grant funding to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to support public transport in their area. It is for SPT to determine how that funding is utilised, in line with its Regional Transport Strategy.

The Scottish Government is also a full partner in the Glasgow City Deal, now in its delivery stage, and will contribute £500 million over 20 years. The city partners are considering a range of transport projects which improve public transport infrastructure.

In addition, the Scottish Government is committed to invest in rail infrastructure and services to better connect our communities and support sustainable economic growth and jobs across the country. Glasgow will benefit from key projects such as the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) - £795 million - and at Stirling/Alloa/Dunblane - £159.5 million - and Shotts - £160 million.

Question reference: S5W-05704

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether Skills Development Scotland was given prior notification of the proposals by the Department for Work and Pensions to close eight job centres in Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-05578

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 21 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on vulnerable people, what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding its proposals to close Jobcentre Plus offices in Glasgow.

Given the level of concern I have about this matter, I have now written to Damian Green, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on two occasions: once on 7 December when the announcement was made public and then again on 9 December seeking clarification of DWP’s consultation and proposals within its estates review. Mr Green replied on 8 December setting out the UKG’s rationale for a proposed rationalisation of the Jobcentre Plus estate based on both cost and operational effectiveness. The consultation on the proposed Glasgow closures closes on 31 January, and I will engage directly with Damian Green again on this matter.

As we believe that this announcement on Glasgow is likely to be an initial element of a much wider process which could impact in areas across Scotland, I have asked that it is discussed when I next meet DWP Ministers at the next Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on 30 January 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05219

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 15 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been of its investment to reduce IVF waiting times.

The Scottish Government’s target that by March 2015 eligible patients will start IVF treatment at one of Scotland’s four NHS IVF facilities within 12 months of referral was delivered ahead of time.

To support the IVF target, the Scottish Government has invested nearly £18 million over four financial years to 2015-16, specifically to reduce and maintain waiting times, with further investment during 2016-17. The funding has had a dramatic effect with figures from the recently published Information Service Division IVF publication: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/IVF-Waiting-Times/Publications/2016-11-29/ showing that 100% of eligible patients were screened for IVF treatment within 365 days across Scotland within 12 months of being referred, during the quarter ending September 2016.

Question reference: S5O-00441

Asked by: Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 7 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the proposed changes to the local housing allowance will have on vulnerable groups.

The application of the local housing allowance to the social rented sector will have an impact on tenants in a variety of circumstances including vulnerable groups in general needs accommodation as well as those in temporary, or supported accommodation.

Worryingly, shortly before the autumn statement, the DWP announced all social housing tenants on Universal Credit will be affected by the Local Housing Allowance cap rather than only those starting a tenancy after April 2016, as was the original proposal. As has become usual practice from the Tory UK government, this was with no notice or consultation. This recent announcement means that the cuts from the LHA cap will potentially impact many more people from 2019 than was originally proposed.