- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S5W-20616 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 January 2019, whether it remains its position, as set out at section 1.3 of its document, Social Security Programme - Disability Benefits Assessments Strategic Outline Case, which was published under the freedom of information request, FoI/18/03113, that "the assumption is that the disability benefit rules and structures will remain broadly the same", and, if so, for what reason this is not referred to in the response.
Answer
While our working assumption for planning purposes is that the rules and structures will remain broadly the same, no final decisions have been taken; we will continue to look for opportunities to improve these, provided the changes do not risk the safe and secure transition of devolved disability assistance. As previously stated, we have already identified a number of areas for improvement and are co-designing these with people with experience of the current system so that we can build a system which better meets the needs of individuals.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20546 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 December 2018, whether it will publish each of the three reviews.
Answer
Gateway Reviews are conducted for the Scottish Government and associated public sector organisations to help support the successful delivery of programmes and projects by ensuring that good programme and project management practice is being used; that key risks are actively managed and to identify any learning points for better practice.
The reports are confidential to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO).
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its draft social security charter has not been published, and by what date it will be.
Answer
The draft social security charter was laid for Parliamentary approval on 10 January 2019.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its service level agreement with Citizens Advice Scotland for delivery of its Financial Health Check service.
Answer
We do not intend to publish the service level agreement.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it or Citizens Advice Scotland is responsible for advertising and promoting the Financial Health Check service; what advertising and promotional work has been agreed as part of the agreement with Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver the service; how frequently this work is to be delivered, and how much of the £3.3 million funding committed to the service over two years is to be used for advertising and promoting the service.
Answer
Both the Scottish Government and Citizens Advice network in Scotland are responsible for advertising and promoting the service. The Scottish Government will undertake a national marketing campaign week commencing 7 January 2019 to raise awareness of the service. The funding for the Scottish Government’s national marketing campaign is in addition to the £3.3 million funding committed.
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will also undertake marketing work and local marketing and engagement with local partners will be undertaken by local Citizens Advice Bureau. CAS is currently developing their plans on this.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the requirements are on Citizens Advice Scotland to report statistical information under its agreement to deliver the Financial Health Check service, and how frequently it is required to report this.
Answer
Reports on the overall progress of the service will be submitted to the Scottish Government on a quarterly basis.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what procurement process was conducted for the provision of its Financial Health Check service.
Answer
The service is grant funded by £3.3 million over two years.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how many financial health checks have been conducted under its Financial Health Check service, also broken down by (a) local authority and (b) citizens advice bureau.
Answer
We do not hold this information yet.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost per check will be for its Financial Health Check service.
Answer
The duration and cost of each check will vary depending on the issues a client wishes to cover. We estimate the cost of a full check to be approximately £100.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether the £3.3 million funding for its Financial Health Check service is performance-linked, and what the criteria are that must be met in order for funding to be released.
Answer
This is a two year project with funding for year two subject to a successful evaluation of year one.