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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-15249

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S5O-01734 by Jeane Freeman on 31 January 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), regarding the minister's comments on the tax status of the carers allowance supplement, whether she has since seen the letter from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group; whether she has responded, and what the status of the supplement is.

We responded to the letter from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group on the tax status of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement on 19 February 2018. In response to the part of the question on the status of the supplement, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14498 on 27 February 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

Question reference: S5W-15248

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14074 and S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 8 February and 6 March 2018 respectively, whether it will provide the (a) detailed options analysis and (b) joint feasibility study and risk assessment that it conducted to support the Scottish Social Security Programme Board's decision to use the Department for Work and Pensions' Central Payment System for a period of up to three to five years.

Question reference: S5W-15242

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 6 March 2018, what the estimated (a) annual and (b) per transaction cost is of the Scottish Social Security Programme Board's decision to use the Department for Work and Pensions' Central Payment System for a period of up to three to five years.

On 25 October 2016 the Scottish Government published on its website a Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on joint working arrangements for the implementation of devolved powers. It sets out a framework for co-operation and collaboration, including the development of delivery options. Transaction costs for the Central Payment System were provided to the Scottish Government in confidence under the terms of this MOU.

Question reference: S5W-15282

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13766 by Jeane Freeman on 25 January 2018, when its position statement on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will be published.

Question reference: S5W-15189

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-14565 by Jeane Freeman on 8 March 2018, when it anticipates provisions for the carers supplement will be repealed and revoked.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is a temporary measure until the Scottish Government takes over full control of Carer’s Allowance. Payments of the supplement will be made by the Scottish social security agency. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will continue to pay Carer’s Allowance to carers in Scotland in the same way and at the same time as it is currently paid. This arrangement will be set out in an Agency Agreement and Service Level Agreement with the DWP.

Explanatory notes provided with the Social Security Bill at introduction outline plans for the end of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement as follows: ‘It is envisaged that the supplement will cease to be needed once regulations under section 11 have been made to provide a scheme for carer’s assistance, as that can provide for payments at the increased rate. Section 48 allows the Scottish Ministers to repeal the duty to pay the supplement and revoke any regulations made under it.’ (Paragraph 75)

Question reference: S5W-15183

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 27 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government when it will appoint a forecaster to assist in the determination of eligibility regarding cold-spell heating assistance regulations.

Question reference: S5W-15184

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Department for Work and Pensions' system of postcode to weather station mapping is accurate for determining whether the threshold for Cold Weather Payments has been met.

The current agreement between the Department of Work and Pensions and the Met Office provides for each postcode area to be allocated to one of 94 weather stations, which together cover all parts of Scotland, England and Wales.

We are aware of previous calls for more localised forecasts and additional weather stations to determine Cold Weather Payment thresholds made during the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and will take these into account as we ensure that the new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests.

Question reference: S5W-15182

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 22 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the cold-spell heating assistance regulations will rely on (a) postcode to weather station mapping or (b) localised forecasts to determine eligibility.

Question reference: S5W-15239

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14938 by Jamie Hepburn on 12 March 2018, what the new mix of subcontractors is in the (a) Tayside and (b) West Lots.

a) Tayside

Lead supplier: Remploy Ltd
Sub-contractor: Rathbone CI
Additionally the Lead Supplier has proposed to engage with a wide range of organisations to support individual participants with specialist needs, for example: numeracy and literacy, homelessness, addiction, debt, offending and health issues. Sub-contracts will be agreed when an individual participant is identified as requiring these types of interventions. Specialist organisations that are committed to supporting the delivery of the service include:
Apex Scotland; Barnardo's; Blueprint Training; Christians Against Poverty; Concept Northern; Enable Scotland; Lifeskills Central Ltd; One Parent Families; Penumbra; Prince’s Trust; Project Scotland; Salus; Scottish Association for Mental Health; Scottish Refugee Council; Street League; West of Scotland Regional Equality Council; Shelter Scotland; The Helm; Dundee Association for Mental Health; and DEAP Ltd

b) West

Lead supplier: The Wise Group
Sub-contractors:

ENABLE Scotland

Enterprise Mentoring

Street League

The Lennox Partnership

Working Links

Additionally the Lead Supplier has proposed to engage with a wide range of organisations to support individual participants with specialist needs. Sub-contracts will be agreed when an individual participant is identified as requiring this type of intervention. Specialist organisations that are committed to supporting the delivery of the service in Lot West include:

Community Renewal, Project Scotland, Salus, Venture Trust.

Question reference: S5O-01922

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 21 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the cold-spell heating assistance regulations will maintain eligibility for people who currently receive Cold Weather Payments.

We will consider all the responses to the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Rural Task Force in ensuring that these new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests.

As with each of the 11 benefits we will take on board the views of stakeholders and Experience Panels on the future policy and delivery of Cold Weather Payments in Scotland