Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-10524

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 31 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 15 August 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether a person entitled to assistance as proposed under Chapter 2 of the Social Security Bill will have a right to choose if this assistance is given solely in the form of money.

Question reference: S5W-10102

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement by the Minister for Social Security on 27 April 2017 (Official Report, c. 46), which section of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill ensures that, in the assessment model, "there will be no contracting with the private sector".

Question reference: S5W-10318

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 31 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it having the power to top up reserved benefits, for what reason the delegated powers memorandum for its Social Security Bill states that "Ministers wish the rate at which Carer’s Allowance is paid to match the rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance, but do not have powers to increase its rate, other than to uprate it for inflation".

Now that legislative competence has been transferred to the Scottish Parliament, Carer’s Allowance is no longer a reserved benefit that Scottish Ministers can top up by using the power provided at section 24 of the Scotland Act 2016. Instead, the Bill provides for a Carer’s Allowance supplement, using the powers provided for under section 22 of that Act, to increase that allowance to the level of Job Seekers Allowance at the earliest opportunity.

Question reference: S5W-10101

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the debate on Dignity, Fairness and Respect in Disability Benefits on 9 June 2016, which section of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill ensures that disability benefits “are increased at least in line with inflation to ensure that they cover the cost of living”.

Question reference: S5W-10036

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Scottish Welfare Fund statutory guidance to assist applicants and, if so, when.

The aim of the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) statutory guidance is to provide a framework for local authorities to promote consistency in decision making when administering Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.

The SWF guidance is reviewed on an annual basis and the latest version was published on 1 April 2017, following consultation with a wide range of organisations, including the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Shelter, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO), local authorities and Citizens Advice Scotland. More recently, the Scottish Government published standalone SWF guidance for local authorities regarding assistance with housing costs for 18-21 years. SWF guidance can be accessed from the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/fairerscotland/scottishwelfarefund/socialfund

Direct assistance for applicants who wish to apply for the Scottish Welfare Fund is available from local authorities as well as third sector organisations.

Further consideration is being given to the guidance in light of SPSO's annual report, published on 29 June 2017.

Question reference: S5W-09997

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the transition of the PIP mobility element as a first stage of the transfer of disability benefits, and whether it will seek to discuss this with the UK Government at the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare.

The UK Government’s regulations, which govern the transition of the disability benefits under the Scotland Act 2016, do not allow for separate elements of PIP to be transferred separately.

Scottish Government Officials have been in discussions with Motability with a view to making sure that the scheme is available in Scotland when we take on delivery of disability benefits. We understand that around 800 Motability vehicles a week are being taken away from disabled people across the UK, as a result of the transition to PIP. This is a matter of significant concern that we have raised with the UK Government.

The agenda for the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare is still to be agreed.

Question reference: S5W-10178

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 July 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 25 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what provision for passported benefits is made in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill from the seven types of assistance that are proposed.

The Scottish Government has made its position on passported benefits clear. For example, paragraph 127 of the policy memorandum published alongside the Social Security (Scotland) Bill states, in relation to disability assistance, that - “Passporting arrangements for all three of the benefits will continue”. That is why the Bill provides Scottish Ministers with powers to make provision, in regulations for each of the eight types of assistance that are proposed. This includes making provision for passported benefits.

Question reference: S5W-09799

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is of the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017.

Question reference: S5W-09794

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many hits have been received by the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017, and how many applications for carers allowance have been made through this.

The campaign webpage, www.young.scot/youngcarers - was viewed more than 2,000 times between 12 June and 2 July 2017.

A breakdown of reach and engagement by social media channels is published in the answer to question S5W-09796 on 17 July 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.

Carer’s Allowance is currently reserved to the UK Government, and is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. Information on applications is not held by the Scottish Government. We will review DWP’s information when it is published in due course.

Question reference: S5W-09797

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 July 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the social media feedback for the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017, and whether it has commissioned tracking research of the effectiveness of the campaign.

Effectiveness of the Young Carer’s benefit take-up activity is being measured by social media reach.

A breakdown of reach and engagement by social media channels is published in the answer to question S5W-09796 on 17 July 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.

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