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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S5W-00248

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a licensing system for funeral directors.

Question reference: S5W-00240

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of applicants expected for funeral payments in each of the next four years; what information it has on how many applications for funeral payments were made in Scotland in each of the last five years; what the estimated annual cost of these payments was, and what the average award was.

Estimating the number of people who are eligible for the funeral payment is difficult because of the limited Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) data available and the unpredictable nature of life events.

Table 1 provides estimates of the number of possible Funeral Payment awards that would be made in 2016-17 to 2020-21.

Two sets of figures are provided. The first column estimates of the number of payments that would be made if current take-up levels were maintained.

The second column provides a very rough estimate of the number of payments that could be made if we managed to achieve maximum take up the funeral payment based on current eligibility criteria.

Table 1: Forecast number of funeral payment awards in Scotland, 2015-16 to 2020-21

Year	Expected Awards (Current Take Up)	Expected Awards (Full Take Up)
2015-16	4,000	16,000
2016-17	4,000	16,000
2017-18	4,000	16,000
2018-19	4,000	16,000
2019-20	4,000	16,000
2020-21	4,000	16,000

Source: Scottish Government analysis based on Department for Work and Pensions figures

Table 2 shows the numbers of funeral payment applications and awards in Scotland in 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Year	Applications	Awards
2010-11	8,300	5,100
2011-12	8,500	5,000
2012-13	8,000	4,800
2013-14	7,400	4,400
2014-15	6,300	4,300

Source: UK Government parliamentary question 11102

Annual costs and the average award are available from DWP.

Note for table 2:

All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

The applications figures are based on applications received by DWP, not applications processed. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.

The award figures include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.

These figures do not include cases which have been processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund computer system.

Question reference: S5W-00237

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the funeral payment in Scotland will be at the same level as that provided by the UK Government.

Question reference: S5W-00246

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring arrangements are in place to track funeral poverty.

Question reference: S5W-00242

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the average cost of a funeral.

Question reference: S5W-00249

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce parity in the burial and cremation costs charged by local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-00234

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 May 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 June 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what the level of the Sure Start Maternity Grant would be had it been uprated in line with the (a) retail and (b) consumer price index since 2002.

Question reference: S4O-05642

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how the Forth Road Bridge closure has affected the condition of roads on diversionary routes.

Question reference: S4O-05563

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 February 2016
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 11 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the judgement by Sheriff V Smith against North Lanarkshire Council in relation to the siting of snack vans near schools.

With a significant number of children choosing to purchase food from nearby outlets during the school day, the food environment around schools has an important role to play in encouraging children and young people to eat a healthy balanced diet.

The Scottish Government strongly encourages local partners, including local authorities, schools, caterers and retailers, to work collaboratively to consider what more they can do to positively influence the food environment outside of schools and better support healthy diets.

This includes sharing best practice between local authorities, working with food vans and other outlets to adopt healthier practices, and encouraging more retailers to participate in the Healthy Living Programme.

A holistic package of guidance, Beyond the School Gates and Better Eating Better Learning, is already available to help local partners develop their plans.

Question reference: S4O-05525

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport last met NHS Lanarkshire and what was discussed.