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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-28683

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 April 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Choices for universal credit remains operational, and what management information regarding applications for the scheme it has received from the DWP since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Universal Credit (UC) Scottish choices remains operational and will continue to be offered to all people who are claiming UC, both new and existing claimants. For new claimants it is offered following their first assessment period and existing claimants can request it at any time via their UC journal, or telephone.

The Scottish Government receives Management Information on the UC Scottish choices once a month from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the pressures facing the DWP we have yet to receive data for February and March. Once we have the data for March, and also April, we will be in a better position to assess how the current COVID-19 outbreak has impacted on the uptake for the UC Scottish choices compared to previous months.

Question reference: S5W-28044

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 23 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the delivery of accessible community rehabilitation care.

The Scottish Government continues to support and encourage health and social care partnerships to develop a range of Intermediate Care services. These services provide short-term rehabilitation and re-ablement services at home, or in a homely setting, as a step up/down from hospital care. In addition our Active and Independent Living Programme (AILP) 2016-2020 provides a framework for health professionals to work in partnership with people in Scotland to help them live healthy, active and independent lives. The framework sets out the broad strategic direction for the programme, including the six overarching ambitions, to drive significant culture change in how people can access and receive AHP support for self-management, prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation and enablement services http://www.gov.scot/Publications2017/06/1250 .

AILP sets out the key steps that Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), who are qualified in rehabilitation at the point of registration, can take to support people whose life is affected by ill health and ageing; poor mental wellbeing; and/or disabilities, to become as active as possible in their own lives, families and communities. As integrated health and social care services are further developed we will see a greater use of seamless and joined up services from early intervention through to supporting people when their needs become more complex. Given the current workload associated with Covid-19 all service providers may divert staff resources to deal with and maintain critical services. These decisions are supported and agreed locally.

Question reference: S5W-28003

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 2 April 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether an equality impact assessment for the Scottish Child Payment will be published when the regulations are laid and, if so, on what date.

The Scottish Government will publish an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) when the Scottish Child Payment regulations are laid in the Scottish Parliament. The timescale for this will be confirmed in due course given the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security’s statement of 1 April on the implications of Covid-19 for the Social Security Programme.

As part of the process of developing the EQIA, the Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders representing the protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act to understand the potential impacts and barriers these groups may face to claiming the Payment. This activity has complemented the work of our user researchers who have, to date, engaged with over 300 citizens on the design of the Payment, including those across the protected characteristics.

Question reference: S5W-27819

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government which of the recommendations in the British Sign Language Interpreting in Scotland: A Landscape Review 2019 it has adopted.

The ‘ BSL Interpreting in Scotland: Landscape review ’ was commissioned by the Scottish Government to identify steps that could strengthen the BSL/English interpreting profession in Scotland, arising from a commitment in the BSL National Plan.

It is worth noting that some of the report’s recommendations are for the Scottish Government to consider, whilst others are for the wider BSL interpreting sector to take forward.

An initial gathering of key stakeholders (registration bodies, membership associations, training providers & the national BSL/English interpreting union) took place in November 2019 to directly consider the recommendations; further collaborative work will be undertaken in 2020.

Question reference: S5W-27821

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has requested that Queen Margaret University publishes (a) the interview data and transcripts and (b) a statistical summary of the characteristics of participants for the British Sign Language Interpreting in Scotland: A Landscape Review 2019.

Question reference: S5W-27822

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the statement in the British Sign Language Interpreting in Scotland: A Landscape Review 2019 that "one specialist BSL agency... was perceived by some as being unethical in winning contracts, and caring about profit before staff well being or the BSL community", and "has a monopoly on contracts and service level agreements for various public bodies".

Question reference: S5W-27820

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the British Sign Language Interpreting in Scotland: A Landscape Review 2019.

The Scottish Government welcomes the ‘BSL Interpreting in Scotland: Landscape review’. The research incorporates various perspectives on BSL/English interpreting and interpreter provision in Scotland, and provides an invaluable overview of the current landscape.

The Scottish Government will consider the findings of this review and use these to support and contribute towards future decision-making to strengthen the BSL/English interpreting profession in Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-27792

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 06 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling or assessment it conducted to determine the viability of the National Carer Organisations' recommendation that Carer's Allowance should be a qualifying benefit for the Job Start Payment.

The purpose of the Job Start Payment is to provide support with the costs of starting work to young people who have been out of paid employment for at least six months and who may otherwise struggle with the costs to take up a job offer. The purpose of the qualifying benefits is to enable an applicant to demonstrate, and to enable Social Security Scotland to verify, that the applicant meets that criterion. That is why Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit were chosen as qualifying benefits. Including other benefits provided to people with caring responsibilities or for other reasons would not enable that to be demonstrated.

Question reference: S5W-27793

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 06 March 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 March 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its response was to the recommendation by the National Carer Organisations that Carer's Allowance should be a qualifying benefit for the Job Start Payment.

Question reference: S5O-04294

Current Status: Withdrawn