Pam Duncan-Glancy

7 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include people seeking asylum and living under immigration control within the scope of the inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-04922 on 17 December 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committ…

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with regards to the roll-out of the Child Disability Payment (CDP), what proportion of existing claimants it expects to be in receipt of (a) a greater, (b) the same and (c) a lesser amount of financial assistance under CDP compared with what they receive from the Department for Work and…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: When existing Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA Child) clients have their awards transferred to Child Disability Payment (CDP) they will receive the same payment rate for CDP as they received for DLA Child at the point of transfer. They will conti…

6 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, with regards to the roll-out of Adult Disability Payment (ADP), what proportion of existing claimants it expects to be in receipt of (a) a greater, (b) the same and (c) a lesser amount of financial assistance under ADP, compared with what they receive from the Department for Work and Pe…

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government will begin accepting Adult Disability Payment (ADP) applications from new clients from spring 2022 and nationally from summer 2022. Existing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clients will begin to have their entitlements transferred …

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase current Scottish Child Payment bridging payments for children from six years and above, who would be entitled to the Scottish Child Payment under the full roll-out, to bring them into line with the increased payment rate of £20 per week.

Answer · Shona Robison: This year’s Scottish Budget is a budget of choices and we have chosen to back our national mission to tackle child poverty and strengthen support available for families during the cost of living crisis. The Budget commits almost £200 million to double the Sc…

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is on course to meet its interim child poverty targets for 2023-24.

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest annual data available, published in March 2020, estimates that 24% of children lived in relative poverty, after housing costs, in Scotland in the period 2017-20. These statistics predate the impact of Covid-19 on the financial security of families…

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its analysis of the £13 million underspend between initial forecasts and spending in relation to the Scottish Child Payment.

Answer · Shona Robison: As we set out in the answer to question S6W-04354 on 30 November 2021 there is a £13 million difference between the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s forecast for Scottish Child Payment expenditure from their January 2021 and August 2021 publications. This does no…

1 Dec 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish data on the number of applications that were submitted to the Winter Support Fund, the success rate and other monitoring data, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Shona Robison: The standard Scottish Government monitoring and evaluation processes will apply to this funding, as per the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

30 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people who are exempt from wearing face coverings due to medical reasons are not unfairly penalised or judged in public settings, such as shops and hospitality settings.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The vast majority of people can wear a face covering and everyone who can is required to do so where it is mandated by law. The Scottish Government was the first of the devolved administrations to produce guidance on the use of face coverings – recognising e…

30 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the eligibility criteria for the Self-isolation Support Grant and consider including people who have had COVID-19 vaccines, in light of the First Minister’s announcement that all close contacts of suspected cases of the Omicron variant will be advised to self-isola…

Answer · Kate Forbes: From 30 November 2021 the eligibility criteria for the Self Isolation Support Grant was changed to enable close contacts of someone who has tested positive or has been asked to isolate as part of the exercise within the public health response to the Omicron v…

29 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish an evaluation of its pilot of the Child Disability Payment.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: As noted in the answer to question S6W-04597 on 6 December 2021, the next set of Child Disability Payment statistics are due to be published in January 2022, covering the period of the pilot from 26 July to 21 November 2021. The Scottish Government will also …

29 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, which organisations have received funding from the £6 million for third sector organisations and how much each received.

Answer · Shona Robison: To date, the following organisations have been awarded funding from the £6 million funding available through the Winter Support Fund for the third sector: ORGANISATION AMOUNT Aberlour £250,000 Action for Children £450,000 Barnardo’s £345,000 Cash for…

23 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date its COVID passport scheme will recognise people who have received a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved vaccine outwith the UK and Common Travel Area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Our COVID-19 Status Certification scheme already recognises people who have been vaccinated outwith the UK and Common Travel Area. People who want to attend a venue or event covered by the certification scheme should obtain proof of vaccination status from th…

23 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Child Disability Payment pilot, and when a full evaluation will be carried out and published.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: On 22 November Child Disability Payment was launched across Scotland. This has followed an initial pilot, whereby families of children and young people with a disability living in Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and Western Isles council areas, could apply for t…

23 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in relation to A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: delivery plan.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s delivery plan to advance disability equality and rights, ‘ A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People’ , was published in December 2016 and covered the period 2016-2021. We published a report on progress on 22 March 2021, which outlined…

18 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the proposed changes to the assessment process for adult disability payment (ADP), how many people in receipt of personal independence payment (PIP) it expects will request the rate of the mobility support that they receive to be reviewed following transfer to ADP, and what …

Answer · Ben Macpherson: Forecasts relating to future requests for award reviews and reassessments are set out by the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC). The most recently published forecast of 26 August 2021 stated that 8,700 additional people could request that their award be reviewe…

18 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people who are not already in receipt of personal independence payment (PIP) it expects to claim adult disability payment (ADP).

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The most recent Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts, published on 26 August 2021, estimate that an additional 209,000 people, who are not in receipt of Personal Independence Payment, will apply for Adult Disability Payment between 2022-23 - 2026-27.

18 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many personal independence payment (PIP) cases are being transferred from the DWP to Social Security Scotland, and by what date this will be completed.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: We have started the transfer of approximately 52,000 DLA Child awards from DWP to Social Security Scotland. We will begin the transfer of approximately 300,000 awards of Personal Independence Payment in summer 2022. Our aim is to safely and securely complete…

18 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure every person who requires a winter flu vaccination receives one as quickly as possible, particularly older people and people at risk.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: More people than ever in Scotland are being offered the free flu vaccine to help protect as many lives as possible this winter. The flu vaccination programme commenced on 6 September and will run until March 2022. We are seeking to offer the flu vaccine at t…

12 Nov 2021 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it has made of the need for appropriate childcare provision for staff working at the Parliament.

Answer · Claire Baker: The Parliament takes an inclusive approach to providing its staff with appropriate childcare support.  Staff are supported by a range of policies to enable them to manage their work, family and home life circumstances. This has been particularly helpful durin…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how departments are co-operating to develop a cross-governmental strategy on poverty and, in doing so, the extent to which they are engaging with (a) people with lived-experience of poverty and (b) local authorities.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will publish the second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan by the end of March 2022, setting out a range of actions which will put us on a critical path to the 2030 child poverty targets. We have declared a national mission to end c…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has put in place to reduce poverty-related health inequalities.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are committed to addressing the underlying causes of health inequalities; ending poverty, increasing fair access to employment, education and training, and improving our physical and social environments. Community Link Workers continue to be at the forefr…

11 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has committed to meeting poverty targets and whether it is on track to meet the targets.

Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in the latest Tackling Child Poverty Progress Report, published in June 2021, the Scottish Government invested almost £2.5 billion in support targeted at low income households including nearly £1 billion to support children in low income families. …

10 Nov 2021 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the "20-metre rule" within eligibility criteria for disability benefits is dignified, fair, respectful and consistent with the values of Social Security Scotland.

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been an underspend of the social security budget in this financial year and, if so, how much the underspend is, and how it compares to initial forecasts.

Answer · Ben Macpherson: The overall social security budget for the 2021-22 financial year was set in January 2021, at almost £4 billion. This includes £3.5 billion for demand-led benefits expenditure, and almost £0.5 billion for Social Security Programme implementation investment an…

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there has been an underspend on the Scottish Child Payment in this financial year, and, if so, how much the underspend is, and how it compares to initial forecasts.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s January 2021 forecast for expenditure on the Scottish Child Payment, utilised to set the Scottish Budget 2021-22, was £68 million. The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s August 2021 forecast revised this estimate to £55 million for …

9 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the amount it spent on the Scottish Child Payment in this financial year is in line with its anticipated spend, as set out in the 2021-22 budget.

Answer · Shona Robison: Based on Social Security Scotland’s expenditure to the end of October 2021 we currently expect Scottish Child Payment expenditure to be in line with the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s August 2021 forecast of £55 million for 2021-22.

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date its COVID passport scheme will recognise the status of people who have had two doses of a vaccine in two different countries.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: There is already a process in place for doing this across the Common Travel Area, and work continues to add additional countries to this service. Full details are available on NHS Inform – see https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/ge…

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, what the allocation formula is for the £25 million of flexible funding to be allocated to local authorities to support wellbeing and respond to financial insecurity base…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has proposed a methodology to the Settlement and Distribution Group which was considered on 17 November. A recommendation has been made to COSLA Leaders for adoption when they next meet on 26 November.

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, what the application process is for the £10 million of funding to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills.

Answer · Shona Robison: The £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund will be made available to households struggling with their energy costs this winter through a range of third sector delivery partners, chiefly the Fuel Bank Foundation, Registered Social Landlords and Advice Direct Scotlan…

8 Nov 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release on 29 October 2021 regarding a £41 million Winter Support Fund for low-income households, when the £25 million of flexible funding to support wellbeing and respond to financial insecurity based on local needs will be available to local authorities.

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities will be informed of their allocations once COSLA Leaders have considered and agreed the methodology for distribution on 26 November. It is proposed that funding is allocated through a redetermination to General Revenue Grant with payments in…