Paul O'Kane

6 Sep 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding levels of attainment in Modern Studies in the most recent SQA exam results in Renfrewshire.

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to re-open the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland 2015 Fund.

Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Ministers are committed to re-opening the Independent Living Fund (ILF) 2015 Fund on the basis of affordability and sustainability. The Scottish Government will continue to actively consider re-opening the Fund as part of the annual budget setting pr…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what happens when recipients of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland 2015 Fund return any unused funds for any reason, including death.

Answer · Maree Todd: Unused recipient funds, including those in consequence of the death of recipients, are returned to ILF Scotland who in consultation with SG officials, decide whether to use it for spending priorities associated with ILF or to offset ILF Scotland’s monthly dra…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what portion of the funding allocation for the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland, as agreed with the UK Government, has been spent by it on activity other than ILF in each year from 2016 to date.

Answer · Maree Todd: Funding for the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland is transferred each year to ILF Scotland to meet existing commitments to the current ILF population under the ILF Scotland policy framework. These policies are set by Ministers and can be found on the ILF…

11 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial modelling it has carried out to calculate its cost basis projection for re-opening the Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland 2015 Fund.

Answer · Maree Todd: A financial modelling exercise for the cost of re-opening the Independent Living Fund (ILF) 2015 Fund was carried out for the Independent Review of Adult Social Care (IRASC) and explored the number of people in receipt of care packages over a range of support…

10 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional support measures have been implemented to address the reported significant telephone waiting times for people trying to contact Social Security Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland listens to feedback from clients and continually evaluates call handling processes and systems. The agency has made changes to the way in which they handle calls, including better real-time monitoring of call volumes to enable more e…

10 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources have been allocated to support people who experience digital exclusion (a) in general, (b) and who are disabled and (c) and who have poor mental health, to contact Social Security Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to ensuring that the experience of applying for the benefits it administers is accessible and inclusive to support people who experience digital exclusion. In designing the social security system, Scottish Government work…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on its policy position regarding the implementation of individual payments for Universal Credit.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19509 on 17 July 2023. 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-committees…

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any engagement that it has had with the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in relation to the impact assessment process for introducing individual payments of Universal Credit, and what assessment it has made of any implications for the managed…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government officials are continuing to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to consider the feasibility of introducing split payments of Universal Credit. Officials expect to submit a formal policy proposal to DWP soon, for th…

26 Jun 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported delays in processing times for Adult Disability Payments.

15 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to fund diabetes technology, such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, flash and the innovative hybrid closed loop, to reduce any inequalities in access for people with diabetes.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021, contains a key commitment to further increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies. Our national policy is to increase access to these life changing diabetes therapies to everyone who would b…

14 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nursing and midwifery staff have left the NHS in the last 12 months.

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of people with learning disabilities who are in paid employment.

Answer · Neil Gray: In 2019 there were 23,584 adults with learning disability known to local authorities across Scotland, 956 (4.1%) were in employment, 10,483 (44.4%) were not in employment and 12,145 (51.5%) did not have their employment status recorded. Learning-Disability-S…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that the applications process for new devolved benefits is accessible for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland works with individuals and disability organisations to design services so that everyone who may be eligible for benefits understands how they can apply for and receive them. Clients can apply in ways that suit them best either by pa…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it has put in place to support any people with learning disabilities who are struggling with the increase in the cost of living.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the pressure on household budgets which is why both last year and this, we have allocated almost £3bn to support policies which tackle poverty and protect people as far as possible during the ongoing cost of living crisis. …

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to publish the statistical publication Learning Disability Statistics Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is engaged in ongoing discussions with Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Commission for Learning Disabilities (SCLD) on how the Learning Disability Statistics Scotland (LDSS) report can be improved to provide the most precise pic…

6 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to reduce the reported delays in making decisions regarding the award of Adult Disability Payments for people with learning disabilities.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to giving people decisions as quickly as possible, while allowing time to make sure they have the information required to get decisions right first time. Most recent statistics show that since the introduction of Adult …

31 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting local theatres.

24 May 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on phase 3 of the learning estate investment programme, including in relation to the planned date for the announcement of the successful projects.

22 May 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to retired carers.

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spent on tackling social isolation and loneliness in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23.

Answer · Emma Roddick: a) In financial year 2021-2022, £1 million was allocated to organisations working to tackle social isolation and loneliness. This funding has supported work including helplines, befriending, and practical support. Many of the 48 organisations funded through …

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many programmes it is providing funding to charities to deliver in the financial year 2023-24, and how many of these have yet to have final confirmation of funding.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government expenditure is allocated across portfolios to various sectors, including the third sector, to improve a wide range of outcomes. Some Scottish Government funding will be issued through third sector intermediary organisations. Spending is no…

12 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates it will spend on tackling social isolation and loneliness over the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund was launched in March 2023 and will run to the end of July 2026 providing £3.8 million over the three-year period to support activity directly tackling social isolation and loneliness. £2 million has already been distr…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Delivery Plan will be published.

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to a comprehensive audit of Social Security Scotland’s (a) services, (b) communications and (c) training, to ensure that all aspects of its work are trauma-informed and support the mental health and wellbeing of its clients.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland is committed to building a trauma-informed workforce. All client facing staff undertake a 6 week “Routeway” training course featuring specific sessions on Trauma Informed Practice and on Mental Health and Supporting Vulnerable People.…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Delivery Plan will include a commitment to ensure that Social Security Scotland is a fully trauma-informed organisation.

Answer · Maree Todd: The forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and accompanying Delivery Plan will be evidence-based, informed by lived experience, and underpinned by equality and human rights. The Strategy, and actions contained in the Delivery Plan, will be based on …

7 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle any economic inequalities faced by unpaid carers.

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has invested in new diagnostic techniques in the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan , published in November 2021, is backed by £70m investment. The plan focuses on a number of key areas including Development and Infrastructure Innovation and Redesign to provide alternatives to …

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated for the redesign of urgent care throughout the current parliamentary session.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Details of funding for the Redesign of Urgent Care is provided in the following table. During 2022-23 we invested £50 million in the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative Programme which aims to support NHS Boards to improve hospital processes and enhanc…

2 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the £20 million it committed to investing in the Detect Cancer Early programme has been used.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Programme for Government 2021/22 committed an additional £20 million investment, over the life of this Parliament, for the Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme to improve early detection rates. So far investment has been made into the development of a new be…