Parliamentary questions

Johann Lamont

1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34233 by Alex Neil on 14 June 2010, whether it can confirm that the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics database shows that the Scottish Government’s preferred indicator of child poverty recorded a figure of 45% in 2007-08.

Answer · Alex Neil: The figure of 45 percent quoted above appears on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics and Scottish Government websites and refers to the proportion of children in Scotland living in households that are dependent on out of work benefits or where Child Tax Cre…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations there were in Glasgow under the boiler scrappage scheme, broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation area.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Scotland boiler scrappage scheme issued vouchers on a first come, first served basis. Information on applicants was not captured in the format requested but can be broken down by postcode area in the Glasgow City council area. This is suppli…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with COSLA how to ensure that single outcome agreements are poverty-proofed.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has ongoing discussions with COSLA about local authorities'' approach to tackling poverty, as set out in Achieving Our Potential (the Scottish Government and COSLA framework). This has included discussion of what support and guidance i…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it has used community benefit clauses to ensure that poor people benefit from housing investment.

Answer · John Swinney: In February 2008 the Scottish Government published a detailed report and guidance on Community Benefit clauses with practical information on how and when to use the clauses including case studies, model clauses and lessons learnt. The report provided clear ex…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to monitor how the Fairer Scotland Fund is being used to tackle poverty.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Fairer Scotland Fund is no longer ring-fenced, having been rolled-up into local authorities'' general revenue funding for 2010-11. Going forward, single outcome agreement (SOA) annual reports are the key means of monitoring progress made by local…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to influence the private sector to pay a living wage.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is keen to ensure that people have a decent wage and from 1 August this year nobody employed by the Scottish Government will earn under £7.15 an hour - the current living wage level proposed by the Scottish Living Wage Campaign. Howeve…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what examples it can provide of its use of article 19 of the EU directive on public procurement to obtain contracts for sheltered workplaces.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not currently hold any contracts awarded following the use of Article 19 of the EU Procurement Directives. The Scottish Government is actively exploring how Article 19 may be used at the fit-out stage in the construction of the Sc…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is support at a national level for creating employment opportunities in poorer communities.

Answer · Keith Brown: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government is doing all that it can, within the scope of its current powers, to promote employment opportunities across Scotland. For example: We are supporting six…

28 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the needs of all carers are assessed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The legislation does not require the needs of all carers to be assessed. The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 (the 2002 Act), gives substantial a…

14 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered making the living wage a requirement of its procurement practices.

Answer · John Swinney: Contractors to the Scottish Government are usually required to demonstrate that they comply with their legal obligations, including obligations relating to employment law and that they are suitable to be awarded a contract. Subject to compliance with relevant…

14 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33970 by John Swinney on 9 June 2010, whether it will list the contracts that it has entered into that do not make specific reference to contractors complying with the national minimum wage.

Answer · John Swinney: There is currently no central list of contracts and the conditions they contain that would enable us to provide this information. However, framework agreements awarded by the Central Government Centre of Procurement Expertise, which is part of the Scottish Go…

14 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme in 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: The Small Business Bonus Scheme was uplifted and expanded from 1 April 2010 to include an estimated 3,600 additional properties. We plan to evaluate the scheme once the impact of those changes have taken effect.

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33777 by Alex Neil on 2 June 2010, whether there will be a report to the Scottish Parliament on the content of the discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Answer · Alex Neil: I will keep the Parliament informed of the outcomes of discussions with DWP Ministers.

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33777 by Alex Neil on 2 June 2010, on what date the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Answer · Alex Neil: A date has not yet been set for the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33777 by Alex Neil on 2 June 2010, what issues regarding tackling poverty will be discussed at the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Answer · Alex Neil: We have yet to confirm what the agenda of the meeting will be.

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to hold discussions with the UK Government regarding the Citizens Advice Scotland report Unfit for Purpose.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33775 on 7 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prepare a national report based on its preferred indicator in single outcome agreements for measuring child poverty.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are no Scottish Government plans to produce a national report based around any single SOA indicator. The Scottish Government''s current preferred indicator of child poverty at a local level is the percentage of children in each Local Authority…

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft strategy on child poverty will be available for consultation.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government aim to issue a draft strategy for consultation in autumn 2010.

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold discussions with the UK Government on the need for data identifying those households on tax credits so as to ensure that they receive support from the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: We are always seeking opportunities to promote the Energy Assistance Package in the most targeted and effective way. Identifying those in receipt of tax credits is important data, but as this is only one of a number of criteria for eligibility at stages 3 and…

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold discussions with the UK Government regarding criticisms expressed in the Citizens Advice Bureau report, Not working: CAB evidence on the ESA work capability assessment.

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the report that was published jointly by the British Council Scotland and the Hansard Society, Has Devolution Delivered for Women?, how it will encourage and support the representation of women in the Scottish Parliament and in local authorities.

Answer · Alex Neil: We welcome the report Has Devolution Delivered for Women? and anything which raises the importance of women''s representation in politics. Scottish Government is supportive of increasing women''s involvement in politics at all levels. We fund…

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that schemes such as those referred to in Women’s Aid’s Analysis of Local Authority Gender Equality Schemes include specific proposals to tackle violence against women.

27 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the provision of data on low pay across Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) is the official source for earnings information. The survey is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can provide information about the number of low paid jobs as measured by those earning below the …

27 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procurement practices it is taking to ensure that the companies it awards contracts to pay their employees a living wage.

Answer · John Swinney: It is the responsibility of all contractors to ensure that they comply with all relevant legislation when bidding for public contracts. Whilst the terms and conditions that apply to contracts may vary depending upon the nature of the contract in question, for…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33426 by Adam Ingram on 12 May 2010, what the date is for the planned consultation meeting in which kinship carers will be involved.

Answer · Adam Ingram: A previously planned meeting due to take place in mid June has been postponed in order that the Scottish Government and COSLA can work together over the summer. We will be engaging further with stakeholders including kinship carers as the work progresses.…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33425 by Adam Ingram on 12 May 2010, what the date for implementation will be of the Department of Work and Pensions intention to modify UK benefits legislation to give a full rather than a partial disregard to kinship carers in receipt of a kinship …

Answer · Adam Ingram: The timing of proposed changes to UK tax and benefits legislation is a reserved matter and we will continue to press the UK Government to recognise the issues for Scottish kinship carers. Details of Income Tax exemptions and Income Tax relief for ki…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pensioners, were living in poverty in each year between 2000 and 2009, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Alex Neil: The figures for Relative poverty for Pensioners (below 60% of UK median income in the same year) in Scottish households between 2000 and 2009 are as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=84 rowspan=2 valig…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in Scotland were living in poverty in each year between 2000 and 2009, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Alex Neil: The figures for Relative poverty for Children (below 60% of UK median income in the same year) in Scottish households between 2000 and 2009 are as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=72 rowspan=2 valign=…

19 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to the UK Government regarding changes to criteria for uptake of Independent Living Fund payments.

Answer · Alex Neil: I have already been in correspondence with UK Ministers concerning this issue to highlight the negative repercussions which are likely to occur as a result of this change and to question the ILF''s decision to take this action with no prior consultation. …

19 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals there are to hold discussions with the UK Government regarding enforcement of minimum wage regulations.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with their UK Government counterparts on a range of reserved issues, including the National Minimum Wage. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will meet the new Scottish representative o…