Liz Smith

6 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have stopped receiving the enhanced mobility award of adult disability payment in 2024-25, broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile; how many (a) are and (b) are not in employment, and how many had been in receipt of the payment for (i) one to…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland routinely publishes statistics on Adult Disability Payment caseload, broken down by mobility award level. However, it does not currently publish statistics on clients leaving the Adult Disability Payment caseload. It also does not cur…

6 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently in receipt of adult disability payment, also broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile; how many (a) are and (b) are not in employment, and how many have been in receipt of the payment for (i) one to two, (ii) more than two to thr…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As of 31 October 2024, there were 374,655 clients on the Adult Disability Payment Caseload.Social Security Scotland does not currently publish statistics on Adult Disability Payment caseload broken from by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). It als…

6 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently in receipt of the enhanced mobility award of adult disability payment, also broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile; how many (a) are and (b) are not in employment, and how many have been in receipt of the payment for (i) one to…

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As of 31 October 2024, 156,045 clients were in receipt of the enhanced mobility award of Adult Disability Payment.Social Security Scotland does not currently publish statistics on Adult Disability Payment caseload broken from by Scottish Index of Multiple Dep…

6 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Auditor General’s November 2024 report, Fiscal sustainability and reform in Scotland, which states that “The Scottish Government has not been sufficiently transparent with the Scottish Parliament or the public about the current fiscal situation&rdq…

6 Jan 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is regarding the latest reported concerns on the use of Hikvision CCTV devices by local authorities in Scotland.

9 Dec 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with local authorities regarding the reported impending closure of library facilities across Scotland.

21 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much Social Security Scotland has paid each year to claimants who pay (a) no income tax, (b) no more than the (i) starter, (ii) Scottish basic, (iii) intermediate, (iv) higher and (v) advanced rate of income tax and (c) the top rate of income tax.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland currently deliver 15 benefits. Applicants are not required to declare how much income tax they pay as part of the application process for these administered payments.Social Security Scotland’s low income benefits are means-teste…

20 Nov 2024 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on the access and exiting arrangements for the underground car park.

18 Nov 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on this winter’s flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

14 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is any monitoring of what Best Start Foods cards are used to purchase.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Best Start Foods card is restricted to stores which sell the eligible foods and is blocked for use in other establishments. The eligible foods are printed on the back of the card.In line with our principles of fairness, dignity and respect, we do not moni…

14 Nov 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring Social Security Scotland undertakes of the impact of Best Start Foods cards.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland and Scottish Government work together closely to monitor the impact of the devolved benefits.The impact of Best Start Foods is measured in three ways: the Social Security Scotland Client Survey; the Social Security Scotland Client Pan…

5 Nov 2024 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the hospitality and tourism sectors to promote safety on Scotland’s mountains in winter 2024-25.

28 Oct 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with Police Scotland officials who are responsible for investigating whether the actions of Professor Eljamel amounted to criminal conduct.

21 Oct 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out regarding the potential impact of introducing a public health supplement to be paid by retailers in Scotland.

24 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25972 by TomArthur on 18 March 2024, whether it will provide an updated table that includesfigures for 2024-25, broken down by property class.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Table 1 presents the estimated gross cost of setting the Higher Property Rate equal to the Standard Multiplier in England, updated to include 2024-2025.In England, in 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, the Standard Multiplier was 51.2p, or 1.3p above the Sma…

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Retail industry recommendations for the 2025-26 Scottish Budget paper, that following the 2014 Regulatory Reform Act, a Primary Authority system for devolved regulation should be introduced.  

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government committed to review and improve our process of developing, implementing, and reviewing devolved regulation to meet our economic, environmental and societal aims within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. While there are …

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Retail industry recommendations for the 2025-26 Scottish Budget paper, that no ratepayer in Scotland should be liable for a higher business rate than counterparts in England. 

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Budget 2024-25 ensures that over 95% of non-domestic properties continue to be liable for a lower property tax rate than anywhere else in the UK.Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2025-26 will be considered in the context of the Scottish Budget.

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Retail industry recommendations for the 2025-26 Scottish Budget paper, that increases in income tax rates should be ruled out.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Income Tax policy for 2025-26 will be announced during the annual Budget process.

17 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Retail Consortium’s suggestion in its Retail industry recommendations for the 2025-26 Scottish Budget paper, that spending restraint rather than tax rises should form the bulk of the measures to plug the projected gap in devolved government fina…

Answer · Shona Robison: Prolonged Westminster austerity, the economic damage of Brexit, a global pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis have all placed enormous and growing pressure on the public finances.For example, Brexit has reduced the size of the UK econom…

4 Sep 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take over the next four years to ensure that it fulfils its duties under article 23 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to disabled children under 12 years old.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 places legal duties on public authorities and provides legal protection for children’s rights that was not previously available in Scotland, and is not available in any other part of the UK.The Scottish Gove…

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who was responsible for any audit failings that meant that proposed projects in Scotland, to be paid for with European structural and investment funds, could not go ahead.

Answer · Kate Forbes: At no time were payments to those Lead Partners who submitted a fully compliant and verifiable claims paused. All audit findings were resolved with both programmes being successfully lifted from suspension by the European Commission.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the structures for distributing European structural and investment funds between the Scottish Government and the lead partners changed, between 2014 and December 2023, in order to address any audit failings.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government revised it procedures for the distribution of European structural and investment funds eight times over the period between 2014 and December 2023.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it paused European structural and investment fund payments to lead partners in November 2019, and, if so, when any such pause was lifted.

Answer · Kate Forbes: No claims were paused to any Lead Partner who submitted a fully compliant and verifiable claim for payment.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it was liable to pay to lead partners under the European structural and investment funds, as of 1 June 2024.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As of 1 June 2024, the Scottish Government was liable to pay claims to the value of £62.7m.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money it was liable to pay to lead partners under the European structural and investment funds, as of 31 December 2023.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government was liable for paying all compliant claims submitted by Lead Partners. The figure at 31 December 2023 was £73.7m.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates it made payments to lead partners under the European structural and investment funds between September 2019 and 31 December 2023, and to which lead partner each payment was made.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As the information requested runs over several pages, a copy of the table listing those Lead Partners paid between September 2019 and 31 December 2023 has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre BIB number 65192 .

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the reportedly remaining 17.9 million euros of the European Social Fund, not committed by the end of 2023, will be spent by lead partners.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The final European Social Fund (ESF) expenditure figures and reimbursements will not be known until the second half of 2025 when the figures will be published.

1 Jul 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the reportedly remaining 118.1 million euros of the European Regional Development Fund, not committed by the end of 2023, will be spent by lead partners.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The final European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) expenditure figures and reimbursements will not be known until the second half of 2025 when the figures will be published.

11 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to support businesses in the rural economy to expand.

3 Jun 2024 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly not allocated £450 million of available EU funding for investment projects in Scotland.