Miles Briggs

31 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19595 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2023, whether it will provide a breakdown of the types of cyber attack to which Social Security Scotland has been subjected.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is not possible to give specific details of the types of cyber-attack Social Security Scotland has been subjected to. Doing so may provide information on the defences which protect the Agency’s systems. This information could then be leveraged in future at…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service regarding waiting times for amendments to power of attorney and other matters under the purview of the Office of the Public Guardian.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS). SCTS is an independent body corporate and does not answer directly to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government typically meets OPG once every 3 - 6 mo…

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal responsibilities it has in relation to refugees admitted through the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Ukraine Super Sponsor Scheme does not have a legislative underpinning. The legal obligations or responsibilities which flow from it are founded in either other legislative duties or from legitimate expectations based on government statements or policy.

3 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the legal status is of people admitted to the UK under the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme, and whether this mandates the Scottish Government to monitor the movement of refugees admitted in this way.

Answer · Emma Roddick: The Ukraine Super Sponsor Scheme does not have a legislative underpinning. The legal obligations or responsibilities which flow from it are founded in either other legislative duties or from legitimate expectations based on government statements or policy.

30 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent reports it has received from NHS boards of women in labour being referred to labour wards outwith their NHS board area to give birth.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government received two reports in 2022, one jointly from NHS Fife and NHS Lothian and one jointly from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The reports contain data on the number of women in threatened extreme preterm labour…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with local authorities regarding powers and enforcement to deter businesses from selling vapes and e-cigarettes to underage children, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Enforcement of legislation around the sale and purchase of nicotine vapour products (NVPs) is carried out by Local Authorities as part of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP). This is overseen by the Society for Trading Standards Officers …

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Social Security Scotland has ever been financially compromised or experienced any financial loss as a result of cyber attacks.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland has not been financially compromised or experienced any financial loss as a result of cyber attacks.

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a plan for the delivery of social security, through Social Security Scotland, for rural and offline constituents.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: To ensure that Social Security Scotland benefits are accessible to everyone, they have all been designed so that they can be accessed online, by paper or telephone to suit individual preference. Where clients want further support, an appointment can be booked…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with Social Security Scotland regarding the efficient delivery of services for those who are not able to access online services.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland works with individuals and supporting 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…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) denial of service (DoS) attacks and (b) other forms of cyber attacks Social Security Scotland has been subject to in the last two years.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland has not been subject to any denial of service (DoS) attacks during the period between the 1st of May 2021 and the 30th of June 2023. During that same period, our security controls protected against 314,285 cyber events, the majority o…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total level of repayment default on the SME Loan Scheme has been since its implementation.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Governments SME Loan Scheme has been in operation since 2008. Loans are considered impaired when the loanee misses three consecutive payments. Since inception, the total level of SME Loan repayment default is £1,333,630 as of 1 April 2023. The SM…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions local authorities have made an additional powers request to the Scottish Ministers in each year since 1999.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Relevant Scottish local authorities have been able to request additional powers since the introduction of The Additional Powers Request (Scotland) Regulations 2019. Whilst no requests for additional powers have been submitted under the 2019 Regulations to dat…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised by ports charging an environmental levy for cruise ships in each year since 1999, broken down by port.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold information on fees or levies charged by ports for cruise ship calls. Port fees and charges vary by port and are commercial matters for the port concerned.

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised by ports charging a passenger levy for cruise ships in each year since 1999, broken down by port.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold information on fees charged by ports for cruise ship calls. Port fees and charges vary by port and are commercial matters for the port concerned.

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the time that it will take to provide the National Grid upgrades required for new renewable projects connections.

Answer · Neil Gray: Electricity network policy and regulation is reserved to the UK Government with the Electricity System Operator responsible for strategic planning of the network. We are therefore continuing to engage with the UK Government, the Electricity System Operator an…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which workers in the care sector should have their Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) fees paid for them.

Answer · Maree Todd: Part of the package of the 2022-23 pay deal, agreed by the SJC Local Government workers, and requested by the SJC unions in their pay claim, Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) fees will no longer be paid by SJC local government employees who require them…

29 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to develop a bereavement charter for workplaces.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is investing across a number of areas to ensure that those experiencing bereavement are able to access the support they need. We will continue to engage with our bereavement sector partners and work with them to take forward priorities…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any other part of the civil service made use of social media to advertise for the recruitment of paid patient panels to make recommendations on serious health conditions, and, if this is the case, what methods of verification were used, in light of reports that its Clinical Prior…

Answer · Jenni Minto: This is a matter for the relevant part of the civil service. The Scottish Government does not hold information for other parts of the civil service, for example those that serve UK Government ministers. Regarding recruitment and verification for the Scottish…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision it has made for any additional funding for long-term (a) injection and (b) infusion treatments for chronic pain patients.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland. NHS Boards and healthcare professionals locally have responsibility for both service delivery and people’s care. The 2023-24 Scottish Budget delivers record funding of £19…

28 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to alleviate short staffing in NHS chronic pain clinics in each of the last three years, in light of reports suggesting treatment delays for outpatients of over two years in some areas.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19557 on 26 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…

23 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many reports it has received of women being compelled to travel outwith their own NHS board area to give birth, in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The information requested is not centrally held by the Scottish Government but may be available from individual NHS Boards.

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the level of debt currently faced by arm's-length external organisations (ALEOs).

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government places great importance on the range of services Arms Length External Organisations (ALEOs) provide and believes everyone should have access to these services. While there are no limits set by the Scottish or UK Government on the amoun…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Health and Social Care Partnerships regarding a new long-term national framework for hospice funding, and what the outcome of any such discussions has been.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Since independent hospice representatives met with Ministers in March 2023, SG officials have had a number of meetings with Health and Social Care Partnerships from April through to July to discuss the independent hospice sector’s calls for a national framewo…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many Warm Home Prescriptions have been prescribed in each year since the scheme's introduction, and at what cost, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19387 on 24 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-committee…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the decision to roll forward the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Grant Fund.

Answer · Natalie Don: Despite facing one of the most challenging fiscal environments since devolution, the Scottish Government has extended funding under the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention fund. All organisations in receipt of these funds received a 5% upli…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will update the Parliament on the potential introduction of a new National Outcome for housing.

Answer · Shona Robison: Ministers are required by the Community Empowerment Act (2015) to review the National Outcomes within five years of their previous publication, and the next review is currently underway. The Scottish Government intends to lay the statutory document in Parliam…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to provide to organisations to help support and expand services for children with disabilities and their families.

Answer · Natalie Don: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role organisations across the third sector play in improving outcomes for disabled children and is providing core funding to a number of third sector organisations which provide services for disabled children and t…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been raised from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in each year since its introduction, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tom Arthur: As the tax authority with responsibility for the collection and management of Scotland’s devolved taxes, Revenue Scotland publishes monthly and annual data on its website regarding the number of property conveyances and non-residential leases subject to the L…

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions it has made for exemptions or compensation for key workers travelling into Low Emission Zones.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There is no provision for exemption or compensation for key workers travelling into a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). However, Transport Scotland provides grant funding to support lower income households and smaller businesses to adapt to Low Emission Zones via the …

22 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered implementing a car and motorcycle scrappage scheme for any non-compliant vehicles of key workers travelling into Low Emission Zones.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No scrappage scheme for key workers has been considered appropriate, however Transport Scotland provides grant funding to support lower income households and smaller businesses to adapt to Low Emission Zones (LEZs) via the LEZ Support Fund. In return for scr…