Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14366 and S5W-14367 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, whether the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit is being considered with the UK Government in relation to paragraphs (a) 44 to 53 and (…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish and UK Governments are considering this issue in relation to the no detriment provisions of the Fiscal Framework. Paragraphs 89 and 90 relate specifically to welfare benefits introduced by the Scottish Government. These provisions do not apply f…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, whether it has achieved a resolution with UK Government officials regarding the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Government is currently working with the UK Government to define the interactions for different household types, and what the net effect of the two policies will be before agreeing what further action, if any, needs to be taken.
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, whether a resolution with UK Government officials regarding the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit will be reflected in universal credit calculations …
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15424 on 18 April 2018. The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to understand the impact on households across the income distribution of the combined income tax and UC policies before deciding…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, how much of the net benefit of the starter rate of income tax will an individual (a) receive and (b) lose due to the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credi…
Answer · Derek Mackay: All Scottish Starter Rate taxpayers will benefit from the tax cut. How much households receive in Universal Credit (UC), however, is down to the UK Government. The UK Government’s UC policy means that UC claiming households who see an increase in their after-…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14366 and S5W-14367 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, what estimated savings in universal credit payments the UK Government will make in 2018-19 as a result of the Scottish starter rate of income tax, and whether the Scottish Government will re…
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15427 on 18 April 2018, the Scottish Government does not currently have access to the data required to estimate the overall impact of income tax changes on Universal Credit expenditure in Scotland. Some househ…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, how many people receiving universal credit (a) are currently and (b) will be affected by the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit by the end of 2018-19.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not have access to the data required to provide robust estimates and has asked the UK Government to share its data. The majority of current UC claimant households will not be affected by the interaction at all because they will no…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, whether it has requested that any resolution with UK Government officials regarding the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit should take the form of (a)…
Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15424 on 18 April 2018. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the net benefit of its starter rate of income tax will be treated as additional income for the purposes of council tax reduction.
Answer · Derek Mackay: All applicants to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme have their circumstances and income assessed in line with the Regulations setting out the scheme. Those who are receiving specified benefits receive a full reduction in their council tax liability, and pay no…
19 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the net benefit of its starter rate of income tax will have on an eligible claims for council tax reduction.
Answer · Derek Mackay: All applicants to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme have their circumstances and income assessed in line with the Regulations setting out the scheme. Those who are receiving specified benefits receive a full reduction in their council tax liability, and pay no…
14 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13766 by Jeane Freeman on 25 January 2018, when its position statement on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will be published.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government's position statement on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) will be published by 30 April 2018.
14 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13733 by Aileen Campbell on 18 January 2018, when it will publish the findings of the welfare advice service facilitator.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The report 'Forecast Social Return on Investment Analysis on the Co-location of Advice Workers with Consensual Access to Individual Medical Records in Medical Practices' was published in 2017 and is available on the Improvement Service website. http://www.i…
14 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13733 by Aileen Campbell on 18 January 2018, how much funding has been made available for a welfare advice service facilitator in 2018-19.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I can confirm that £24,500 will be made available for a welfare advice service facilitator in 2018-19.
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S5O-01734 by Jeane Freeman on 31 January 2018 (Official Report, c. 7), regarding the minister's comments on the tax status of the carers allowance supplement, whether she has since seen the letter from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Gro…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We responded to the letter from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group on the tax status of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement on 19 February 2018. In response to the part of the question on the status of the supplement, I refer the member to the answer to question S…
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14074 and S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 8 February and 6 March 2018 respectively, whether it will provide the (a) detailed options analysis and (b) joint feasibility study and risk assessment that it conducted to support the Scottish Social Securi…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Exchanges between Scottish Ministers and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) are subject to a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between the Ministers and the DWP on joint working arrangements, covering the implementation of devolved provisions in the Scot…
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 6 March 2018, whether the cost of the Scottish Social Security Programme Board's decision to use the Department for Work and Pensions' Central Payment System for a period of up to three to five years was included as part of…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Agency for Social Security in Scotland was written before options for payment platforms were explored. However, the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) existing expenditure on payments was used to inform estimations …
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 6 March 2018, what the estimated (a) annual and (b) per transaction cost is of the Scottish Social Security Programme Board's decision to use the Department for Work and Pensions' Central Payment System for a period of up t…
Answer · Jeane Freeman: On 25 October 2016 the Scottish Government published on its website a Memorandum of Understanding between the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on joint working arrangements for the implementation of devolved powers. It sets o…
13 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14938 by Jamie Hepburn on 12 March 2018, what the new mix of subcontractors is in the (a) Tayside and (b) West Lots.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: a) Tayside Lead supplier: Remploy Ltd Sub-contractor: Rathbone CIAdditionally the Lead Supplier has proposed to engage with a wide range of organisations to support individual participants with specialist needs, for example: numeracy and literacy, homelessnes…
12 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the cold-spell heating assistance regulations will maintain eligibility for people who currently receive Cold Weather Payments.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: We will consider all the responses to the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Rural Task Force in ensuring that these new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests. As with…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14564 and S5W-14565 by Jeane Freeman on 6 and 8 March 2018 respectively, whether carers assistance will be paid through the central payment system once it is devolved.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-14564 on 6 March 2018 and S5W-14565 on 8 March 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliam…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-14565 by Jeane Freeman on 8 March 2018, when it anticipates provisions for the carers supplement will be repealed and revoked.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Carer’s Allowance Supplement is a temporary measure until the Scottish Government takes over full control of Carer’s Allowance. Payments of the supplement will be made by the Scottish social security agency. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will con…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14564 and S5W-14565 by Jeane Freeman on 6 and 8 March 2018 respectively, whether the carers supplement and carers allowance will be combined into carers assistance and, if so, when.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Regulations under section 11 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill will be brought forward following the passage of Bill. These will make provision for a number of forms of assistance to be provided to carers, including assistance to replace Carer’s Allowanc…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the cold-spell heating assistance regulations will rely on (a) postcode to weather station mapping or (b) localised forecasts to determine eligibility.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are aware of calls for more localised forecasts and additional weather stations to determine Cold Weather Payment thresholds made during the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and will take these into account as we ensure that the new powers opera…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it will undertake of the impact of the recent severe weather as part of its cold-spell heating assistance regulations policy design.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As we design and develop our policy around cold-spell heating allowance we will give appropriate and proportionate consideration to winter weather conditions and to the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Rural Task Force in en…
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Department for Work and Pensions' system of postcode to weather station mapping is accurate for determining whether the threshold for Cold Weather Payments has been met.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The current agreement between the Department of Work and Pensions and the Met Office provides for each postcode area to be allocated to one of 94 weather stations, which together cover all parts of Scotland, England and Wales. We are aware of previous calls …
8 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will appoint a forecaster to assist in the determination of eligibility regarding cold-spell heating assistance regulations.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: As we design and develop our policy around cold-spell heating allowance, we will consider the most appropriate, accurate and cost-effective ways in which to ensure that weather forecasting and monitoring can support the targeting of the assistance to those in…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its Financial Health Check service for older people will be used to increase the take-up of the council tax reduction low income household exemption.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government ran a nationwide campaign in October 2017 to encourage older people to contact Citizens Advice Scotland and to take up benefits and reductions to help maximise their income. Further to that the Scottish Government commissioned Citizens…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the take-up of the council tax reduction low income household exemption to support people, in light of council tax band changes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities promoted the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, including the extension to the Scheme, when council tax bills issued last year. In addition the Scottish Government ran a nationwide campaign in October 2017 to encourage older people to contact Cit…
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14350 by Jeane Freeman on 27 February 2018, whether it will publish a policy paper detailing the “once-for-Scotland” approach proposed.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14350 on 27 February 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at ; http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusi…
6 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when details of the fund to support parents of premature babies in hospitals will be announced.
6 Mar 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the backdate period for older people claiming council tax reduction is three months.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Although the Council Tax Reduction Scheme is not a benefit, the entitlement criteria broadly replicate those for Council Tax Benefit prior to its abolition. This contributes to the fulfilment of the policy objective of ensuring nobody is worse off as a conseq…