Parliamentary questions

Mark Griffin

2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the “steps to recover the debt” will be to recover assistance given in error, which is referred to in paragraph 61 of the Explanatory Notes for the Social Security (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Detailed operational policy development is still on-going. However, paragraphs 259 to 263 of the Policy Memorandum that accompanies the Bill outline the high level recovery process that is envisaged.

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Social Security (Scotland) Bill provides for a person to (a) request a redetermination of and (b) appeal against deductions from devolved assistance where it has been determined that assistance has been provided in error.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Paragraph 251 of the Policy Memorandum sets out that where agreement cannot be reached with an individual about recovery of an overpayment, the agency may implement a schedule of repayment from future payments of assistance. Where assistance has been provide…

2 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions under chapter 4 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill allow for the recovery of assistance given in error more than five years after that assistance was given.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Section 6 of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 will apply to obligations arising under section 36 of the Bill, which allows recovery of assistance given in error. In general, an obligation to which section 6 of the 1973 Act applies will end …

31 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-10102 and S5W-09096 by Jeane Freeman on 31 July and 8 May 2017, whether it will answer the question regarding which section of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill ensures that, in the disability assistance assessment model, "there will be no contr…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I made a clear commitment in Parliament on 27 April that profit making companies will not be involved in delivering assessments for disability benefits once devolved to Scotland. This was also stated on 8 May 2017 through S5W-09096. The Commitment I have ma…

31 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what access the Scottish social security agency will have to entitlement data for reserved benefits that are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions, and whether it has sought an agreement with the UK Government on sharing such information.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A legal basis for DWP giving data to the Scottish Government (and vice-versa) is provided by section 34 of the Scotland Act 2016. We are currently involved in on-going discussions with DWP officials around data sharing to determine where we need to put in pla…

28 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a person entitled to assistance as proposed under Chapter 2 of the Social Security Bill will have a right to choose if this assistance is given solely in the form of money.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Chapter 2 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill provides, as a standard wording for all types of assistance, that assistance may or may not take the form of money. While the Scottish Government is exploring what alternatives to cash might be offered in the f…

13 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it having the power to top up reserved benefits, for what reason the delegated powers memorandum for its Social Security Bill states that "Ministers wish the rate at which Carer’s Allowance is paid to match the rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance, but do not have powers to increas…

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Now that legislative competence has been transferred to the Scottish Parliament, Carer’s Allowance is no longer a reserved benefit that Scottish Ministers can top up by using the power provided at section 24 of the Scotland Act 2016. Instead, the Bill provide…

4 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision for passported benefits is made in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill from the seven types of assistance that are proposed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has made its position on passported benefits clear. For example, paragraph 127 of the policy memorandum published alongside the Social Security (Scotland) Bill states, in relation to disability assistance, that - “Passporting arrangeme…

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the statement by the Minister for Social Security on 27 April 2017 (Official Report, c. 46), which section of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill ensures that, in the assessment model, "there will be no contracting with the private sector".

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09096 on 8 May 2017. 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/2887…

30 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the debate on Dignity, Fairness and Respect in Disability Benefits on 9 June 2016, which section of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill ensures that disability benefits “are increased at least in line with inflation to ensure that they cover the cost of living”.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Section 14 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill provides Scottish Ministers with the powers to set and vary the rates of Disability Assistance, in regulations. This includes varying the rates in line with inflation.

28 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update the Scottish Welfare Fund statutory guidance to assist applicants and, if so, when.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The aim of the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) statutory guidance is to provide a framework for local authorities to promote consistency in decision making when administering Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. The SWF guidance is reviewed on an annual basi…

27 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the transition of the PIP mobility element as a first stage of the transfer of disability benefits, and whether it will seek to discuss this with the UK Government at the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The UK Government’s regulations, which govern the transition of the disability benefits under the Scotland Act 2016, do not allow for separate elements of PIP to be transferred separately. Scottish Government Officials have been in discussions with Motabili…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposals in its Social Security Bill give it the power to uprate carers assistance in line with inflation.

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it having the power to top up reserved benefits, for what reason the devolved powers memorandum for its Social Security Bill states that "Ministers wish the rate at which Carer’s Allowance is paid to match the rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance, but do not have powers to increase…

20 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last considered providing concessionary travel for carers.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: On 29 March 2017 my officials confirmed to the Public Petitions Committee that the Scottish Government is not considering including carers in the National Concessionary Travel Scheme. This was in response to Petition PE01632 which is currently before the Comm…

20 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last conducted an audit of the concessionary travel for carers provided by (a) it and (b) local government.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has not conducted an audit of the concessionary travel for carers provided by (a) it and (b) local government. The National Concessionary Travel Scheme does not contain an eligibility criterion for carers. As a result we do not conduc…

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which (a) of its directorates, (b) of its agencies, (c) carers organisations, (d) advertising agencies and (e) other stakeholders were involved in the design of the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Young Carers activity was created with input from the Scottish Government’s Social Security Directorate, Health and Social Care Directorate, Scottish Government Marketing, Young Scot, Carers Scotland and Carer’s Trust Scotland.

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is of the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The budget for the activity being carried out in 2017 to promote uptake of Carer's Allowance among young carers in Scotland is £20,000 + VAT.

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hits have been received by the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017, and how many applications for carers allowance have been made through this.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The campaign webpage, www.young.scot/youngcarers - was viewed more than 2,000 times between 12 June and 2 July 2017. A breakdown of reach and engagement by social media channels is published in the answer to question S5W-09796 on 17 July 2017. All answers to…

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the social media feedback for the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017, and whether it has commissioned tracking research of the effectiveness of the campaign.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Effectiveness of the Young Carer’s benefit take-up activity is being measured by social media reach. A breakdown of reach and engagement by social media channels is published in the answer to question S5W-09796 on 17 July 2017. All answers to written parliam…

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the projected (a) audience and (b) reach has been for the young carers benefit social media and digital uptake campaign, which was launched during Carers Week 2017.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The audience for this activity was young carers in Scotland. There are an estimated 49,000 young carers in Scotland, of whom more than 7,000 are estimated to be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. The campaign’s reach and performance is in the following table. Th…

14 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current disability employment gap is and when it will publish the timetable of its plan to reduce this by half.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The current disability employment gap is 39.9 percentage points. 41.7% of disabled people (Equality Act defined) are in employment compared to 81.5% of non-disabled people. Our commitment to halve the disability employment gap is long term and challenging. …

13 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the campaign to encourage young carers to find about out their entitlement to Carer's Allowance, including when the campaign will close.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: A targeted campaign to promote Carer's Allowance to 16 – 24 year olds ran during Carers Week 2017 (12 – 18 June). Material to encourage benefit take up amongst young carers will continue to be promoted on the Young Scot website.

26 May 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-06833, which recieved a holding response on 2 March 2017, and what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · Angela Constance: Our records show that that the answer to question S5W-06833 was provided to Parliament on 7 March 2017. The original answer has been replicated below. In 2016-17 Scottish Government funding in the region of £40 million of will be made available for two disti…