Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will commence awarding families with severely disabled children an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in the Programme for Government, and whether it has investigated the use of its power to create a new benefit to make this payment in 2016-17.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Implementing reforms to existing benefits requires a large-scale programme of transition, legislation and implementation. As part of this programme, a timetable for the commencement of the relevant sections of the 2016 Scotland Act, will be agreed by Scottish…
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much families with severely disabled children will receive through an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02675 on 28 September 2016. 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/parliamentarybusin…
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the total expenditure will be on an increased carers allowance, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Total expenditure on increased Carer’s Allowance will depend on when the increase is implemented and the number of people receiving Carer’s Allowance at that point in time.
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how much is paid in healthy start vouchers to eligible households in Scotland each year.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government paid £5.2 million for eligible households in Scotland in the year 2015-16.
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where it will base its new social security agency, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01838 on 26 August 2016. 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…
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households in Scotland receive healthy start vouchers each year.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In 2015-16 just over 24,000 households in Scotland received Healthy Start vouchers.
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an increased carers allowance, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will maintain or deviate from the system of uprating Jobseeker's Allowance that is used by the UK Government.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In line with our response on uprating benefits set out in the answer to S5O-00060 on 16 June 2016, we are taking the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as a starting point for our considerations on uprating and taking views on this, along with other aspects of our so…
13 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether eligibility for the Best Start Grant system, referred to in the Programme for Government, will be based on the current (a) maternity grant or (b) healthy start eligibility rules or on a different form of eligibility rules.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: No decisions have yet been made about the operation of the new integrated Best Start Grant or the provision of Healthy Start Vouchers. This includes decisions on eligibility. We are considering a number of options and are consulting widely with people who hav…
7 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate plans it has to introduce discretionary payments that top up reserved benefits using section 24 of the Scotland Act 2016.
Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02400 on 21 September 2016. 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/parliamentarybusin…
7 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what immediate plans it has to introduce new benefits using section 28 of the Scotland Act 2016.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government set out its priorities for the coming year in "A Plan For Scotland: The Scottish Government's Programme For Scotland 2016-17" published on 6 September.
5 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its detailed delivery plan for the provision of superfast broadband to all commercial and residential premises.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We will set out our delivery approach later in 2016, once we have finalised the coverage to be delivered through the existing Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme and consulted with the market to confirm future commercial investment plans. We expe…
26 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ruling by the Court of Session to quash the ministers’ planning appeal on the proposed expansion plans of Mossend Railfreight Terminal, whether it plans to (a) continue to uphold the appeal of the applicant and, if so, whether it will appoint a new reporter, (b) launch a…
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Ministers note the court’s opinion and will carefully consider its implications. It would not therefore be appropriate to comment on the merits of the court’s decision or any planning application that may come before Ministers in the future.
20 Jun 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the role of independent advocacy in the future delivery of social security.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Providing support for people will be a vital part of the future delivery of social security in Scotland and independent advocacy has a critical role in this. Our forthcoming consultation will ask for views about advocacy as well as wider advice and support. W…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered moving Revenue Scotland operations to North Lanarkshire.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is a matter for Revenue Scotland, which is a non-ministerial department and officeholder in the Scottish administration. I have asked Elaine Lorimer, Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland, to respond to the member directly.
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the future of HMRC Cumbernauld and whether and, if so, when it has had discussions with staff representatives.
Answer · Derek Mackay: HMRC Cumbernauld is a Whitehall department and as such this is a reserved matter. However, when HMRC announced the next stage of their building our future transformation programme in November 2015, the First Minister personally spoke to the second permanent…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish the minutes of meetings of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Minutes and papers of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group are published on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/OrganDonation/STG/STG%20Papers/SDTGMinutes
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group will next meet and what matters will be discussed.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The next meeting of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group will be held on 28 September 2016. The Chair will set the agenda for this meeting with input from group members nearer the time.
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who the members are of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Membership of the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group is published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/OrganDonation/STG/STGmembership
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its plans to increase organ donation announced on 8 February 2016 include the introduction of an opt-out system.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government's forthcoming consultation will include proposals for a soft opt-out system for organ and tissue donation. Subject to the views expressed in the responses to that consultation, the government will then move to take forward any necessar…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the consultation announced on 8 February 2016 on plans to increase organ donation.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government will be launching a consultation this year on increasing organ and tissue donation. The consultation will include proposals for a potential soft opt-out system for Scotland.
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the further devolution of welfare powers outlined in the Scotland Act 2016.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government, both ministers and officials, engage with the UK Government regularly on a range of issues to do with the devolution of social security powers. Most recently the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs Fair Work and I had a meeting 16 Jun…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase carer’s allowance to the same level as jobseeker’s allowance in the first year following the devolution of social security benefits.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: In setting out implementation timetable we need to take legal, financial and delivery issues sensibly into account and consequently it is too early at this stage to confirm exact timescales. But we will increase carers allowance to the same level as jobseeker…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00245 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, whether it will publish a list of the stakeholders that ministers have met since 5 May 2016.
Answer · Angela Constance: All ministerial engagements are proactively published quarterly in arrears on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/About/People/14944/Events-Engagements.
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00249 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, whether its consultation on devolved social security benefits will include a plan to introduce parity in the burial and cremation costs that are charged by local authorities.
Answer · Angela Constance: Introduction of parity in the burial and cremation costs is outwith the remit of social security. The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 will require burial and cremation authorities that are local authorities to publish their costs, and to keep those f…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00239 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, what assessment it has made of the adequacy in Scotland of the current UK eligibility criteria for the Funeral Payment.
Answer · Angela Constance: Stakeholder feedback and our own assessment suggests that the need is not being met. Limited department of work and pensions data on who is getting the funeral payment and the unpredictable nature of life events makes it difficult to identify whether this is …
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00241 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, by what date it will publish the funeral costs plan.
Answer · Angela Constance: We expect to publish the funeral costs plan by spring 2017, following development in collaboration with stakeholders, through round table discussions and a national conference on funeral poverty due to take place in autumn 2016. It will include views gathered…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00236 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, whether it will publish the full details of its consultation on devolved social security benefits and when the consultation will (a) begin and (b) end.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government will publish a broad consultation on social security in Scotland this year, ahead of its commitment to publish a social security bill within the first parliamentary year. This will be notified to parliament through usual channels.
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00236 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, who the members are of the stakeholder reference group on funeral poverty; on what dates it has met and plans to next meet, and whether it will publish the minutes of its meetings.
Answer · Angela Constance: The membership of the funeral poverty and funeral payment reference group is: Association of British Credit Unions Ltd Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland Church of Scotland Citizens Advice Scotland Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Cruse Ber…
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00246 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, whether it has made an assessment of the March 2016 report by the Work and Pensions Committee of the UK Parliament, Support for the bereaved, and, if so, what its position is on the findings.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has made an assessment of ‘Support for the Bereaved’, published by the Work and Pensions Committee of the UK Parliament and shares its concerns about the operation of the Department of Work and Pensions DWP funeral payment. We will be …
16 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00248 by Angela Constance on 14 June 2016, what the terms will be of the review of the funeral industry.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The terms of the review will be developed in tandem with the procedure to appoint inspectors under the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016 and in consultation with representatives of the funeral industry.