Parliamentary questions
Michelle Ballantyne
639 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the reported rise in the number of sepsis cases in the Scottish Borders, including 66 deaths in 2017-18.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) continues to support improvement in sepsis identification and treatment. Since 2012 there has been a 21% reduction in mortality from sepsis across Scotland. SPSP will continue to review the trends in data and suppo…
16 Jan 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the new required qualifications for childcare practitioners.
14 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) an MSP, (b) an MP, (c) a councillor and (d) other elected representative seeking to contact Social Security Scotland on the behalf of a constituent is required to demonstrate that they have the explicit consent of the constituent to do so and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, Part 2, Schedule 1, and as confirmed to MSPs in a letter from the Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland on I October 2018, where an elected representative is seeking advice in their official capacity on behalf…
14 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) complaints resolution and (b) casework assistance procedures Social Security Scotland makes available to (i) an MSP, (ii) an MP, (iii) a councillor and (iv) other elected representative seeking to contact it on the behalf of a constituent.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland wrote to all Members of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Members of the UK Parliament in September 2018 to inform them of the establishment of a dedicated Parliamentarian advice line. The advice line is avai…
14 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action the Scottish Government is taking to improve rail services on the east coast.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is supporting a range projects to improve services on the East Coast. We are committed to introducing two new stations at East Linton and Reston to support accessibility for growing communities. With £475 million being invested in Sc…
7 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19871 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 November 2018, how many people received carers allowance supplement (a) by 14 December, (b) between 15 and 24 December and (c) after 24 December 2018; how many payments remain outstanding, and by what date thes…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Official statistics on the total number of Carers Allowance Supplement payments made for those eligible for the payment in April 2018 will be published on 19 February 2019, and for those eligible in October 2018 official statistics will be published in May 20…
20 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will expand the scope of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to cover the activities of sports clubs.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry’s remit was set in 2015 following extensive consultation and engagement with survivors of in care child abuse and other interested parties. The issue of the scope of the Inquiry in relation to non-residential settings such as …
18 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to increase productivity, in light of a report from the Scottish Fiscal Commission, which suggests that it will fall.
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people it expects to participate in Fair Start Scotland in each six-month period of the programme’s operation.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government’s ambition for Fair Start Scotland is to support a minimum of 38,000 individuals to progress towards and into work between now and the end of the contract. The Scottish Government does not set targets for six-month periods on Fair Sta…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Best Start Grant payments it expects to have been fully processed by 25 December 2018.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: It is not possible to provide statistics that have been quality assured at this early stage. Statistics will be published which will provide the total number of applications and payments in 2019.
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for its Best Start Grant were received in the week beginning 10 December 2018.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Over 4,000 applications were received for Best Start Grant on the first day applications opened. That is around the same number of UK Government Sure Start Maternity Grant payments, which Best Start Grant replaces, for the whole of 2017-18 in Scotland. Statis…
12 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £41.5 million for the administration of Social Security Scotland will be spent.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland’s current indicative allocation of the 19-20 budget is as follows: Notes £m Staff costs 20.1 Formal Agreements with DWP (exc. VAT) 1 6.1 Information Communication Technology 5.6 Facilities & Property 4.2 Shared s…
12 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the Social Security Scotland headquarters in Dundee will become fully operational.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland has secured interim accommodation within Dundee City Council’s administrative Headquarters, Dundee House. This facility is fully operational, delivering Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grant. The capacity of Social Securi…
12 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to remove different accountability frameworks in the delivery of public services, as recommended by the Christie Commission, in order to improve local authority integration.
27 Nov 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being the fastest growing local authority, what support it is offering to Midlothian Council to ensure there is adequate infrastructure in place to cope with increased demand.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is supporting Midlothian through major infrastructure investment in for example, affordable housing, superfast broadband and the expansion of early learning and childcare. Additionally, we are investing £300 million in the Edinburgh a…
19 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of East Lothian Council's roads maintenance budget reducing with the result that a third of roads are in disrepair, what impact it considers reductions to local authority budgets are having on local roads, and what action it will take to address this.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has treated councils fairly despite cuts to the Scottish budget by the UK Government. In 2018-19, councils received funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This represents an increase in day-to-day spe…
14 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give rail commuters in Tweedbank regarding service reliability this winter, in light of more than 50% of trains not arriving on time in the last month.
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date the Universal Credit flexibility in Scotland that allows the mitigation of the so-called spare room subsidy at source will be fully operational.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We are committed to abolishing the bedroom tax at source as soon as possible using the Universal Credit flexibility powers, however, we are disappointed that the UK Government made the decision to delay the ability for us to do so. UK Government have confirm…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Audit Scotland paper, Best Value Assurance Report: East Lothian, which suggests some areas of underperformance in education, what action it is taking to assist the local authority in addressing concerns regarding (a) the proportion of children entering positive destinati…
Answer · John Swinney: The role of the Scottish Government and the various national agencies is to set national education policy and a national framework for improvement which will support a school and teacher-led system. The National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan se…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS Borders is meeting the national 18-week Referral to Treatment standard and, if not, what action is taking to ensure that it does.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Borders’ current (September 2018) 18 week Referral to Treatment time is 90% Which meets the national Standard that 90% of planned / elective patients commence treatment within 18 weeks of referral. Officials are working closely with NHS Borders to suppor…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the time that it takes A&E attendees to be assessed at NHS Borders.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: NHS Borders regularly achieves the four hour emergency care target with latest weekly data showing performance for w/e 11 November at 96.7%. Performance for September 2018 was 96.2%, which is the highest level of performance in any equivalent period since 201…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that (a) day cases or inpatients and (b) outpatients at NHS Borders are treated within 12 weeks, and how the board's current performance compares with the national standard.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government are committed to ensuring all patients have swift and safe access to NHS services but we recognise that some aspects of NHS Borders’ performance is below the level required. That is why we made an additional £50 million available to NH…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in NHS Borders.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Our 2018 Programme for Government has mental health at its very heart. It contains a package of measures to support positive mental health and prevent mental ill health, and is backed by £250 million of additional investment. There is a clear focus on childre…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for people with drugs and alcohol issues in NHS Borders.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: It is a priority for Scottish Government to ensure that people who require drug or alcohol treatment are seen within three weeks of referral. Throughout 2017-18, NHS Borders identified staffing issues were affecting their Drug and Alcohol Treatment Waiting T…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to implement each of the recommendations in the Audit Scotland report, NHS in Scotland 2018.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government recognises the challenges facing the Health and Social care system and decisive action is already being taken to deliver the recommendations set out in Audit Scotland’s report. The Health and Social Care Medium Term Financial Framewor…
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date in December 2018 payments of the next Carers Allowance Supplement will begin, and by what date all payments will be made.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The next payment of Carer's Allowance Supplement will be made to the majority of qualifying carers on 14 December. A small number of complex cases will require further investigation, these will be made by 24 December.
12 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Social Security Scotland staff are covered by the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice regulations.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The terms of the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSOP) apply in the relevant transfer of staff between the UK Government and the Scottish Government. Scottish Government are engaging with DWP to consider the impact of functions transferring to identify…
7 Nov 2018 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether local authority spending on road maintenance should be kept at current levels.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has treated councils fairly despite cuts made by the Scottish budget by the UK Government. In 2018-19, councils received funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This represents an increase in day-to-da…
24 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how successful it considers participatory budgeting has been since the implementation of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
10 Oct 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) attendees (b) expressions of interest and (c) new hires were identified at each of the recruitment roadshows for the new social security agency that took place in September/October 2018.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland (SSS) recently completed 22 recruitment workshops/roadshows between September and October 2018. For this current round of recruitment, an estimated 900 people attended our engagement events. All candidates were required to submit a …