Michelle Ballantyne

22 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) delays and (b) cancellations there have been on the Borders Railway since 1 September 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Of the total number of trains booked to operate on the Borders Line from 1 September to 23 November 2019, 14.4% were delayed* and 3.5% were cancelled. During the period from 1 September to 23 November 2019, 22.5 % of those trains delays or cancelled were as …

22 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many how many homes have been delivered to date as part of its 50,000 affordable homes target, also broken down by how many are new-builds.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: From 1 April 2016 to 30 June 2019, a total of 26,581 affordable homes have been delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s five year 50,000 affordable homes target. Of that, 17,561 are new build homes. While the majority of homes delivered are new build,…

22 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve performance on the Borders Railway, and what its response is to reports that, between mid-October and mid-November 2019, 45.5% of services arrived in Tweedbank as scheduled and 83% were within five minutes of that time.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Performance is continuing to improve on the Borders railway. Within the period between mid-October and mid-November, performance has declined across the rail network as this time of year can be particularly challenging because of Autumn weather with leaves on…

22 Nov 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on each marketing campaign to promote the Coastal Communities Fund in each year since 2016.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23140 on 22 May 2019 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/ormain.aspx .

11 Nov 2019 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reports of people being treated for diphtheria in the NHS Lothian area.

6 Nov 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the review of the fire and electrical systems and medical gas installations at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: I published the NSS Phase 2 review on 30 October which focuses on fire systems, electrical systems and medical gases. The review identified remedial work required within fire and electrical systems prior to occupation. NHS Lothian has published their response…

4 Nov 2019 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that attacks on staff at six NHS boards increased in the last year.

23 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that families and communities have access to affordable homes.

17 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage people to take out funeral insurance plans.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Our recently reprinted ‘Planning Your Own Funeral’ leaflet encourages people to consider their wishes for their funeral, including how they will pay for them, and to share them with their families. 120,000 of these leaflets have been distributed across Scotla…

15 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the growth of organisations similar to Dundee's Funeral Link in other local authorities.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: On 8 August 2017 the Scottish Government published its ‘Funeral Costs Plan’ which sets out 10 key actions we are taking to help tackle funeral poverty. Scottish Ministers recognise that making progress on these actions requires support from a range of organis…

14 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported shortages of the drug following a recall from its producer, what steps it is taking to ensure that people prescribed ranitidine (Zantac) are able to access sufficient, safe supplies.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland wrote to all NHS Boards, GPs and community pharmacists on 16 October 2019 to advise them about ongoing action being taken to address recent manufacturing issues with Ranitidine (Zantac). The letter also advised cl…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it estimates (a) error and (b) fraud levels for devolved benefits.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: For the benefits currently delivered by Social Security Scotland, estimates of fraud and error are based on number of overpayments and underpayments caused by either Client error, official error or fraud. For Carer’s Allowance, which is currently delivered b…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Social Security Scotland will develop a new system for monitoring benefits fraud without reliance on DWP estimates.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The methodology which will be applied to estimating the value of fraud and error for future benefits is currently in development. Benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions form part of the eligibility criteria for several of the benefits …

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) error and (b) fraud estimates have been made for the Scottish Child Payment.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The methodology which will be applied to estimating the value of fraud and error for future benefits is currently in development. Benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) form part of the eligibility criteria for several of the ben…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans Social Security Scotland has to prevent future benefits overpayments.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We know that overpayments in recurring benefits are often attributable to unreported changes of circumstances and we will work with stakeholders and experience panels to design letters that are clear, and accessible communication channels for reporting change…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland’s case management system is equipped to deal with fraudulent claims.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The prevention and detection of fraud is key priority for Social Security Scotland, enabled by the design and deployment of robust systems and procedures. Data contained within our case management system is subject to detailed analysis to identify and respon…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans Social Security Scotland has to replace any staff who are upskilled into the error and fraud team.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: When a member of staff has been upskilled and transferred into another business area in Social Security Scotland, that vacant post is backfilled where there is a business need at that time.

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance will be given to Social Security Scotland staff for determining residency status for devolved benefit claimants.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland staff will receive thorough training and will have access to detailed guidance on how to determine residency status for devolved benefits. Staff’s knowledge and understanding will be continually reviewed, and learning material refresh…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Social Security Scotland’s fraud investigation code of practice will be in place.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The statutory Code of Practice for Investigations will be laid alongside the Investigation of Offences Regulations in line with the duty contained in Section 76 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. A Non-Statutory Code of Practice for Investigations w…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland will translate devolved benefit residency requirements into rules on residency decision-making.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland are working closely with policy officials and the Social Security Programme to turn the residency requirements outlined in the regulations into technical requirements, business processes and guidance to support staff in their decision…

8 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on how independence could impact on (a) the levels of child poverty and (b) social security benefits.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government produced a comprehensive plan for an independent Scotland in advance of the 2014 referendum, which set out the potential of independence to address child poverty more effectively and design an efficient and fair welfare system that mee…

7 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what options it is considering to enable parents in full-time higher education to access the Scottish Child Payment.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: To enable us to introduce the Scottish Child Payment quickly, it will be legislated for using regulation making powers in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, to top-up reserved benefits. As set out in a recent position paper (published on the Scottish G…

4 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the call charges are in each local authority for people phoning to access the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As answered in PQ S5W 25593 on 18 October 2019, the Scottish Welfare Fund is a discretionary fund, managed and administered by all 32 Local Authorities, based on Scottish Government guidance. Local Authorities have responsibility for deciding how to deliver t…

1 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Auditor General, The 2018/19 audit of Social Security Scotland.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Auditor General’s report on the 2018-19 Audit of Social Security Scotland brings to the attention of Parliament issues raised in the Social Security Scotland 2018-19 Annual Audit Report, published by Audit Scotland. Social Security Scotland responses to t…

1 Oct 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities offer a face-to-face service for Scottish Welfare Fund applicants.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Welfare Fund is a discretionary fund, managed and administered by all 32 Local Authorities, based on Scottish Government guidance. Local Authorities have responsibility for deciding how to deliver their service, in line with that guidance.

30 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is offering to local authorities to help them provide support through the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government support for the Scottish Welfare Fund is set out in the Scottish Budget at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2019-20/pages/16/ The Scottish Government works in collaboration with COSLA and Local Authorities through the…

30 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies in the nursery sector need to be filled in order to fulfil its commitment to provide 1,140 hours of funded childcare.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are committed to helping councils significantly expand their workforce to deliver the transformational expansion of funded early learning and childcare from August 2020. The latest Improvement Service delivery progress report published on the 2 October sh…

26 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many finance roles within (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the social security programme are yet to be recruited.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We publish information on vacancies within the Scottish Government, including the Social Security Programme and Social Security Scotland, on the following website: http://www.work-for-scotland.org/ We publish information on the Scottish Government workforc…

25 Sep 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact infrastructure failures at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children and Young People have had on patients who are on surgical waiting lists.

11 Sep 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that funded childcare places are flexible enough to meet parents’ needs.