Michelle Ballantyne

10 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many commercial properties in Dundee have been viewed by (a) it and (b) Social Security Scotland as part of the search for a new headquarters for the agency.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland are following a well-established Scottish Government-led process to identify suitable Headquarters for the new Agency in Dundee. This on-going process is commercially sensitive and it is not appropriate to provide information on the n…

10 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) team manager, (b) client adviser and (c) learning facilitator positions at Social Security Scotland are vacant.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: There are currently no team manager, client adviser or learning facilitator vacancies on the Social Security Scotland vacancy board.

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how funding will be provided to coastal communities from the net revenue generated by the Scottish Crown Estate marine assets out to 12 nautical miles.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Funding sourced from the net revenue from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets out to 12 nautical miles will be distributed to each coastal local authority to deliver benefit for coastal communities. We have agreed with COSLA an interim formula-based approach …

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date applications for Round 5 of the Coastal Communities Fund will open.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I shall make an announcement on the future funding arrangements for coastal community benefit in Scotland this month.

5 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23136 by Roseanna Cunningham on 14 May 2019, on what date the announcement will be made on the future of the Coastal Communities Fund.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I shall make an announcement on the future funding arrangements for coastal community benefit in Scotland this month.

4 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which businesses have been involved in user testing as part of the Job Start Payment service design process, and what this testing consists of.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have engaged with eight employers in sectors which young people have told us that they have worked in or would apply for jobs in, including hospitality, retail and public sector. This engagement has informed our understanding of how job offers are made, th…

4 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to discourage landlords from posting advertisements for tenancies marked with "No DSS" or similar restrictions.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: We believe that everyone is entitled to affordable accommodation that suits their needs. The use of the term “no DSS” in some adverts for private rented sector properties is something the Scottish Government strongly disapproves of. While equality legislatio…

4 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be a presumption in law that grants grandparents the right to access their grandchildren following a family breakdown.

Answer · Ash Denham: The Scottish Government recognises the important role that grandparents can play in a child’s life. The Scottish Government has recently introduced the Children (Scotland) Bill into the Scottish Parliament. Section 12 of the Bill includes a list of factors…

2 Sep 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can offer that no further departments or wards at the Borders General Hospital will be permanently closed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The planning and provision of local healthcare services is primarily for NHS Boards, in line with national standards, policies and frameworks. Should any NHS Board decide to take forward proposals to change current services, I would expect them to inform the…

28 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £3.3 million invested in the Financial Health Check programme provided by Citizens Advice Scotland has been spent.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Citizen Advice Scotland’s nine month progress report (November 18 to July 19) shows the spend to date is £1,770,978.

28 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage uptake of the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

Answer · Kate Forbes: We have promoted take-up of the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, and continue to do so, as part of the Money Talk Team service (previously known as the Financial Health Check), which is delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland and supported by …

28 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many families or individuals have used the Financial Health Check programme provided by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: In the first 9 months of the service, 7,777 clients have been supported.

28 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £3.3 million invested in the Financial Health Check programme provided by Citizens Advice Scotland has been spent.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: £1.8 million of funding has been awarded to Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver the service in year one. Of that, £1,529,955 has been distributed to the network of bureau and £270,045 went to Citizens Advice Scotland.

27 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase funding to Lothian and Scottish Borders police to help reduce the number of violent sex attacks reported in the area.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Violence of any kind is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Scottish Government provides the Scottish Police Authority with an annual budget of £1.2 billion. Decisions on the day to day operation of the police service, including the allocatio…

27 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all future NHS building projects are protected against problems with the water, ventilation and drainage systems.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are establishing a national body for reducing risks in the healthcare built environment. The new national body will have oversight for the design, planning, construction and maintenance of major NHS Scotland infrastructure developments. It will hold expert…

27 Aug 2019 · 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: Much has been done already to improve access to services, particularly reducing waiting times. Our Rights Respect and Recovery Strategy recognises that we need to build on this to ensure that those who are most at risk receive the support and help that they n…

27 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to help tackle the reported increase in drug-related deaths in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: We note the increase in drug related deaths in the Scottish Borders - an increase from 13 in 2017 to 22 in 2018. Our strategy to tackle this, Rights, Respect and Recovery was published in November 2018. This strategy takes a comprehensive approach looking at …

27 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has undertaken of how the implementation of a Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh would impact commuters in Midlothian.

Answer · Michael Matheson: It is for individual local authorities implementing Low Emission Zones to consider any impact on commuters. City of Edinburgh Council is engaging with neighbouring local authorities and Regional Transport Partnership SESTRAN to assess the wider impact of thei…

27 Aug 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) delays and (b) cancellations there have been on the Borders Railway in each month in 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: ScotRail reports its performance based on the industry-standard four-weekly reporting period. The number of delays and cancellations on the Borders Railway in each period of 2019 is set out as follows, with the total number of trains provided each period also…

25 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for responses by Social Security Scotland to queries on Universal Credit Scottish Choices.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) delivers the Universal Credit (UC) Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government. The DWP does not collect management information on waiting times relating specifically to UC Scottish choices as it is current…

23 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether recipients of the Job Grant in rural areas will receive additional funding to account for higher transport costs and reduced access to public transport.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Job Grant to support a smooth transition into employment for young people on low incomes. In January this year we published a consultation to gather views on the key eligibility criteria and the payment fo…

22 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it consults and engages with businesses and employers regarding the Job Grant.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We have publically consulted on Job Grant twice: through the Social Security in Scotland consultation in 2016, and again through the Job Grant consultation which ran from January to April this year. Businesses have also been involved in user testing undertake…

22 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date will the online application service will open for Best Start Foods.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Scottish Government laid The Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019, in Parliament on 31 May 2019 and these will come into force on 12 August 2019. The online application system for Best Start Foods will be available from that date.  

22 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by which year Fair Start Scotland aims to have supported 38,000 people into work.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Fair Start Scotland is a voluntary service which aims to support a minimum of 38,000 individuals to progress both towards and into work by the end of the initial contact period, which runs until 2023.

15 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the amount awarded from the next round of Coastal Communities Fund awards will compare with the previous levels.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has provided funding through the Coastal Communities Fund since it was established in 2012. Since 2017, when responsibility for the Coastal Communities Fund was devolved to the Scottish Government, Scottish Ministers have allocated £3.…

15 Jul 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date applications will be open for the next round of Coastal Communities Fund awards.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I shall make an announcement on future funding for coastal community benefit in Scotland in the near future.

26 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to finance the Scottish Child Payment.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The introduction of the Scottish Child Payment is a significant investment in children and families, and will play a leading role in helping meet Scotland’s statutory child poverty targets which were passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament. Finances fo…

19 Jun 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the inquiry into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

13 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding plans it has for the LEADER programme post 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has published clear proposals for Brexit transition in the Stability and Simplicity consultation. These proposals provide as much certainty as possible to help adjust to the confusion and uncertainty of Brexit. Scotland is the only par…

3 Jun 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether there should be a blanket ban on the mass release of balloons.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is committed to preventing littering in all its forms. Local authorities are responsible for tackling litter at a local level and have powers to ban balloons and sky lanterns releases in their local area. A number of local authorities …