Michelle Ballantyne

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of temporary contractors working on the social security programme in favour of permanent staff.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Programme’s use of contractors is in line with expectations for a programme of this size and stage. The Programme will continue to utilise a mix of permanent, seconded and contractor staff across grades, since a number of posts will not be required on a p…

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost to acquire third-party pieces of coding and software for the social security programme.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As at 20 May 2019, the total spent to acquire third-party pieces of coding and software for the social security programme is £1,813,806.50. This figure excludes VAT and associated implementation costs.

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households in the (a) Midlothian, (b) East Lothian and (c) Scottish Borders local authority area have experienced fuel poverty in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The number of households in each local authority that are experiencing fuel poverty is published annually in the Scottish House Condition Survey local authority tables. Local Authority figures are based on a 3-year pooled sample to allow sufficient sample si…

15 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for compensation for journeys on the Borders Railway ScotRail received in each month between May 2016 and May 2019.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not have Delay Repay information broken down by route.

15 May 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the primary school system is fit for purpose.

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent each year in raising awareness among local authorities about the Coastal Communities Fund.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has delegated decision making and communication activity for the Coastal Communities Fund to the National Lottery Community Fund (NCLF) which includes an agreed fee for administration, including communications activity. The amount spen…

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much unallocated funding remains from the 2018-19 Coastal Communities Fund; what plans it has for this funding, and how this compares with how this was disposed of in previous years. 

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no unallocated funding for Round 4 of the Coastal Communities Fund. All Coastal Communities Fund funding has been allocated to individual projects and all projects are due to complete this year.

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness among coastal local authorities of the funding streams that are available to them for economic and land development.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has many available funds for coastal local authorities, raising awareness for these funds are done in many different ways, including social media and in local newspapers. The Scottish Government is delivering a funding package of £11.…

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to review its interim arrangement with COSLA regarding the distribution of funding for local authorities through the Coastal Communities Fund.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Following devolution of the management and revenue of the Scottish Crown Estate we agreed an interim arrangement with COSLA for distributing a share of total net revenue from marine assets in the 0-12 nautical mile zone (this arrangement is distinct from the …

14 May 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to coastal local authorities for economic and land development, and from what budget line this is drawn.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has provided substantial funding to local coastal authorities through various funding schemes including the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund(EMFF) and Coastal Communities Fund . In particular, the Coastal Communities Fund has funded,…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to deliver Universal Credit Scottish Choices through Social Security Scotland, rather than the DWP.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Universal Credit (UC) is a benefit over which powers are reserved to the UK Government. The Scotland Act 2016 devolved powers to Scottish Ministers to determine to whom and when Universal Credit is paid in Scotland, but delivery of UC remains the responsibili…

30 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the satisfaction rate is among Universal Credit (UC) Scottish Choices claimants compared with those in receipt of monthly UC housing element payments.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The take-up rate of the Universal Credit (UC) Scottish choices has been high. Over the period 11 November 2017 to end August 2018, 66,700 people had been offered the UC Scottish choices, and around 32,000 people (almost 50%) took up one or both of the choices.

23 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what type of projects in coastal local authority area will be funded by revenue generated by Crown Estate Scotland marine assets, and by what date the first payments will be made.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Ministers have committed to provide a share of the total net revenue generated from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets in territorial waters out to 12 nautical miles to coastal local authorities for community benefit. The Scottish Government has be…

23 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to distribute payments from the revenue generated from Crown Estate Scotland marine assets to coastal local authority areas.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Ministers have committed to provide a share of the total net revenue generated from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets in territorial waters out to 12 nautical miles to coastal local authorities for community benefit. Scottish Government officials …

23 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that construction companies adhere to the established mortar standards in all new-builds.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 contains provisions for new building work to meet building regulations. The work must comply with the requirements of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, and Regulation 8 requires that the materials used must be durable,…

17 Apr 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to assist it with its upcoming summer concerts in South Scotland.

16 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support the Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group’s free smartphone app, "Scotland Starts Here”, to help expand its potential.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government continues to support VisitScotland who have worked closely with Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group (MBTAG) whilst they have developed the app "Scotland Starts Here". VisitScotland will continue to work with MBTAG in the short…

11 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with UK Government officials relating to the future of the Coastal Communities Fund.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has had no recent meetings with UK Government officials on the Coastal Communities Fund.

11 Apr 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17185 by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 June 2019, when it expects its review into the future of the Coastal Communities Fund to be completed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) is a competitive scheme inherited from the UK Government as part of the overall funding settlement agreed for the Scottish Crown Estate in the Fiscal Framework. Scottish Ministers are committed to delivering the funding for…

27 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22320 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 March 2019, which firms or individuals provided the legal services that resulted in the fees referred to.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Please find below details of the legal companies used that resulted in the fees referred to in answer S5W-22320 Facilities/building management          Morton Fraser Lawyers Digital/software licences MacRoberts LLP Procurement management MacRoberts LLP

21 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22113 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 March 2019, whether it will provide a breakdown of the £64,531.05 paid by the Social Security Directorate.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The breakdown of the legal fees incurred by the Social Security Directorate is as follows: Facilities/building management £15,788.80 Digital/software licences £35,617.00 Procurement management £13,125.25 Total £64,531.05  

21 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22113 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 March 2019, how much its legal directorate has spent on legal fees relating to social security.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government Legal Directorate has not incurred any legal cost other than in house staffing cost in relation to social security.

20 Mar 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether schools should have a zero-tolerance policy toward violent behaviour.

14 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which providers it has considered to assume responsibility for employability programmes in Scotland administered by Working Links.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government did not hold any employability contracts with Working Links (Employment) Limited. Working Links did hold shares in Start Scotland Limited which delivers two Fair Start Scotland contracts. The selling of these shares to Fedcap Rehabilit…

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £127 million for mitigation measures and support for those on low incomes in 2018-19 was spent.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: In 2018-19 we have invested almost £103 million to directly mitigate against the worst impacts of UK Government welfare reform, this includes £63.1 million in Discretionary Housing Payments, £38 million in the Scottish Welfare Fund and £1.5 million in advice …

13 Mar 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve NHS Lothian's infrastructure in order to cope with East Lothian’s rising population.

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost will be to it of the DWP continuing to administer Severe Disability Allowance.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) will be delivered by the DWP under an agency agreement from April 2020. Discussions with DWP in relation to the delivery costs for SDA under the agency agreement are on-going.

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all staff working on Social Security Scotland premises (a) are entitled to and (b) receive at least the living wage.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland have their headquarters in Dundee with a secondary site in Glasgow. The Agency is based in interim accommodation at Dundee House where they co-locate with Dundee City Council. In Glasgow the current interim accommodation is at the Gla…

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Social Security Scotland is a living wage employer.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland staff are on Scottish Government Terms & Conditions and part of Scottish Government main. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of supporting lower paid staff within the public sector and the Public Sector Pay Policy conti…

13 Mar 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost will be to it of the DWP continuing to administer wave 2 benefits until it assumes full responsibility for devolved welfare.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21923 on 13 March 2019. 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/…