Parliamentary questions
Michelle Ballantyne
639 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) the Social Security Directorate has spent on legal fees.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The following table shows the breakdown of legal fees incurred: Social Security Directorate £64,531.05 Social Security Scotland £165.50
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many temporary staff are employed by Social Security Scotland.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Formally released data at the quarter ended? 31 December 2018 is already available. The staffing statistics are published by Office for National Statistics (ONS) here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets…
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on legal fees in relation to social security policy.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Scottish Government has not incurred any legal fees in relation to Social Security Policy Division. The Division has utilised the legal services provided by the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of members has been at a Social Security Experience Panel session.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Taking a ‘session’ to be any face to face interaction including each day of focus groups, co design sessions or dissemination events, and each individual interview or testing session, the average number of participants at a session is 6.
13 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Social Security Experience Panels have spent on expenses since their creation.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The total spend on expenses for Experience Panel members from 3 March 2017 when recruitment to the panels opened to date is £18,357.28.
11 Mar 2019 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that people are financially ready for their retirement.
8 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been assigned to its Housing and Social Justice Directorate to prepare and plan for the devolution of cold weather payments and winter heating assistance.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Details of the resources assigned to deliver these activities for Housing and Social Justice Directorate are included as part of the Scottish Government total operating costs for the Communities and Local Government portfolio. These are as shown in total in A…
8 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the expected average caseload of a Social Security Scotland case manager will be (a) during the wave one benefit phase and (b) when the department assumes its full powers.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: The initial benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland are mainly a single application process. Client Advisers work across different benefits and have a range of duties from supporting clients to processing applications. Managers will work closely with A…
6 Mar 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training is given to medical and non-medical NHS staff to identify patients who are likely to go missing.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The GMC requires that all doctors in training must develop the appropriate professional competences and demonstrate that they can (i) understand, identify and manage risk (including clinical and suicide) (ii) demonstrate and apply non-technical skills and cri…
4 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that Fair Start Scotland services can continue, regardless of their provider.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government ensures that Fair Start Scotland is delivered by contracting with a range of service providers across Scotland. Each contract is rigorously and regularly managed to ensure that the service delivered by providers effectively supports pa…
27 Feb 2019 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances an NHS board would limit the amount of necessary operations that a patient requires due to budgetary concerns.
21 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans for Social Security Scotland's involvement in making referrals to the Work Able Scotland programme.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The referral period for Work Able Scotland finished in March 2018. Social Security Scotland was not formed until after this period, in autumn 2018.
20 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the communities secretary is making with introducing measures against poverty, and how a workplace parking levy might impact on this.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The actions the Scottish Government are taking to progress our ambitions to reduce child poverty are outlined in our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan and backed by a £50 million fund. Our actions also include investing over £125 million annually to mitiga…
19 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) stakeholders in the tertiary education sector and (b) City and Guilds regarding the introduction of accredited training or academic modules for face-to-face assessments, or the Scottish equivalent.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scottish Government officials have met with the Scottish Qualifications Authority to discuss the accreditation services they may be able to provide. The Scottish Government has published a policy position paper setting out our approach to the skills and expe…
19 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland plans to carry out face-to-face assessments, or the Scottish equivalent, and what specific consideration it has given to people living in rural and remote areas and the islands.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: We recognise that attending an assessment in rural locations can be more challenging for people. We therefore plan to consult on the distances people should reasonably be expected to travel to attend assessments and what additional factors should be taken int…
19 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Social Security Scotland’s Local Delivery Relationship Leads will have in delivering face-to-face assessments, or the Scottish equivalent.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 requires that assessments for Disability Assistance must be carried out by people who are ‘suitably qualified’ to do so. Social Security Scotland will ensure those carrying out face to face assessments, if required, are…
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Social Security Scotland plans to create the "genuine, new career opportunities" referred to in its interim corporate plan.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Agency is committed to investing in the development of its staff and part of that is developing interesting and attractive jobs which can provide longer term development opportunities for those interested in building a career in public service. By 18 th …
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many service users have appealed a Best Start Grant award in the Social Security Chamber First Tier Tribunal, and how many of these appeals were upheld.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are for Social Security Scotland's (a) staff and (b) local delivery offices to support the work of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21664 on 26 February 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/parliamentarybusines…
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to allow Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to support the work of Social Security Scotland, and whether it will provide CAS with funding to allow it to offer assistance with (a) the roll-out of devolved benefits, (b) helping people make a claim and (c) helping claimants wi…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is playing an active and valuable role in supporting the work of Social Security Scotland. This includes feeding into our various stakeholder groups and helping in the development of services and training for staff. We are also …
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to Social Security Scotland (a) staff and (b) local delivery offices regarding offering support in relation to reserved benefits.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland staff signpost clients to the Department of Work and Pensions and any relevant Stakeholders where appropriate whenever they have reason to believe there is potential entitlement and/or interest in reserved benefits. The same level of …
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many awards of Carers Allowance Supplement have been given to people living outside Scotland.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Carers are only eligible for Carer’s Allowance Supplement if they are resident in Scotland on a particular eligibility date. No payments of Carer’s Allowance Supplement have therefore been made to carers resident outside Scotland on the eligibility dates. How…
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what processes are in place for recipients of Social Security Scotland benefits, other than a Best Start Grant, to appeal decisions regarding these.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (the 2018 Act) sets out the types of assistances that are to be delivered by Social Security Scotland. The process for challenging entitlement decisions is set out in Sections 41-49 of the Act 2018. Where an individual …
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which staff at Social Security Scotland will have the power to make decisions regarding a person's claim, and where such staff will be based.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: At this time, Social Security Scotland Client Advisors based in Dundee and Glasgow currently make decisions on Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Birth claims. If a client requests a redetermination of a decision then this is carried out by a Client Experience O…
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether staff at Social Security Scotland's local delivery offices will have the power to make decisions regarding a person's claim.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland’s front-line local staff will provide face to face, pre- claim support and advice to clients and will not make decisions regarding a person’s claim.
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to reduce colonoscopy waiting times in the Borders, in light of reports that the region’s waiting times are the longest in Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: For the Quarter ending December 2018 there were 41 patients waiting over 6 weeks for an appointment for a scope investigation in NHS Borders. Of these, 32 of were waiting for a colonoscopy. I recognise that performance across a range of diagnostic tests is l…
13 Feb 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that patients being prescribed opiates have all other options explained to them by their doctor.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: All prescribing by all prescribers, requires to be in line with clinical guidelines and evidenced-based practice. Medical prescribers are also required to follow the prescribing and managing medicines and devices guidelines set out in the General Medical Coun…
13 Feb 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been carried out by (a) Social Security Scotland and (b) its Social Security Directorate to examine the introduction of a job grant for people over 50.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As job search and support is mostly a reserved matter, the Scottish Government has not examined the introduction of Job Grant for people over 50. It would not be within devolved competence to provide a job grant for the over 50 age group.
31 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) stakeholders in the tertiary education sector and (b) City and Guilds regarding the introduction of accredited training or academic modules on work capability assessments, or the Scottish equivalent.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Work Capability Assessments are carried out for someone who makes a claim to Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit. Both of these benefits are reserved to the UK Government. Consequently, Social Security Scotland Local Delivery Relationship Leads w…
31 Jan 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the training that will be given to Social Security Scotland staff carrying out work capability assessments, or the Scottish equivalent, and how much it will cost to provide this training.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Social Security Scotland will take responsibility for eleven devolved benefits under the Scotland Act 2016. The delivery of these benefits will not require work capability assessments. As such, there is no training requirement for assessors to undertake these…