Questions and answers

Question reference: S6O-01925

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many free bicycles it has issued to children in Glasgow.

Question reference: S6W-14042

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 February 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to welfare rights services, such as that run by Epilepsy Scotland, to protect them against the current cost of living crisis.

The Scottish Government recognises the critical role of advice services, often delivered by our diverse third sector and providing lifeline services to the most vulnerable communities during the cost crisis. We are directly investing around £12.5 million this year in free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice services delivered by third sector partners.

We recognise the impact that rising operating costs are having across society, including on charities and voluntary organisations, and we are committed to doing everything within our powers to support the third sector.

However, our ability to fulfil our devolved responsibilities and the support we would wish to provide remains a significant challenge due to the limitations on our parliament and the UK Government’s economic mismanagement.

Question reference: S6W-13822

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 26 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned review, including any consultation, of the mobility criteria in relation to Adult Disability Payment.

The Scottish Government began stage one of the review of Adult Disability Payment in 2022, by engaging with academics and people with lived experience.

We have engaged with disabled people through our experience panels and with stakeholders to inform the parameters of the review. Stage one of the review will soon seek a broad range of views on the eligibility criteria for the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment as part of a public consultation.

The consultation will open shortly and will run for 3 months. People will have the opportunity to engage with the consultation through a series of consultation events in the coming months.

The results of the consultation will be independently analysed and we will publish the analysis of the consultation and the responses received, where the respondent has given us permission to do so.

The findings will be used to inform Stage Two, the independent review of Adult Disability Payment beginning later in 2023.

Question reference: S6W-13767

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Met Office in relation to the Winter Heating Payment.

Question reference: S6W-13768

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to the Winter Heating Payment.

Question reference: S6W-13769

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the dates on which it has met with (a) the Department for Work and Pensions and (b) any other UK Government representatives to discuss the Winter Heating Payment.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13768 on 25 January 2023. Winter Heating Payment has been discussed with UK Ministers on a number of occasions including at the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare on 21 November 2021 and 16 May 2022. Minutes of meetings are available on gov.scot.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question reference: S6W-13760

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many payments of the Scottish Child Payment for six- to 16-year-olds there were prior to 25 December 2022.

Social Security Scotland routinely releases information on Scottish Child Payment including full applications received, application outcomes and payments.

The next quarterly release of Official Statistics, covering the period to the end of December 2022, is due to be published on 28 February 2023 and will include the total number of payments made to clients each month, and the number of children actively in receipt of Scottish Child Payment as of the end of December 2022.

As part of data improvement, development is currently underway to include additional child age breakdowns in the future editions of the Scottish Child Payment statistics publication.

Question reference: S6W-13761

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many payments of the Scottish Child Payment for six- to 16-year-olds there have been since 25 December 2022.

Question reference: S6W-13776

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 24 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the analysis of responses to the consultation, Scotland's social security system: Enhanced Administration and Compensation Recovery.

The consultation, Scotland's social security system: Enhanced Administration and Compensation Recovery, sought views on proposals to effect ongoing improvement of the Scottish social security system across a range of topics. Taken together, the proposals reflect the Scottish social security principles, unanimously endorsed by the Parliament, on seeking opportunities for continuous improvement in ways which put the needs of clients first, and delivering efficient systems and value for money.

The Scottish Government intends to publish the analysis of responses to the consultation before the Parliament’s Spring Recess.

Question reference: S6W-13742

Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 January 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 20 January 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-10720 by Christina McKelvie on 20 September 2022, when it will publish its refreshed Disability Equality Strategy.

We continue to work closely with the steering group, made up of Disabled People’s Organisations, to co-design the new Disability Equality strategy. The group met several times in 2022 and are focused on listening to the challenges and obstacles disabled people face and finding the solutions that can be delivered.

The group last met in November 2022 and a further meeting is planned for the end of February 2023. It is anticipated that the strategy will be published in Spring 2023 subject to the conclusion of the co-design process.

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