Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-20856

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20346 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 December 2018, what assessment it has made of the indirect implementation of the DWP Verify Earnings and Pensions service as part of its agency arrangements agreement for the DWP to deliver carers allowance, and what the outcome was.

The Scottish Government entered into this agreement in order to deliver the Carer’s Allowance Supplement by summer 2018. This provides over 75,000 carers with an additional £442 in 2018-19, an increase of 13% on the DWP’s Carer’s Allowance. All aspects of the Carer’s Allowance Agency Agreement with DWP were subject to scrutiny and approval by the Social Security Programme Boards and Scottish Ministers. The DWP is clear that Fraud, Error and Debt arrangements associated with the Agreement and the operational model needs to remain consistent throughout Great Britain.

Question reference: S5W-20835

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-20546 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 December 2018, whether it will publish each of the three reviews.

Gateway Reviews are conducted for the Scottish Government and associated public sector organisations to help support the successful delivery of programmes and projects by ensuring that good programme and project management practice is being used; that key risks are actively managed and to identify any learning points for better practice.

The reports are confidential to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO).

Question reference: S5W-20859

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S5W-20616 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 January 2019, whether it remains its position, as set out at section 1.3 of its document, Social Security Programme - Disability Benefits Assessments Strategic Outline Case, which was published under the freedom of information request, FoI/18/03113, that "the assumption is that the disability benefit rules and structures will remain broadly the same", and, if so, for what reason this is not referred to in the response.

While our working assumption for planning purposes is that the rules and structures will remain broadly the same, no final decisions have been taken; we will continue to look for opportunities to improve these, provided the changes do not risk the safe and secure transition of devolved disability assistance. As previously stated, we have already identified a number of areas for improvement and are co-designing these with people with experience of the current system so that we can build a system which better meets the needs of individuals.

Question reference: S5W-20710

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its draft social security charter has not been published, and by what date it will be.

Question reference: S5W-20658

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many Social Security Scotland staff are based at (a) Dundee House, Dundee, (b) High Street, Glasgow, (c) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, (d) St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, (e) Atlantic Quay, Glasgow and (f) other (i) Social Security Scotland and (ii) Scottish Government premises.

The Scottish social security system will be directly delivered by Social Security Scotland, through a local presence providing face-to-face advice, supported by administrative functions in our Dundee headquarters and Glasgow.

Location	Number of staff
Dundee House, Dundee (HQ)	141
High Street, Glasgow	108
Atlantic Quay, Glasgow	4
Victoria Quay, Edinburgh	2
Courtyard Falkirk	2
Kilwinning	1
Saughton House, Edinburgh	1
Stornoway	1

Nineteen Local Delivery Relationship Leads have been recruited and will now start detailed planning for how the service will be delivered in each local area. This service will launch when it is required for devolved benefits.

The Local Delivery Relationship Leads have initially been based in existing Scottish Government offices from which they will design the service.

Social Security Scotland will build up a network of locally based staff supporting people to apply for benefits across all 32 local authorities.

Question reference: S5W-20751

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its service level agreement with Citizens Advice Scotland for delivery of its Financial Health Check service.

Question reference: S5W-20754

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what information (a) it and (b) Citizens Advice Scotland has published on the Financial Health Check service, in addition to its press release of 2 November 2018.

The Scottish Government has published information on the Financial Health Check service on the money matters section of our Parent Club website: https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/financial-health-check ; in our recently published second annual progress report on the Fairer Scotland Action Plan: https://www.gov.scot/publications/fairer-scotland-action-plan-progress-report-2018/ and on our my.gov website https://www.mygov.scot/benefits-support/ .

We do not hold information on the publications made by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-20755

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it or Citizens Advice Scotland is responsible for advertising and promoting the Financial Health Check service; what advertising and promotional work has been agreed as part of the agreement with Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver the service; how frequently this work is to be delivered, and how much of the £3.3 million funding committed to the service over two years is to be used for advertising and promoting the service.

Both the Scottish Government and Citizens Advice network in Scotland are responsible for advertising and promoting the service. The Scottish Government will undertake a national marketing campaign week commencing 7 January 2019 to raise awareness of the service. The funding for the Scottish Government’s national marketing campaign is in addition to the £3.3 million funding committed.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) will also undertake marketing work and local marketing and engagement with local partners will be undertaken by local Citizens Advice Bureau. CAS is currently developing their plans on this.

Question reference: S5W-20756

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates the cost per check will be for its Financial Health Check service.

Question reference: S5W-20753

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what the requirements are on Citizens Advice Scotland to report statistical information under its agreement to deliver the Financial Health Check service, and how frequently it is required to report this.

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