- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done with health and social care partnerships to promote the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form in Scotland.
Answer
We recognise the importance of financial wellbeing and understand the impact that debt and money worries can have on mental health and wellbeing and are working with stakeholders to tackle this issue. In our Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan we have committed to further develop a response to those whose mental health has been affected by issues relating to debt. We are working closely with a range of advice organisations, including Citizens Advice Scotland, to better understand and tackle these issues. We will consider the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form as part of this work and promote to Health and Social Care Partnerships accordingly.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support access to free internet (a) services and (b) devices in public spaces.
Answer
Every public library in Scotland provides access to free WiFi, networked devices and trained staff to offer digital support. The Scottish Government works with the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) to ensure public library staff have access to training to ensure the public receive the support they need. Library Services can apply for funding to develop digital services through the Scottish Government’s Public Library Improvement Fund and latterly (2021-22) through the Scottish Government’s Public Library COVID Relief Fund (£1.25M) both of which are administered by SLIC.
In addition to these routes, The Scottish Government also provided funding for public libraries to support the roll out of NHS Near Me services in public libraries in 2022-23.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to money advice agencies to test improvements to ways of working with people with mental health issues.
Answer
In financial year 2021-2022 the Scottish Government provided £5,116 for the development of a Mental Health and Money Toolkit.
The toolkit, which was developed in partnership with the Money and Pensions Service and Change Mental Health is designed to help people understand, manage, and improve their financial health and wellbeing.
We continue to work with a range of partners, including mental health and money advice services, to ensure that people can access the right practical advice and support to help them cope with the cost-of-living crisis.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address antisocial behaviour on public transport.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to develop national standards for council tax collection.
Answer
Council Tax is a local tax, and each council is financially and administratively accountable to their electorate.
However, we recognise the desirability of the best practice in council tax collection being adopted by all local authorities. I therefore raised the issue of Council Tax Debt and Recovery, including highlighting the recommendations of the Improvement Service and Stepchange Scotland’s May 2022 report on Collaborative Council Tax Collection, with the COSLA President, Vice President and Resources Spokesperson at a meeting of the ‘Joint Working Group on Sourcing of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’, on 22 March 2023.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken with (a) COSLA and (b) local authorities to (i) advertise and (ii) raise awareness of (A) Council Tax Reduction and (B) council tax rebate schemes.
Answer
The Scottish Government are working with COSLA through the ‘Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’ to encourage the adoption of best practice on debt collection and advice.
Additionally, the Scottish Government promotes the take-up of the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, as part of Citizens Advice Scotland's Money Talk Team service, which offers free, confidential and holistic advice – from debt advice, benefit take up and council tax reduction, to switching utility providers and reducing household energy costs.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce legislation to give creditors greater flexibility to reduce the amount of money taken in an earnings arrestment.
Answer
I previously wrote to the Economy and Fair Work Committee setting out my current thinking on earnings arrestments. A copy of the letter addressed to the Convenor of the Economy and Fair Work Committee on 15 March 2023 can be found on the Scottish Parliament website.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove the threshold for full administration bankruptcy.
Answer
There are no plans to remove the minimum debt threshold for full administration bankruptcy. Although stakeholders discussed this as part of the recent review, the relevant working group did not recommend such a change at this time.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what key performance indicators it uses to measure the performance of VoiceAbility in assisting with Scottish Social Security claims.
Answer
The Key Performance Indicators (KPI) used in monitoring the performance of VoiceAbility are provided below:
No | Key Performance Indicator |
1 | All requests for support received must be processed and allocated to appropriate advocacy representation within 2 working days. |
2 | Initial appointments with individuals should be arranged within 3 working days of the referral to the advocacy worker or service partner. |
3 | Acknowledge receipt of complaint/concern within 2 working days of receipt and provide a formal response within 5 working days of receipt (copied to the Scottish Government contract manager for information). |
4 | Any complaints which cannot be resolved by Service Provider regarding the system or services must be sent to Scottish Government contract manager within 6 working days of receipt. |
5 | Serious issues to be escalated to the Scottish Government within 24 hours. |
6 | Service Provider must issue satisfaction survey to 100% of individuals within two days of their service requirements ending. |
7 | Service Provider must make payment to any sub-contractors within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice |
VoiceAbility are also contractually obliged to adhere to the Social Security Advocacy Service Standards – set by the Scottish Ministers in regulations as required by section 11 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. These standards set out the following six core principles framing delivery of the Social Security Independent Advocacy Service: Definition of Advocacy, Independence, Person Centred, Accessible, Trained and Quality Assurance.
We will also assess performance of the service through an evaluation exercise, which will consider both KPIs and wider quantitative and qualitative measures.
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to downsize the Social Security Scotland headquarters, in light of the reported increased number of people working from home since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
Social Security Scotland operates three buildings, forming its headquarters in Dundee: Agnes Husband House, Enterprise House and a part of Dundee House. Social Security Scotland analysis has determined that estates capacity could be reduced, providing a saving to the public purse while continuing to meet the employment commitment made to the city of Dundee.
On this basis, the decision was made to not renew the Occupation Agreement with Dundee City Council for space at Dundee House. From 31 May 2023 Social Security Scotland will occupy Agnes Husband House and Enterprise House. There are currently no plans to reduce the estate further in Dundee.
