- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently it has requested management information regarding carer's allowance from the DWP, under its agency agreement, broken down by the type of information.
Answer
The Scottish Government receives management information from the DWP under the terms of the Agency Agreement. The relevant section of the agency agreement can be found at:
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) total and (b) average cost was of processing Best Start Grant applications in the initial phase up to 28 February 2019, and how this compared with its estimated forecast.
Answer
During 2018-19 Social Security Scotland ensured the delivery of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Pregnancy and Baby Payment element of the Best Start Grant. Social Security Scotland was also working towards delivery of future benefits.
Social Security Scotland does not separate expenditure by benefit as many of the resources employed in delivery of benefits are shared and indivisible.
The spring revision to the Scottish Budget 2018-19 set Social Security Scotland’s running cost budget for the first seven months of operation at £16 million. The Agency’s 2018-19 outturn against budget will be confirmed through Social Security Scotland’s first Annual Report and Accounts, which will be subject to audit by Audit Scotland and are expected to be laid before Parliament in September 2019.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it will incorporate reserved case law on disability benefits into regulation and guidance.
Answer
The Scottish Government will review relevant reserved disability benefit regulations, guidance and case law in formulating Disability Assistance regulations and guidance.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what management information regarding carer's allowance it has requested from the DWP, under its agency agreement, broken down by type of information.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23045 on 16 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it will limit the use of guidance as the basis for processing and determining applications and redeterminations of disability assistance.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23033 on 16 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many (a) complaints, (b) compliments and (c) suggestions have been received by Social Security Scotland, broken down by the main themes of this feedback.
Answer
The number of complaints, compliments and suggestions including the main themes, received by Social Security Scotland up until the period 31 March 2019 will be published as part of the Social Security Scotland Performance statistics to be published on 17 June 2019 and pre-announced at: .
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the reserved case law on disability benefits that it considers relevant to disability assistance as currently proposed.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-23032 on 16 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of reserved disability benefit (a) legislation, (b) regulations, (c) guidance and (d) case law Parliamentary Counsel has conducted for the purposes of incorporating those rules into Scots law.
Answer
Legislative provision for disability benefits being devolved to Scotland will be detailed in secondary legislation. The drafting of which will take account of all relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and case law.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether the primary focus for the (a) conditions of entitlement, (b) definition of terms and (c) processes for determining entitlement for disability assistance will be in regulations or guidance for disability assistance.
Answer
The Scottish Government will consider the appropriate balance between guidance and regulations in setting out the rules relating to entitlement, definitions of terms and processes.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is anticipates that the social security programme will require an in-year budget revision and, if so, for what reason.
Answer
Sufficient financial resource has been allocated through the budget process to fund the Social Security programme’s delivery plans. The original estimate for spend in 2019-20 was based on an initial set of assumptions in summer 2018. These were reviewed through the autumn in the Scottish Government’s budget-setting process, and we will continue to refine the programme’s budgetary requirements for the year in line with the refresh of the Programme Business Case supporting Wave 2. If any changes are required this would be actioned through the Spring Budget Revision.