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The Scottish Government have been engaging with DWP over re-use of key systems over the last 2 years which culminated in a formal request over the Summer of 2017 to utilise DWP’s Central Information System (CIS) and Central Payment System (CPS). The implementation plan for CPS is running to schedule. A new CIS plan was received from DWP on 21 September which showed that agreed dates for the implementation of CIS are not going to be met. Officials are now working through this plan, despite the challenges arising from missed deadlines by DWP, to ensure that our work remains on track to deliver the Best Start Grant before Christmas.

Sections 95 to 100 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 came into force on 2 June 2018 and sections 81 to 85 (and 76 in part) came into force on 3 September 2018. A second set of commencement regulations will be laid before the Scottish Parliament shortly, with further sections of the Act being commenced as and when appropriate.

The administration of CTR is the responsibility of local authorities we do not collect data on how many households who were eligible under the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme applied to their local authority for a reduction, so do not hold this information.

The following table provides current data obtained from DWP on approximately how many claimants in Scotland have an outstanding overpayment of Carer’s Allowance and how many of these overpayments have been classified as fraud. The table also breaks down the figures by the value of the debt.

The Scottish Government assumed executive competence for Carer's Allowance, and associated debt, on 3 September 2018. As Carers Allowance will continued to be delivered by DWP under an agency agreement, the recovery of this debt is subject to existing rules.

The funding transfer which will accompany the transfer of executive competence for Sure Start Maternity Grant has not yet been agreed with the UK Government. However, it is expected that this will be equivalent to the level of planned expenditure in Scotland from the date of transfer to the end of the financial year.

The Scottish Government will fund any gap between the amount of funding received and actual expenditure on the Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Grant in 2018-19.

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) prevent the publication of protected characteristics for small groups of people. Such data is sensitive and breaking down a group of 30 people by nine characteristics could lead to the identification of individuals. However we are able to provide more general information on the characteristics represented in the core group. It includes:

• People with a disability (including mental, physical and learning)
• Men and women
• A range of ages
• People with different sexual orientations
• People who are married or in civil partnerships
• People of different religions and beliefs
• People with experience of all relevant benefits
• People with fluctuating conditions
• People with hearing impairments
• People with visual impairments
• Carers of both adults and disabled children
• Rural and urban dwellers
• People with intersecting characteristics (i.e. more than one of the above).

We are also working closely with stakeholders to ensure that the views of people from seldom heard or under-represented groups, including those with other protected characteristics, are strongly reflected in the charter.

Social Security Scotland will make payments for both the early learning and school age grants by Summer 2019. Regulations to provide for that assistance will be laid in draft for the Scottish Parliament’s approval in the usual way in advance of the first payments being made.

Yes, expenditure on the Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Grant will be demand led.

The Best Start Grant is made up of 3 separate grants and an application is required for each grant. Implementation will be in 2 phases.

Social Security Scotland will accept applications from those eligible for the Pregnancy and Baby Grant before Christmas 2018.

Delivery of the Early Learning and School Age Grants will follow by Summer 2019. Applications for these grants will not be accepted beforehand. Once delivery has begun, payments will be made to those who are eligible on the date of application and will not be made retrospectively to those who may have qualified earlier.