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The urgent MSP mailbox was established on 7 th April as a means of separating the most pressing of MSP queries about the pandemic from the very significant volumes of general COVID related correspondence received by the Scottish Government and by so doing attempting to shorten the standard 21 working days target for response where possible. To date, there have been over 200 items of correspondence from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ and it is estimated that 60% of completed cases have been answered by the COVID-19 priority mailboxes and 40% by portfolio Ministers. The majority of inquiries were received in the first month of operation. Answering many of them required input from a number of different portfolios though the majority related to Economic and Health issues. We estimate that the average number of working days it took to respond to a question that was correctly defined as urgent was seven, although some cases were further investigatory work was required took longer.

The Scottish Budget announced in February 2020, demonstrated the Scottish Governments ongoing commitment to helping those furthest from the labour market move towards and into work. In 2020-21 we are continuing to invest more than £33 million to support those who are most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of the current pandemic, which will be essential in supporting Scotland’s economic recovery.

The funding includes continued delivery of Fair Start Scotland, which has increased this year from £20m to £21.48m reflecting the maturity of the service as we move into the third year of delivery.

In accordance with the Scotland Act 2016 (Transitional) Regulations 2017, executive competence for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in Scotland transferred to Scottish Ministers on 1 April 2020. It is currently being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) on behalf of Scottish Ministers under an Agency Agreement.

Since 1 April 2020 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in Scotland has been delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) on behalf of Scottish Ministers under an Agency Agreement. Section 10 of the Agreement states that:

DWP will not create new management information reports that detail performance specifically for customers/clients resident in Scotland.

Management information will only be supplied showing performance, at a Great Britain level, of delivering the functions discharged on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. DWP will not supply data specific to Scotland unless it is currently available and easy to access.

The information requested is not currently produced by the DWP.

Since 1 April 2020 Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment in Scotland has been delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on behalf of Scottish Ministers under Agency Agreements. Section 10 of those Agreements states that:

DWP will not create new management information reports that detail performance specifically for customers/clients resident in Scotland.

Management information will only be supplied showing performance, at a Great Britain level, of delivering the functions discharged on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. DWP will not supply data specific to Scotland unless it is currently available and easy to access.

The information requested is not currently produced by the DWP.

In accordance with the Scotland Act 2016 (Transitional) Regulations 2017, executive competence for Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment in Scotland transferred to Scottish Ministers on 1 April 2020. They are currently being delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) on behalf of Scottish Ministers under an Agency Agreement.

Since 1 April 2020 Severe Disablement Allowance in Scotland has been delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on behalf of Scottish Ministers under an Agency Agreement. Section 10 of that Agreement states that:

DWP will not create new management information reports that detail performance specifically for customers/clients resident in Scotland.

Management information will only be supplied showing performance, at a Great Britain level, of delivering the functions discharged on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. DWP will not supply data specific to Scotland unless it is currently available and easy to access.

The information requested is not currently produced by the DWP.

I have held meetings with senior members of all six prime Fair Start Scotland Service Providers since 1 February 2020 in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the ways in which the current crisis has impacted Providers and how the Scottish Government can continue to support them in effectively delivering a quality service to Fair Start Scotland Participants.

This was also an opportunity for Providers to openly discuss any other subjects they wished to raise with myself

Additionally these meetings were used to convey the importance of the continuity of Fair Start Scotland, ensuring support is still available for those most vulnerable to the effects of the current crisis.

The relevant regional statistics have not yet been published. Once published by the Department for Work and Pensions on 11 June 2020, the statistics will be available at:

The information in following the table is taken from the Scottish Government Case Handling systems