Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-02668

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many people (a) claim carers allowance and (b) will be eligible for the increased carers allowance referred to in the Programme for Government.

Question reference: S5W-02657

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether eligibility for the Best Start Grant system, referred to in the Programme for Government, will be based on the current (a) maternity grant or (b) healthy start eligibility rules or on a different form of eligibility rules.

No decisions have yet been made about the operation of the new integrated Best Start Grant or the provision of Healthy Start Vouchers. This includes decisions on eligibility. We are considering a number of options and are consulting widely with people who have experience of the benefits and other interest groups. As part of our consultation on the Future of Social Security in Scotland, which closes on 28 October 2016, we are seeking views on the integration of Healthy Start into the new Best Start Grant.

Question reference: S5W-02666

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what relationship its new social security agency, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will have with local government.

Question reference: S5W-02678

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when families with severely disabled children will begin to receive an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in its Programme for Government.

Question reference: S5W-02660

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how much is paid out in Sure Start Maternity Grants to eligible households in Scotland each year.

Question reference: S5W-02675

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will commence awarding families with severely disabled children an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in the Programme for Government, and whether it has investigated the use of its power to create a new benefit to make this payment in 2016-17.

Implementing reforms to existing benefits requires a large-scale programme of transition, legislation and implementation. As part of this programme, a timetable for the commencement of the relevant sections of the 2016 Scotland Act, will be agreed by Scottish Ministers and UK Government Ministers, via the forum of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare. Further announcements on future social security policy and delivery will be made at an appropriate stage.

Question reference: S5W-02669

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the total expenditure will be on an increased carers allowance, as referred to in the Programme for Government.

Question reference: S5W-02673

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many assessments for disability benefits will be conducted before (a) it expects the UK Government to commence those powers and (b) reforms referred to in the Programme for Government are (i) announced and (ii) commenced.

Implementing reforms to existing disability benefits requires a large-scale programme of transition, legislation and implementation. As part of this programme a timetable for the commencement of the relevant sections of the 2016 Scotland Act will be agreed by Scottish Ministers and UK Government Ministers via the forum of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare. Further announcements on future social security policy and delivery will be made at an appropriate stage. In the meantime, the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for disability benefit assessments.

Question reference: S5W-02661

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households in Scotland receive Sure Start Maternity Grants each year.

Question reference: S5W-02659

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether recipients of the Best Start Grant, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will continue to receive healthy start vouchers at the same level as current recipients.