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-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-02667

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 any underspend for an increased carers allowance will be protected if take-up does not meet estimates.

Question reference: S5W-02665

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 staff from the Department of Work and Pensions will be transferred to its new social security agency, as referred to in the Programme for Government.

It is too early to determine if and how any of the DWP employees currently administering the benefits to be devolved might transfer to the Scottish social security agency.

In considering the employment issues arising from the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with trade union colleagues through the Council of Scottish Government Unions, of which PCS, FDA and Prospect are part.

Question reference: S5W-02677

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 extended winter fuel payments for families with severely disabled children, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will be paid automatically.

Question reference: S5W-02663

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 26 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many households in Scotland receive healthy start vouchers each year.

Question reference: S5W-02400

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate plans it has to introduce new benefits using section 28 of the Scotland Act 2016.

Question reference: S5W-02401

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what immediate plans it has to introduce discretionary payments that top up reserved benefits using section 24 of the Scotland Act 2016.

Question reference: S5W-02176

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the ruling by the Court of Session to quash the ministers’ planning appeal on the proposed expansion plans of Mossend Railfreight Terminal, whether it plans to (a) continue to uphold the appeal of the applicant and, if so, whether it will appoint a new reporter, (b) launch an inquiry into the reasons ministers overruled the reporter and (c) publish all of the minutes and notes of its meetings involving (i) ministers, (ii) MSPs, (iii) officials and (iv) the reporter relating to this planning matter.

Question reference: S5O-00140

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 14 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its detailed delivery plan for the provision of superfast broadband to all commercial and residential premises.

We will set out our delivery approach later in 2016, once we have finalised the coverage to be delivered through the existing Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme and consulted with the market to confirm future commercial investment plans.

We expect new procurements, to deliver new investment to meet our 100% target, to begin from 2017. We published a Prior Information Notice on 9 September 2016 to formally start engagement with suppliers ahead of these procurements.

Question reference: S5W-00814

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 June 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 7 September 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the consultation announced on 8 February 2016 on plans to increase organ donation.