Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-10926

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether the electricity and natural gas framework agreements offered via its procurement contracts directory will be affected by any ongoing escalation in energy prices.

The national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Committee comprises senior managers representing procurement, finance and energy management interests.

Whilst energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels because of global influences, the Scottish Government purchasing strategy has mitigated some of the increases. As an illustration, if we were to seek a fixed price today on the wholesale market for Electricity and Gas for 2022-2023, it would be more than double the contract prices that the Scottish Government framework currently enjoys.

Question reference: S6W-10927

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the electricity and natural gas framework agreements offered via its procurement contracts directory provide an opportunity for eligible third sector organisations to lessen the impact of rising energy prices.

The national frameworks for the Supply of Electricity and Supply of Natural Gas wholesale volumes are bought up to 2½ years in advance in tranches, following a proven ‘hedging’ purchasing strategy overseen by a cross-sectoral Risk Management Committee. The Committee comprises senior managers representing procurement, finance and energy management interests.

Whilst energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels because of global influences, the Scottish Government purchasing strategy has mitigated some of the increases for customers on the frameworks. However, given the substantially increased price risk that this market volatility has brought, the Risk Management Committee has temporarily suspended the on-boarding of all new customers with immediate effect in order to protect the organisations currently using the frameworks from increased costs. Organisations that are currently customers (including some third sector bodies) will remain on the framework.

The Risk Management Committee will keep that decision under regular review and when market conditions and risk profile allow, will permit new customers to join.

Question reference: S6O-01371

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 September 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support pupils with a declared or assessed disability at school.

Question reference: S6W-10136

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months on preparations for the introduction of the Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance scheme.

Staff in the Social Security Directorate are working across a number of benefits and functions. It is therefore not possible to fully attribute implementation costs to any particular benefit. Implementation costs for Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance are therefore contained within the Social Security Advice, Policy and Programme budget line of the Scottish Budget, which is £195.4 million for 2021-22 and £219.6 million for 2022-23.

Question reference: S6O-01339

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Super Sponsor scheme.

Question reference: S6W-10139

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 30 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months in order to tackle social isolation.

The Scottish Government recognises that Social Isolation and Loneliness is a public health issue, which has been exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between August 2021 and March 2022, £1 million was allocated by the Directorate for Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights to organisations working to tackle social isolation and loneliness. This funding has supported work including helplines, befriending, and practical support. Many of the 48 organisations funded through the Equality and Human Rights Fund (2021-2024) also make a valuable contribution to tackling social isolation.

In addition, £21 million has been spent in 2021-22 via the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, which helps to tackle priority issues including social isolation and loneliness. This fund has been continued for 2022-23 with a further £15 million.

A total of £48 million has been spent via the Connecting Scotland programme to improve connectedness through digital inclusion.

Tackling social isolation and loneliness is a shared responsibility across government and the wider public sector, as well as the private and third sectors. There is a range of work being carried out across Scottish Government which will also make a positive impact on social isolation and loneliness in the medium to longer term, and which will be referenced in the forthcoming Social Isolation and Loneliness Plan.

Question reference: S6W-10140

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 30 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months on funding third-sector organisations that help children and vulnerable groups.

The third sector plays a critical role in supporting the people of Scotland.

In 2021-2022 the Scottish Government spent over £123 million on funding third-sector organisations that help children and vulnerable groups. Over £109 million was provided via specific grants or funding streams, with an additional £13.8 million in core funding being provided to third-sector organisations via the Children Young People Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities third sector fund.

In addition, I refer the Member to S6W-10137. In 2021-2022, the Scottish Government invested over £12 million to support free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice services. This overall figure includes some funding to third sector organisations to provide debt advice to vulnerable people and funding for Scotland’s National Advice and Information Line.

Question reference: S6W-10138

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 29 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in exploring systems of automatic payment for devolved social security benefits.

Across the devolved benefits, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring we minimise as far as possible any burden on clients, and to ensuring we put in place the appropriate mechanisms to maximise uptake.

We have already automated several payments. Child Winter Heating Assistance is paid automatically based on entitlement to the qualifying benefits, and Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments are made automatically to carers living in Scotland and getting Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Additionally, by the end of the year, we will award Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment automatically to eligible families in receipt of Scottish Child Payment, without the need to apply.

We continue to explore further opportunities to automate social security payments.

Question reference: S6W-10135

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months to increase access to advice services, including services which help maximise income, in order to tackle any poverty penalty and to improve wellbeing.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10137 on 22 August 2022.

The figures within that answer include investment in Welfare Advice in Health Partnerships totalling £730,000 in 2021-2022 and £1.76 million in 2022-2023.

In 2021-2022, we also invested £653,467 in our national Money Support Campaign to increase awareness and take-up of sources of help for people who were struggling financially. The campaign focussed on social security benefits, debt and affordable credit.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-10141

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 August 2022
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 22 August 2022

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months to support the social enterprise sector.

The Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise Strategy was launched in 2016 and sets out a wide-ranging, ambitious and long-term programme to develop the potential of Scotland's social enterprise sector. The latest Social Enterprise Action Plan was published on 24 th March 2021 and covers the period 2021-24.

In 2021-22 we spent £7.1M in supporting social enterprise and expect to spend £6.6M in 2022-23. £15M was distributed through COVID support funds in 2021-22.

Funding is provided to third sector organisations, including social enterprises, from across Scottish Government portfolios and is not collated centrally.

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