Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16058

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in NHS (a) Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (b) Ayrshire and Arran have been treated by an ear, nose and throat specialist for a condition caused by (i) cocaine use and (ii) any other nasal drug consumption in each year since 2013.

Question reference: S6W-16084

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP practices have been taken over by NHS (a) Lanarkshire and (b) Forth Valley in each year since 2016.

Question reference: S6W-16851

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2023
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it plans to have with (a) the UK Government and (b) energy suppliers regarding the potential impact in Scotland of the introduction of a discounted energy tariff for families with disabled members to help mitigate the cost of lifesaving equipment at home.

Although energy retail policy is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government remains concerned at the disproportionate impact the high cost of energy prices combined with inflation is having on vulnerable consumers, including those living with disabilities.

We were disappointed that the UK Government did not answer our calls to extend the Energy Bills Support Scheme as part of its Spring Budget Statement. The removal of the support scheme means a typical household’s annual bill will increase by around 19%. That is why the First Minister recently announced that our Fuel Insecurity Fund will be increased to up to £30 million in the next financial year to support the most vulnerable households in Scotland. In addition, our new winter heating payment is providing a stable and reliable annual £50 payment to around 400,000 low-income individuals. This benefit is an investment of over £20m each year which is more than double the £8.3m provided on average by the UK Government in each of the last 7 years.

Following the progress made at the Scottish Government energy summits held last year, we continue to work with energy suppliers to explore ways to mitigate the impact of rising energy costs on those who are struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes.

I will of course be meeting with UK Government Ministers over issues concerning fuel poverty and mitigation of the cost of powering life-saving medical equipment will feature in those discussions.

Question reference: S6W-16322

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of information required from third sector organisations for grant applications has increased compared with previous years, and, if so, what the reasons are for this, and what consideration it has given to the ability of these organisations to access funding.

Question reference: S6W-16475

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Development Trusts Association Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) engage with many areas of Scottish Government and this information is not collated centrally. However, core support is provided by the Third Sector Unit who have met with DTAS at various times since May 2021 to discuss their core funding and the Scottish Government’s Pockets & Prospects Fund which they manage along with the Scottish Community Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-16606

Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to smoking cessation services in 2023-24.

The Scottish Government provides funding annually to Health Boards for smoking cessation and prevention services. The funding is provided as part of a wider Outcomes Framework allocation, whereby budget is provided to Health Boards to cover a range of outcomes. It is up to Health Boards to decide how much of this funding to allocate to each outcome. The published Scottish Budget for 2023-2024 includes £74.1 million for the Outcomes Framework.

Question reference: S6W-16320

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall staff absence rate was in each of its directorates over the last 10 months.

Absence rates for each of the Scottish Government directorates are as follows:

Organisation/Rolling year period	Apr21-Mar22	May21-Apr22	Jun21-May22	Jul21-Jun22	Aug21-Jul22	Sep21-Aug22	Oct21-Sep22	Nov21-Oct22	Dec21-Nov22	Jan22-Dec22
SG CORE	3.25%	3.38%	3.45%	3.50%	3.55%	3.55%	3.54%	3.55%	3.57%	3.60%
DG COM
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID RECOVERY AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM	2.6%	2.6%	2.3%	2.3%	2.5%	3.5%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR EQUALITY, INCLUSION & HUMAN RIGHTS	4.4%	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%	4.5%	4.3%	4.3%	4.6%	4.6%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%	3.8%	3.6%	3.3%	3.3%	3.1%	3.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE	2.5%	3.0%	3.4%	3.6%	3.7%	4.0%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR UKRAINE RESETTLEMENT								3.6%	3.3%	3.7%
DG CORP
COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT	2.0%	2.3%	2.4%	2.4%	2.4%	2.3%	2.6%	2.7%	2.8%	2.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR CORP TRANSFORMATION AND WORKPLACE	4.3%	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	4.9%	5.1%	5.3%	5.2%	5.0%	5.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID INQUIRIES	1.6%	3.7%	5.8%	4.7%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	2.2%	2.4%	2.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL	2.3%	2.4%	2.5%	2.6%	2.5%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	3.7%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	4.0%	3.8%	3.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES	2.5%	2.6%	2.8%	2.7%	2.7%	2.6%	2.5%	2.6%	2.9%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	3.6%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR PROPRIETY AND ETHICS	0.9%	0.9%	1.1%	1.2%	1.3%	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%	1.4%	1.3%
SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY DIRECTORATE	2.2%	2.3%	2.3%	2.4%	2.6%	2.7%	2.9%	3.0%	3.2%	3.2%
DG ECON
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	1.6%	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%	2.3%	1.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT	3.2%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.9%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%	4.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC STRATEGY	4.6%	4.8%	4.6%	4.8%	4.8%	4.6%	4.6%	4.1%	4.1%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT	3.4%	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%	2.9%	2.7%
DG EJ
DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	5.3%	5.6%	5.1%	5.2%	5.2%	5.2%	4.8%	4.6%	4.5%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE	4.3%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	5.0%	5.2%	5.4%	5.2%	5.7%	5.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION REFORM	5.6%	5.3%	5.5%	4.8%	4.3%	4.0%	4.3%	3.7%	3.5%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING	2.7%	2.7%	2.8%	2.6%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.4%	2.3%	2.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND SKILLS	2.9%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.5%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES	3.2%	3.1%	2.9%	3.1%	3.3%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%
DG HSC
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER	3.7%	4.0%	4.2%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.0%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER	4.7%	5.1%	5.1%	5.2%	5.4%	4.7%	5.4%	5.9%	4.8%	5.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, NHS SCOTLAND	2.9%	3.0%	3.6%	3.4%	3.2%	4.2%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL HEALTH AND CARE	3.4%	3.3%	3.2%	2.4%	2.7%	2.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.5%	3.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH FINANCE, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & VALUE	3.0%	3.1%	3.1%	3.3%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE	2.8%	2.9%	3.0%	3.0%	2.9%	3.1%	2.9%	2.9%	3.2%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT	5.0%	5.5%	5.4%	5.8%	5.6%	5.7%	5.5%	5.6%	6.0%	6.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH	3.1%	3.2%	3.0%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH	2.9%	3.2%	3.2%	3.3%	3.3%	3.3%	3.4%	3.4%	3.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR PRIMARY CARE	3.3%	3.4%	3.6%	3.1%	3.1%	3.1%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL CARE AND NATIONAL CARE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT	2.7%	2.7%	3.1%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	4.2%
DG NZ
DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY	3.4%	3.6%	3.6%	3.8%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE	3.5%	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	3.9%	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND	3.6%	3.7%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%
DG SE
DIRECTORATE FOR BUDGET & PUBLIC SPENDING	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	3.6%	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	2.0%	2.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL POLICY AND CONSTITUTION	1.0%	1.0%	0.8%	0.8%	0.7%	0.8%	0.6%	0.6%	0.5%	0.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCHEQUER DEVELOPMENT	4.1%	4.5%	4.9%	5.5%	6.2%	3.0%	2.6%	2.7%	2.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNAL AUDIT AND ASSURANCE	4.3%	4.3%	4.2%	4.4%	4.5%	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	4.5%	4.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR TAX AND REVENUES	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	2.0%	2.0%	1.5%	1.5%	1.6%	1.6%
DG SEA
DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%	3.6%	3.6%	4.3%	4.6%	3.7%	3.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID CO-ORDINATION	3.2%	3.7%	3.2%	3.1%	4.8%	5.4%	3.1%	2.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE AND MAJOR EVENTS	3.0%	3.4%	3.7%	4.0%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%	4.2%	4.5%	4.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	2.1%	2.2%	2.3%	2.8%	2.9%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	2.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR PERFORMANCE, DELIVERY AND RESILIENCE	1.8%	1.8%	1.8%	1.9%	2.1%	2.2%	2.2%	2.5%	2.7%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY	0.8%	1.0%	1.3%	1.5%	2.9%	2.7%	2.1%	1.9%	1.6%	1.5%
EU DIRECTORATE	3.7%	3.2%	1.5%	1.8%	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%	2.6%	3.5%	3.9%
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE	0.6%	0.5%	0.9%	1.3%	1.9%	1.7%	1.7%	1.8%	1.8%	2.0%
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE	1.7%	1.0%	2.1%	2.0%	1.8%	1.9%	2.0%	2.2%	2.2%	0.5%

The information covers the period to December 2022. Figures after that date have not yet been published. Sickness absence is always reported in 12 month rolling periods to account for seasonality.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting staff who are absent from work through sickness with a view to facilitating a return to the workplace as soon as possible. Staff sickness levels and the causes of absence continue to be closely monitored.

Question reference: S6W-16308

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what grant funds it has made available to third sector organisations over the past 12 months.

Question reference: S6W-16289

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed a framework for distributing emergency funding in a fair and timely manner as set out in the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s 8th Report, 2022 (Session 6), Robbing Peter to pay Paul: Low income and the debt trap (SP Paper 211).

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of working with partners to ensure that emergency funding meets need effectively.

To ensure local authorities have the capacity and resources required to deliver any new policy commitments, all new policy or changes to existing policy that have a financial cost for local government, including those put in place in an emergency, are approved through the formal financial governance process. This requires agreed recommendations from the joint Scottish Government and COSLA Officers’ Settlement and Distribution Group and political sign-off from Scottish Ministers and COSLA political Leaders.

Question reference: S6W-16595

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans on working collectively with the UK Government and local authorities to develop a system of automation to consider the complexities of eligibility for benefits, in order to shift the burden of responsibility from the individual.

As part of our rights-based approach to social security, we are committed to minimising as far as possible any burden on clients. Where we have been able, we are already working with the UK Government to automate some of our payments for that very purpose.

Most eligible people already receive Child Winter Heating Assistance and Carer’s Allowance Supplement automatically based on qualifying benefits. Also, throughout February and March almost 400,000 low-income households will have automatically received the £50 Winter Heating Payment, providing support towards their energy bills for this winter.

Alongside DWP, we have developed a successful case transfer process which ensures people continue to receive the right payments at the right time – automatically transferring their awards from UK Government benefits onto the appropriate Scottish payment without them having to re-submit the information they provided in their original application.

In line with our commitment to maximise the take-up of Scottish benefits, we will continue to explore further opportunities for automation – including further appropriate and proportionate data-sharing across the range of systems that support Scotland’s population.

Chamber and committees