Questions and answers

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.

Question reference: S6W-16594

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 what plans it has to invest in affordable credit for any families that are turning to high-interest forms of credit.

The Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to ensure access to affordable credit for people on low-incomes. This includes investing £8.5 million in our Community Sustainability Fund, which launched in December 2022, where community lenders can access loans for a range of purposes including support with cash flow and to promote the availability of affordable credit. Also investing up to £1 million in a No-Interest Loan Scheme pilot to offer a lifeline for people on low incomes who are financially excluded and unable to borrow from mainstream or community lenders due to their credit score or affordability issues.

This work builds on the £15 million grant funding allocated to Scottish Community Lenders in 2021 to promote the availability of affordable credit, strengthen the balance sheet of affordable credit providers and improve financial resilience. Along with the £2 million Affordable Credit Fund, backed by funding of £1 million from the Scottish Government and £1 million from Carnegie UK Trust, to enable low income families to access affordable credit.

In addition, the Scottish Government is represented on Financial Inclusion for Scotland, whose aims include enabling better financial inclusion in Scotland by supporting those who find it difficult to access fair or affordable financial services.

Question reference: S6W-16519

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of women who are reportedly experiencing long waits for referrals for colposcopy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16518 on 27 April 2023. This answer set out action being taken to enhance capacity and facilitate increased activity within colposcopy services.

We recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact on health and wellbeing. That is why we are undertaking a new programme of work, ‘Waiting Well’, which aims to support an active waiting well period by providing access to good information, signposting to local services and community assets, and to professional support and services as required.

In addition, we have launched a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform to help women find the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health. The platform hosts information and advice on mental health as well as a series of self-help guides. These offer practical help and support with mental health symptoms and sign post to further support from NHS24 mental health services, Breathing Space and NHS psychology services as required.

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-16605

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 whether it will publish any correspondence that it has (a) received from and (b) sent to dental organisations, regarding the multiplier payment, since March 2022.

The Scottish Government publishes relevant correspondence to dental organisations regarding the multiplier payment on www.scottishdental.org . Notes from recent meetings with dental organisations are shared here as well. However, correspondence received by Scottish Government from stakeholders is generally private, and we do not share it as a matter of routine.

Information on the extension of the multiplier payment was also shared in Parliament during the debate ‘Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry’ on 8 February 2023. A copy of the debate can be viewed at: Meeting of the Parliament: 08/02/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website .

Question reference: S6W-16070

Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns raised by the Edinburgh Bar Association that as a result of funding issues and staff shortages there have been no new Drug Treatment and Testing Orders imposed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for almost 12 months, leading to drug users being deprived of vital support.

The Scottish Government is aware that drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) services in Edinburgh were temporarily suspended in 2022 and has worked with the local authority and other partners over recent months to understand the issues behind this and offer support where appropriate. DTTO services were reinstated in late February on a limited basis and we will continue to support efforts to ensure that those in need can access drug treatment across Scotland.

As recently announced in our Drug Deaths Taskforce Response, the Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of DTTOs and other relevant orders to assess how they have been used, their outcomes, and whether they are the most effective mechanism to support recovery and reduce recidivism rates.

Chamber and committees