Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-23768

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the advocacy service for the Scottish Social Security system invitation to tender has been issued and, if (a) so, on what date and (b) not, when it will do so.

Question reference: S5W-23767

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the publication of the contract notice for the advocacy service for the Scottish Social Security system did not take place on 3 June 2019.

Question reference: S5W-23679

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23502 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 June 2019, in light of the responses to questions S5W-23030 and S5W-23034 not containing the information that was requested, whether it will confirm when analysis of all relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and case law began or was commissioned.

Question reference: S5W-23678

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23515 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 June 2019, whether the number of roles has been modelled by the programme as part of its service design for disability assistance.

Information regarding staffing, including disability assistance, is available in the Outline Business Case for the Social Security Agency in Scotland published in April 2017, which is based on existing service design in DWP ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/outline-business-case-agency-social-security-scotland/ ). The Social Security Programme is currently developing its own service design for disability assistance, including roles such as case managers.

Question reference: S5W-23653

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when Social Security Scotland will report to provide transparency on expenditure over £25,000.

For 2018-19 (1 September 2018 – 31 March 2019) Social Security Scotland operating expenditure, excluding payroll, was met by the Social Security Directorate and then recharged to Social Security Scotland monthly. All payments over £25,000 are then included in the Scottish Government spend over £25,000 publication for the 2018-19 financial year.

For 2019-20 and thereafter, Social Security Scotland will report on expenditure over £25,000 separately from the Social Security Directorate, in accordance with the timescales set out in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Question reference: S5W-23666

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much the Social Security Directorate has paid to IBM (a) under the Low Income Benefits Agile Service Design contract since 1 November 2018 and (b) for other services.

Question reference: S5W-23775

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 14 June 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23532 by Jeane Freeman on 13 June 2019, whether the GP contract limits the fees that can be charged.

The GP contract recognises that GPs perform some services for their patients that are not covered by the contract. As such the contract does not limit or set fees for these services.

Where a patient requests a report or certificate falling outside the GP contract, the BMA advises that the fee set should be reasonable, transparent and justifiable. Patients should also be forewarned of the fee level before the service is agreed and provided.

Question reference: S5W-23532

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 13 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what provision the GP contract makes for (a) the work involved with and (b) fees in relation to providing benefits certification and supporting evidence, including letters, medical records, reports and care plans, to assist with PIP claims, and what discretion the contract allows GPs to exercise in relation to this.

The GP contract does not make provision for the work involved with and fees in relations to providing benefits certification and supporting evidence. The GP contract does allow GPs to charge fees for this work and they are required to provide some certificates by legislation.

The Scottish Government supports the placing of welfare advisors in health and social care settings. Welfare advisers sited in primary care can provide significant returns in terms of additional welfare benefits claimed by patients. Social Security Scotland's local services will support this network by working collaboratively with advisors so referrals can be made to support clients with their Scottish benefits; helping maximise their incomes. Additionally at the beginning of the new Disability Assistance application process there will be a focus on gathering supporting information to aid quality decision making, using existing data where possible. We are currently exploring a range of options for other public agencies to provide supporting document for client claims, lessening the administrative burden on individuals.

Question reference: S5O-03421

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is a median disability pay gap of 26% in Social Security Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-23504

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 May 2019
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 June 2019

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-23032 and S5W-23034 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 May 2019, when the review process began or is due to begin, and when it is expected to conclude.

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