Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-17171

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many social security experience panel meetings have been held, broken down by the number of attendees.

The total number of meetings held, including focus groups and interviews over the phone and in person, is 155. These were held between June 2017 and June 2018.

The number of meetings and attendees for each project area is broken down in the following table. Additionally, 1,230 Experience Panel members have responded to one or more surveys. We also held an event for older people from ethnic minority backgrounds, which had around 100 attendees.

Project area	Number of focus groups	Number of interviews	Total number of attendees
About Your Benefits and You	35		274
Social Security agency branding, look and feel and website	11	7	101
Disability benefits	8	40	107
Low income benefits		16	16
Carers benefits		24	24
Young Carer Grant	14		46
Total meetings	68	87	568

Question reference: S5W-17174

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many social security experience panel (a) meetings and (b) communications have solely focused on the design of new social security benefits, beyond the About Your Benefits and You survey, which focused on past experiences of DWP benefits.

120 meetings have been held with the Experience Panels, other than the About Your Benefits and You survey. This includes benefits specific design work and cross cutting design for the new agency. This work is ongoing with further meetings planned.

20 communications have been sent to experience panel members, or groups within the experience panel about our research and opportunities to take part, beyond the About Your Benefits and You survey and focus groups.

This does not include follow up communications or communication with individual panel members on a one to one basis.

Question reference: S5W-17176

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many social security experience panel members have not been engaged in the panels beyond the initial recruitment, and how it is attempting to re-engage with those individuals.

947 panel members have not engaged in the Experience Panels beyond the initial recruitment stage. It was made clear at the recruitment stage that members could participate as much or as little as they like.

For every piece of Experience Panels research we offer multiple channels for participation to account for different participation needs, including online, phone and face to face options. Our most recent survey has asked panel members for feedback about what is working well, and how we can improve our approach to engaging panel members. We are also working with key stakeholders to increase our engagement with these groups in our next large scale piece of research, and are reviewing non-participation to ascertain if there is anything further we can do.

As with all projects of this type, some panel members will choose not to engage preferring instead to simply be informed of what is happening, and a small number have opted to leave the panel. We will continue to recruit panel members on an annual basis to account for this.

Question reference: S5W-17167

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many times meetings of the social security stakeholder reference groups have been (a) rearranged and (b) cancelled, and when each group last met.

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Reference Group	No of Meetings Cancelled	No of Meetings Rearranged	Date of Last meeting
Agency Operations Reference Group	0	1	7 March 2018
Best Start Grant Reference Group	0	0	31 January 2018
Carer Benefit Advisory Group	1	0	4 April 2018
Communications and Engagement Partnership Group	0	1	31 May 2018
Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group	Information Not Held	Information Not Held	26 April 2018
Funeral Poverty and Funeral Expense Assistance Reference Group	0	0	24 April 2018
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits Advisory Group	1	0	11 December 2017
Ill Health and Disability Benefits Stakeholder Reference Group	0	1	12 December 2017
Joint Ministerial Group on Welfare	0	1	14 June 2018
Young Carer Grant Working Group	0	1	26 April 2018

Question reference: S5W-17173

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10876 by Jeane Freeman on 20 September 2017, how many taxi journeys have been provided for social security experience panel members in (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow.

Question reference: S5W-17104

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) temporary and (b) interim staff have been employed under each of the Temporary and Interim Staff Services frameworks in each year since 2015-16, and for which roles, broken down by directorate or agency.

Scottish Government does not hold all of the information requested and in the format requested, and this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Some of the information requested has been provided where this is available and the following table shows the number of staff employed under each of the Temp and Interim Staff Services Frameworks for the year 2017-18. The information shows the total for Scottish Government and Executive Agencies. Information by Directorate is not available. While details of individual roles are not available, the following table provides a list of potential roles available under each Framework.

Organisation	Framework		Staff 2017-18
Accountant in Bankruptcy	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		3
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		1
TOTAL			4
Disclosure Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		1
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		690
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		2
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		15
TOTAL			708
Education Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		9
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		11
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North		1
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		13
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		6
TOTAL			40
Scottish Government	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		192
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		88
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East		6
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual West		23
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		158
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		112
TOTAL			579
Scottish Prison Service	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		61
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		49
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North		45
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual North		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East		12
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual West		13
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		11
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		2
TOTAL			193
Scottish Public Pensions Agency	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		8
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		5
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		5
TOTAL			18
Student Awards Agency for Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		48
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		7
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		9
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		12
TOTAL			76
Transport Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East		9
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West		31
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals		4
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT		2
TOTAL			46
GRAND TOTAL			1664
FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF INTERIM PROFESSIONAL STAFF SERVICES		FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF TEMPORARY ADMIN STAFF SERVICES
EXAMPLE ROLE TYPES		EXAMPLE ROLE TYPES
Procurement Manager		Administrator
IT Manager		Clerical Officer
Facilities Manager		Customer Services Support Staff
Engineering Manager		Data Processor
HR Manager		Finance Officer
Finance Manager		Mail Clerk
Communications Manager		Personal Assistant
Marketing Manager		Project Administrator
Programme Manager		Receptionist
Project Manager		Technical Administrator
Policy Manager
HR Administrator
HR Specialist
Procurement Administrator
Procurement Officer
Finance Specialist
Market Analyst
Strategic Buyer
FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF INTERIM IT STAFF SERVICES		FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF CATERING & MANUAL STAFF SERVICES
EXAMPLE ROLE TYPES		EXAMPLE ROLE TYPES
Network Support Analyst		Catering Assistant
Systems Analyst		Chef
Business Analyst		Civic Amenity Site Operative
IT Support Officer		Cleaner
IT Team Leader		Cook
		Driver (non HGV)
		Electrician
		Executive Chef
		Gardener
		HGV Driver
		Hospitality Representative
		Janitor
		Kitchen Supervisor
		Labourer
		Refuse Loader
		Refuse Worker/Collector
		Skilled Labourer
		Stores Assistant
		Street/Road Sweeper
		Waitress/Waiter

Question reference: S5W-17103

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff it has unsuccessfully attempted to procure under each of the Temporary and Interim Staff Services frameworks in each year since 2015-16, and for which roles these staff were required, broken down by directorate or agency.

Question reference: S5W-17105

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the (a) Temporary and Interim Staff Services frameworks and (b) salaries of appointments made under the frameworks in each year since 2015-16, broken down by directorate or agency of the appointment.

Information on spend for Scottish Government and Executive Agencies is attached for each year since 2015 -16. The information is not available by Directorate. Scottish Government does not hold the information requested on salaries.

Organisation	Framework	Spend 2015-16		Spend 2016-17		Spend 2017-18
Accountant in Bankruptcy	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	32,600		58,426		8,248
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	44,084		57,224		39,891
TOTAL			£76,684		£115,650		£48,139
Disclosure Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	0		6,731		2,886
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	2,112,239		5,321,417		5,713,092
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	390,410		186,798		92,321
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	358,933		399,126		999,407
TOTAL			£2,861,582		£5,914,072		£6,807,706
Education Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	51,784		27,455		53,270
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	36,758		540		27,548
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North	0		6,332		2,025
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	140,901		346,125		229,821
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	55,648		230,344		198,292
TOTAL			£285,091		£610,796		£510,956
Scottish Government	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	1,075,485		1,755,836		1,316,815
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North	5,737		0		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	196,089		318,058		529,196
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East	5,248		10,792		17,039
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual West	0		6,841		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	2,748,086		6,162,804		6,004,408
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	2,771,883		6,552,915		5,228,414
TOTAL			£6,802,528		£14,807,246		£13,095,872
Scottish Prison Service	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	103,191		100,460		253,564
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	90,956		128,140		275,291
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin North	13,165		32,166		5,073
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual North	3,980		0		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East	2,626		10,257		44,697
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual West	23,419		46,044		55,082
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	115,190		229,224		298,427
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	165,301		311,010		49,259
TOTAL			£517,828		£857,301		£981,393
Scottish Public Pensions Agency	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	0		0		20,428
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	48,830		230,557		75,968
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	0		111,204		177,124
TOTAL			£48,830		£341,761		£273,520
Student Awards Agency for Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	252,252		183,787		240,705
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	0		24,621		41,759
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Catering/Manual East	0		1,114		0
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	0		159,714		324,997
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	41,948		403,785		778,255
TOTAL			£294,200		£773,021		£1,385,716
Transport Scotland	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin East	0		16,726		30,338
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Admin West	131,091		201,460		266,025
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim Professionals	290,221		331,159		13,224
	Temporary and Interim Staff - Interim IT	0		0		69,041
TOTAL			£421,312		£549,345		£378,628

Question reference: S5W-17172

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 June 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 19 June 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10875 by Jeane Freeman on 20 September 2017, what the average time is for processing social security experience panel members' expenses claims, and what the maximum time has been.

Experience Panels expense claims are received by the Scottish Government Experience panels research team either directly from panel members at events, or sent in via a First Class FREEPOST service. Once completed forms are received in the office they are usually sent to finance to be processed within one working day.

From June 2017 to December 2017 Experience Panels expense claims were handled by Scottish Government central finance. The average processing time for these claims was 3.4 days.

Since 5 December 2017 Experience Panels expense claims are handled by the Social Security agency finance team. The average processing time for these claims is 3 working days.

All 130 claims apart from 3 were paid within 4 working days. The maximum processing time from receiving a completed form for these three outliers was 36 days. These three outliers were due to incomplete information or errors. We are continuing to trial potential improvements to our processes to reduce the time it takes for payments to be made.

Question reference: S5F-02483

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 June 2018
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2018

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the National Audit Office report, Rolling out Universal Credit.

Chamber and committees