- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) the UK Government will provide to fund the Best Start Grant (Pregnancy and Baby Grant) in 2018-19.
Answer
The funding transfer which will accompany the transfer of executive competence for Sure Start Maternity Grant has not yet been agreed with the UK Government. However, it is expected that this will be equivalent to the level of planned expenditure in Scotland from the date of transfer to the end of the financial year.
The Scottish Government will fund any gap between the amount of funding received and actual expenditure on the Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Grant in 2018-19.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many people on the social security charter core group have a protected characteristic, broken down by characteristic.
Answer
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) prevent the publication of protected characteristics for small groups of people. Such data is sensitive and breaking down a group of 30 people by nine characteristics could lead to the identification of individuals. However we are able to provide more general information on the characteristics represented in the core group. It includes:
- People with a disability (including mental, physical and learning)
- Men and women
- A range of ages
- People with different sexual orientations
- People who are married or in civil partnerships
- People of different religions and beliefs
- People with experience of all relevant benefits
- People with fluctuating conditions
- People with hearing impairments
- People with visual impairments
- Carers of both adults and disabled children
- Rural and urban dwellers
- People with intersecting characteristics (i.e. more than one of the above).
We are also working closely with stakeholders to ensure that the views of people from seldom heard or under-represented groups, including those with other protected characteristics, are strongly reflected in the charter.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for Universal Credit (Scottish choices), and how much has been spent, broken down by (a) staffing costs, (b) communications, (c) payments to the DWP for (i) the flexibilities take up, (ii) training and (iii) implementation, and (d) other costs.
Answer
Universal Credit (UC) Scottish choices do not have a separate budget line in the Social Security budget. Costs are contained within the allocated budget for the Social Security Directorate. This includes all staffing and communications costs associated with UC Scottish choices.
The Scottish Government paid £529,785.58 to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in April 2018 for one-off implementation costs which included changes to the UC IT system and updates to DWP staff guidance and training.
The Scottish Government estimates ongoing operational costs to be up to
£0.4 million in 2017-18; and up to £1.6 million in 2018-19. The Scottish Government will only pay for the actual number of UC Scottish choices offered and taken up. We expect to receive an invoice from the DWP shortly, based on actual take up rates covering the period 4 October 2017 (when the choices were first made available) to 31 March 2018.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Overarching Delivery Agreement with COSLA permits the co-location of Social Security Scotland staff in (a) schools and (b) GP practices.
Answer
The Delivery Agreement covers Local Authority facilities and, while it doesn’t prescribe specific locations or exclude other arrangements, it notes the characteristics that Social Security Scotland will look for when considering co-location. Key to the agreement is the need for facilities to be accessible and services joined up. This will help make sure that people can easily access support in locations convenient to them.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 26 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what Social Security Scotland statistics and delivery-focused research will be published by the Government Statistics, Social Research and the Operational Research Service in 2018-19.
Answer
As the executive competence for the administration of a benefit transfers to Scotland, Social Security Scotland will publish statistics for Scotland on that benefit. In line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, publication dates for statistics for Social Security Scotland from 2018 onwards will be pre-announced through a 12-month release calendar, giving a specific release date at least four weeks in advance where practicable.
The Experience Panels research plan for 2018-19 can be found on the Scottish Government website at the following link: https://beta.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/corporate-report/2017/06/social-security-scotland-bill-privacy-impact-assessment/documents/social-security-experience-panels-2018-2019-research-plan/social-security-experience-panels-2018-2019-research-plan/govscot%3Adocument . It contains estimated publication dates for each project. Please note these are subject to change.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes access to welfare rights support as a form of social prescribing, and which NHS boards and GP practices are leading this work.
Answer
Scottish Government support for advice services is intended to maximise household resources and ensure people understand their statutory rights and have recourse to redress if those rights are not upheld.
The Scottish Government is funding a part-time welfare advice service facilitator in 2018-19 to support the embedding of Welfare Advice Services in Health and Social Care settings, with a particular focus on general practice and early years.
Provision of welfare advice is a matter for individual NHS Boards and general practices and we do not hold information centrally on where advisers are located.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) strategic objectives and (b) performance targets are for Social Security Scotland.
Answer
Social Security Scotland's strategic objectives will be introduced in the Agency's Corporate Plan. The Corporate Plan will be published shortly, as an interim document. As with everything it does, Social Security Scotland will develop and iterate its strategic objectives in collaboration with stakeholder communities. An updated version of the Corporate Plan, which reflects this consultation and collaboration, will be published next year.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Police Scotland response to sectarian hate crime.
Answer
Sectarian hate crime - like any hate crime - has a hugely damaging effect on victims and communities so it is important that everybody plays their part to challenge it. That is why we fully support Police Scotland in taking robust action to both tackle hate crime and increase the confidence of victims to report incidents either directly to them or to a Third Party reporting centre.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17179 by Derek Mackay on 21 June 2018, how many people who (a) applied, (b) interviewed and (c) were appointed for positions at the social security agency had a protected characteristic (i) since 1 May 2018, and (ii) in total since recruitment began, broken down by characteristic.
Answer
Not all of the data requested is available. We hold a record of agreed interview dates and agreed start dates but we have no way to confirm whether a candidate actually attended the interview or ended up taking up the post.
Table A: Breakdown of diversity characteristics for candidates who applied for a vacancy in Social Security Scotland.
All candidates who applied |
Protected Characteristic | All Data from 2015 to date | Data since 1st May 2018 |
Gender | N | % | N | % |
1. Female | 2333 | 49.32% | 1002 | 51.36% |
2. Male | 2312 | 48.88% | 928 | 47.57% |
3. Prefer not to say | 58 | 1.23% | 19 | 0.97% |
4. Unknown | 27 | 0.57% | 2 | 0.10% |
All | 4730 | 100% | 1951 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Ethnic Group | N | % | N | % |
1. White | 4328 | 91.50% | 1760 | 90.21% |
2. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic | 280 | 5.92% | 148 | 7.59% |
3. Prefer not to say | 95 | 2.01% | 42 | 2.15% |
4. Unknown | 27 | 0.53% | 1 | 0.05% |
All | 4730 | 100% | 1951 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Disability | N | % | N | % |
1. Disabled | 119 | 2.52% | 65 | 3.33% |
2. Not disabled | 2551 | 53.93% | 1363 | 69.86% |
3. Prefer not to say | 1120 | 23.68% | 46 | 2.36% |
4. Unknown | 940 | 19.87% | 477 | 24.45% |
All | 4730 | 100% | 1951 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Sexual Orientation | N | % | N | % |
1. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and other | 262 | 5.54% | 125 | 6.41% |
2. Heterosexual | 4189 | 88.56% | 1723 | 88.31% |
3. Prefer not to say | 252 | 5.33% | 101 | 5.18% |
4. Unknown | 27 | 0.57% | 2 | 0.10% |
All | 4730 | 100% | 1951 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Religion | N | % | N | % |
1. None | 2499 | 52.83% | 1079 | 55.30% |
2. Christian Denomination | 1737 | 36.72% | 674 | 34.55% |
3. Other Religion or Belief | 203 | | 97 | 4.97% |
4. Prefer not to say | 263 | 5.56% | 97 | 4.97% |
5. Unknown | 28 | 0.59% | 4 | 0.21% |
All | 4730 | 100% | 1951 | 100% |
Table B: Breakdown of diversity characteristics for candidates who have an interview date recorded for a vacancy in Social Security Scotland.
All applicants with an interview date in the system |
Protected Characteristic | All Data from 2015 to date | Data since 1st May 2018 |
Gender | N | % | N | % |
1. Female | 436 | 54.50% | 164 | 57.54% |
2. Male | 354 | 44.25% | 120 | 42.11% |
3. Prefer not to say | 8 | 1.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
4. Unknown | 2 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.35% |
All | 800 | 100% | 285 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Ethnic Group | N | % | N | % |
1. White | 769 | 96.13% | 276 | 96.84% |
2. Black, Asian and minority ethnic | 17 | 2.13% | 6 | 2.11% |
3. Prefer not to say | 12 | 1.50% | 2 | 0.70% |
4. Unknown | 2 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.35% |
All | 800 | 100% | 285 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Disability | N | % | N | % |
1. Disabled | 28 | 3.50% | 8 | 2.81% |
2. Not disabled | 521 | 65.13% | 190 | 66.67% |
3. Prefer not to say | 24 | 3.00% | 5 | 1.75% |
4. Unknown | 227 | 28.38% | 82 | 28.77% |
All | 800 | 100% | 285 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Sexual Orientation | N | % | N | % |
1. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and other | 41 | 5.13% | 17 | 5.96% |
2. Heterosexual | 713 | 89.13% | 255 | 89.47% |
3. Prefer not to say | 44 | 5.50% | 12 | 4.21% |
4. Unknown | 2 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.35% |
All | 800 | 100% | 285 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Religion | N | % | N | % |
1. None | 430 | 53.75% | 158 | 55.44% |
2. Christian Denomination | 312 | 39.00% | 105 | 36.84% |
3. Other Religion or Belief | 21 | 2.63% | 6 | 2.11% |
4. Prefer not to say | 35 | 4.38% | 15 | 5.26% |
5. Unknown | 2 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.35% |
All | 800 | 100% | 285 | 100% |
Table C: Breakdown of diversity characteristics for candidates who have a start date recorded for a vacancy in Social Security Scotland.
All applicants with an agreed start date in the system |
Protected Characteristic | All Data from 2015 to date | Data since 1st May 2018 |
Gender | N | % | N | % |
1. Female | 215 | 55.70% | 54 | 62.07% |
2. Male | 164 | 42.49% | 32 | 36.78% |
3. Prefer not to say | 3 | 0.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
4. Unknown | 4 | 1.04% | 1 | 1.15% |
All | 386 | 100% | 87 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Ethnic Group | N | % | N | % |
1. White | 371 | 96.11% | 84 | 96.55% |
2. Black, Asian and minority ethnic | 5 | 1.30% | 1 | 1.15% |
3. Prefer not to say | 6 | 1.55% | 1 | 1.15% |
4. Unknown | 4 | 1.04% | 1 | 1.15% |
All | 386 | 100% | 87 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Disability | N | % | N | % |
1. Disabled | 12 | 3.11% | 1 | 1.15% |
2. Not disabled | 250 | 64.77% | 52 | 59.77% |
3. Prefer not to say | 22 | 5.70% | 4 | 4.60% |
4. Unknown | 102 | 26.42% | 30 | 34.48% |
All | 386 | 100% | 87 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Sexual Orientation | N | % | N | % |
1. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and other | 21 | 5.44% | 3 | 3.45% |
2. Heterosexual | 339 | 87.82% | 78 | 89.66% |
3. Prefer not to say | 22 | 5.70% | 5 | 5.75% |
4. Unknown | 4 | 1.04% | 1 | 1.15% |
All | 386 | 100% | 87 | 100% |
| | | | | |
Religion | N | % | N | % |
1. None | 237 | 61.40% | 54 | 62.07% |
2. Christian Denomination | 122 | 31.61% | 27 | 31.03% |
3. Other Religion or Belief | 6 | 1.55% | * | * |
4. Prefer not to say | 17 | 4.40% | 4 | 4.60% |
5. Unknown | 4 | 1.04% | * | * |
All | 386 | 100% | 87 | 100% |
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 September 2018
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-17179 by Derek Mackay on 21 June 2018, how many staff transferred from the Social Security Directorate, and, of these, how many have a protected characteristic, broken down by characteristic.
Answer
On the 31 August there were 150 people who transferred from the Social Security Agency Implementation Division within Social Security Directorate in the Scottish Government to Social Security Scotland. The following table provides a breakdown on protected characteristics.
Gender | N | % |
Female | 94 | 63% |
Male | 56 | 37% |
All | 150 | 100% |
Sexuality | N | % |
1. Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and other sexual orientations | 7 | 5% |
2. Heterosexual/straight | 114 | 76% |
3. Prefer not to say | 4 | 3% |
4. Unknown | 25 | 17% |
All | 150 | 100% |
Disability Status | N | % |
1. Disabled | 8 | 5% |
2. Not disabled | 52 | 35% |
3. Prefer not to say | 1 | 1% |
4. Unknown | 89 | 59% |
All | 150 | 100% |
Ethnicity | N | % |
1. Ethnic minority | 5 | 3% |
2. White | 123 | 82% |
3. Prefer not to say | 2 | 1% |
4. Unknown | 20 | 13% |
All | 150 | 100% |
Religion | N | % |
1. None | 66 | 44% |
2. Church of Scotland | 22 | 15% |
3. Roman Catholic | 22 | 15% |
4. Other Christian | 7 | 5% |
5. Other Religion or Belief | 5 | 3% |
6. Prefer not to say | 4 | 3% |
7. Unknown | 24 | 16% |
All | 150 | 100% |