Chamber and committees

We responded to the letter from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group on the tax status of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement on 19 February 2018. In response to the part of the question on the status of the supplement, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14498 on 27 February 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Agency for Social Security in Scotland was written before options for payment platforms were explored. However, the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) existing expenditure on payments was used to inform estimations of future costs to the Social Security Agency.

Exchanges between Scottish Ministers and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) are subject to a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between the Ministers and the DWP on joint working arrangements, covering the implementation of devolved provisions in the Scotland Act 2016 relating to Social Security in Scotland. Information supplied by DWP to SG is held in confidence under the terms of this MOU.

We are aware of calls for more localised forecasts and additional weather stations to determine Cold Weather Payment thresholds made during the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and will take these into account as we ensure that the new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests.

The current agreement between the Department of Work and Pensions and the Met Office provides for each postcode area to be allocated to one of 94 weather stations, which together cover all parts of Scotland, England and Wales.

We are aware of previous calls for more localised forecasts and additional weather stations to determine Cold Weather Payment thresholds made during the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and will take these into account as we ensure that the new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests.

We will consider all the responses to the consultation on Social Security in Scotland and the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and the Rural Task Force in ensuring that these new powers operate in Scotland’s best interests.

As with each of the 11 benefits we will take on board the views of stakeholders and Experience Panels on the future policy and delivery of Cold Weather Payments in Scotland

a) Tayside

•  Lead supplier: Remploy Ltd
•  Sub-contractor: Rathbone CI
• Additionally the Lead Supplier has proposed to engage with a wide range of organisations to support individual participants with specialist needs, for example: numeracy and literacy, homelessness, addiction, debt, offending and health issues. Sub-contracts will be agreed when an individual participant is identified as requiring these types of interventions. Specialist organisations that are committed to supporting the delivery of the service include:
•  Apex Scotland; Barnardo's; Blueprint Training; Christians Against Poverty; Concept Northern; Enable Scotland; Lifeskills Central Ltd; One Parent Families; Penumbra; Prince’s Trust; Project Scotland; Salus; Scottish Association for Mental Health; Scottish Refugee Council; Street League; West of Scotland Regional Equality Council; Shelter Scotland; The Helm; Dundee Association for Mental Health; and DEAP Ltd

b) West

•  Lead supplier: The Wise Group
•  Sub-contractors:

ENABLE Scotland

Enterprise Mentoring

Street League

The Lennox Partnership

Working Links

Additionally the Lead Supplier has proposed to engage with a wide range of organisations to support individual participants with specialist needs. Sub-contracts will be agreed when an individual participant is identified as requiring this type of intervention. Specialist organisations that are committed to supporting the delivery of the service in Lot West include:

•  Community Renewal, Project Scotland, Salus, Venture Trust.

Regulations under section 11 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill will be brought forward following the passage of Bill. These will make provision for a number of forms of assistance to be provided to carers, including assistance to replace Carer’s Allowance and to introduce the Young Carer Grant.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is a temporary measure until the Scottish social security agency takes on full responsibility for paying assistance to carers as provided for by the Bill. At this point, carers in Scotland will receive support at a higher rate, removing the need for the additional payment provided through the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

We will announce further implementation dates in due course.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-14564 on 6 March 2018 and S5W-14565 on 8 March 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Although the Council Tax Reduction Scheme is not a benefit, the entitlement criteria broadly replicate those for Council Tax Benefit prior to its abolition. This contributes to the fulfilment of the policy objective of ensuring nobody is worse off as a consequence of the UK Government's abolition of Council Tax Benefit in 2013.