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I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00556 on 16 June 2016. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00556 on 16 June 2016. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00556 on 16 June 2016. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00556 on 16 June 2016. 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 establishment of the Fair Food Fund is part of a sustained investment by the Scottish Government to tackle food poverty in Scotland. From 2013 to 2016 the food poverty budget was £500k per annum and supported the Emergency Food Fund. On 10 March 2016 Mr Neil, the then Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, announced an increase in the food poverty budget for 2016-17 to £1 million. On 2 June 2016 Ms Constance announced £1 million will be made available each year of this parliament from 2016-17 to invest in projects that provide dignified and sustainable support for people affected by food poverty.

The Fair Food Fund has been designed in conjunction with the Independent Short-Life Working Group on Food Poverty which has been commissioned by Scottish Ministers to identify the issues which push people into food poverty and make recommendations on how they can be addressed. Membership of the group includes poverty organisations such as Oxfam and the Poverty Alliance, emergency food providers such as the Trussell Trust, other organisations with an interest in food poverty such as Fareshare and Nourish Scotland, independent funders such as the Robertson Trust, Big Lottery and The Hunter Foundation, and local government. The group also includes people with direct experience of food poverty through the Poverty Truth Commission. The criteria for the fund aligns with the recommendations of the group.

The Fair Food Transformation Fund (52% of the overall budget) will open shortly and will be promoted through a range of organisations including Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, Community Food and Health Scotland, Third Sector Interface and Interfaith. All funded projects will be evaluated throughout their lifetime to ensure that the Fair Food Fund is getting effective support to those who most need it.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00556 on 16 June 2016. 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

Estimates of the number of applicants expected for the Maternity and Early Years Allowance will depend on decisions yet to be taken about the rollout of this benefit and the eligibility criteria that will be used.

For the purposes of policy development, we have estimated that, if current Sure Start Maternity Grant take-up rates and eligibility criteria were maintained, around 40,000 awards would be made each year. If full take-up were achieved and all eligible families received a grant we estimate that somewhere in the region of 85,000 awards would be made each year.

These figures are estimates of the total numbers of awards that would be made in a year and so combine payments on birth, upon a child starting nursery and upon a child starting primary school.

Source: Scottish Government analysis based on Department for Work and Pensions figures.

Information on the number of applications and the annual cost of these payments is held by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Our intention is to create a Maternity and Early Years Allowance. For those eligible, a maternity payment will be made for the first child of £600. Maternity payments for second and subsequent children will be £300. Payments of £250 will be introduced for all children when they start nursery and again when they start school.

We are still considering our plans for the operation of the new Maternity and Early Years Allowance, including questions such as eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction. We want to implement the new benefit, which will replace the Sure Start Maternity Grant, as soon as practically possible. We have been consulting stakeholders including users, potential users and interested groups and will continue to do so over the summer to gather views to inform decisions and the required legislation. We will also be taking forward the next steps in the delivery process, which will involve financial, legal and practical considerations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00226 on 15 June 2016. 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