- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether eligibility for the Best Start Grant system, referred to in the Programme for Government, will be based on the current (a) maternity grant or (b) healthy start eligibility rules or on a different form of eligibility rules.
Answer
No decisions have yet been made about the operation of the new integrated Best Start Grant or the provision of Healthy Start Vouchers. This includes decisions on eligibility. We are considering a number of options and are consulting widely with people who have experience of the benefits and other interest groups. As part of our consultation on the Future of Social Security in Scotland, which closes on 28 October 2016, we are seeking views on the integration of Healthy Start into the new Best Start Grant.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what relationship its new social security agency, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will have with local government.
Answer
We are undertaking a detailed business case to explore how the agency and wider social security system will work in Scotland. This will consider both national and local delivery options and aim to make sure services are streamlined and accessible. This work will be informed by the results of the social security consultation published on 29 July 2016.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government when families with severely disabled children will begin to receive an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in its Programme for Government.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02675 on 28 September 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
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much families with severely disabled children will receive through an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02675 on 28 September 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
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how much is paid out in Sure Start Maternity Grants to eligible households in Scotland each year.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00232 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
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether staff from the Department of Work and Pensions will be transferred to its new social security agency, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer
It is too early to determine if and how any of the DWP employees currently administering the benefits to be devolved might transfer to the Scottish social security agency.
In considering the employment issues arising from the Scotland Act 2016, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with trade union colleagues through the Council of Scottish Government Unions, of which PCS, FDA and Prospect are part.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether extended winter fuel payments for families with severely disabled children, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will be paid automatically.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02675 on 28 September 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
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how many families with severely disabled children will receive an extended winter fuel payment, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer
The commitment made in the Programme for Government is to extend eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments to families in Scotland with children in receipt of the highest care component of the Disability Living Allowance. Currently, in 2016-17, the number of families who would benefit from this extension of eligibility is approximately 14,500, which we estimate will rise to 16,700 in 2020-21.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what the total expenditure will be on an increased carers allowance, as referred to in the Programme for Government.
Answer
Total expenditure on increased Carer’s Allowance will depend on when the increase is implemented and the number of people receiving Carer’s Allowance at that point in time.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 28 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether recipients of the Best Start Grant, as referred to in the Programme for Government, will continue to receive healthy start vouchers at the same level as current recipients.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02657 on 28 September 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.