Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-16173

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-15741 by Ben Macpherson on 23 March 2023, whether it will provide updated figures on how many people received the Winter Heating Payment in February 2023, and how many outstanding payments remained to be made as of 20 March 2023.

Question reference: S6W-16475

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Development Trusts Association Scotland since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) engage with many areas of Scottish Government and this information is not collated centrally. However, core support is provided by the Third Sector Unit who have met with DTAS at various times since May 2021 to discuss their core funding and the Scottish Government’s Pockets & Prospects Fund which they manage along with the Scottish Community Alliance.

Question reference: S6W-16416

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what briefings it has prepared for the First Minister's induction.

The First Minister was briefed on the Ministerial Code; Civil Service Code; Code of Conduct for Special Advisers; guidance on Collective Decision Making; procedures for making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour; Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Scheme guidance; Safeguarding and Securing Scottish Government Business guidance; the Scottish Government’s IT Code of Conduct, Records Management Plan and Policy and Security Data Handling Standard.

In addition the First Minister was briefed on the private office function; Ministerial Pay, Pensions, declarations of interests; guidance on travel, expenses and gifts; and an overview of the Scottish Government and its governance structures.

The First Minister was provided with a diary note to discuss forthcoming engagements; background information on Bute House arrangements; Counterterrorism Incident guidance; and the civil service liaison arrangements with the outgoing First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The First Minister was also briefed on portfolio priorities and on the Bute House Agreement.

Question reference: S6W-16403

Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many children will not have received free school meals as a result of the reported two-year delay, from September 2022 to September 2024, in providing free school meals for all primary school children.

Free school meals are universally available during term-time to all children in primaries 1 to 5 at publicly-funded schools and to all children at publicly-funded special schools.

After primary 5, children and young people remain eligible to receive free school meals if their families meet the eligibility criteria set out within legislation until they leave school. This is the most generous provision of free school meals across the UK. However, it is for children, young people and their families to choose to take up this provision.

We remain committed to expanding universal free school meals to all primary school pupils over the course of this parliament, and our next step towards this will be the expansion of free school meals for all Primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.

Question reference: S6W-16320

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the overall staff absence rate was in each of its directorates over the last 10 months.

Absence rates for each of the Scottish Government directorates are as follows:

Organisation/Rolling year period	Apr21-Mar22	May21-Apr22	Jun21-May22	Jul21-Jun22	Aug21-Jul22	Sep21-Aug22	Oct21-Sep22	Nov21-Oct22	Dec21-Nov22	Jan22-Dec22
SG CORE	3.25%	3.38%	3.45%	3.50%	3.55%	3.55%	3.54%	3.55%	3.57%	3.60%
DG COM
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID RECOVERY AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM	2.6%	2.6%	2.3%	2.3%	2.5%	3.5%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR EQUALITY, INCLUSION & HUMAN RIGHTS	4.4%	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%	4.5%	4.3%	4.3%	4.6%	4.6%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.7%	3.8%	3.6%	3.3%	3.3%	3.1%	3.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE	2.5%	3.0%	3.4%	3.6%	3.7%	4.0%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR UKRAINE RESETTLEMENT								3.6%	3.3%	3.7%
DG CORP
COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTERIAL SUPPORT	2.0%	2.3%	2.4%	2.4%	2.4%	2.3%	2.6%	2.7%	2.8%	2.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR CORP TRANSFORMATION AND WORKPLACE	4.3%	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	4.9%	5.1%	5.3%	5.2%	5.0%	5.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID INQUIRIES	1.6%	3.7%	5.8%	4.7%	3.4%	3.2%	3.1%	2.2%	2.4%	2.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL	2.3%	2.4%	2.5%	2.6%	2.5%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%	2.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	3.7%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	4.0%	3.8%	3.8%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEGAL SERVICES	2.5%	2.6%	2.8%	2.7%	2.7%	2.6%	2.5%	2.6%	2.9%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR PEOPLE	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	3.6%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR PROPRIETY AND ETHICS	0.9%	0.9%	1.1%	1.2%	1.3%	1.3%	1.2%	1.4%	1.4%	1.3%
SCOTTISH PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY DIRECTORATE	2.2%	2.3%	2.3%	2.4%	2.6%	2.7%	2.9%	3.0%	3.2%	3.2%
DG ECON
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF ECONOMIST	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	1.6%	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%	2.3%	1.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT	3.2%	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	3.9%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%	4.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR ECONOMIC STRATEGY	4.6%	4.8%	4.6%	4.8%	4.8%	4.6%	4.6%	4.1%	4.1%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT	3.4%	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%	2.9%	2.7%
DG EJ
DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	5.3%	5.6%	5.1%	5.2%	5.2%	5.2%	4.8%	4.6%	4.5%	4.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR EARLY LEARNING & CHILDCARE	4.3%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	5.0%	5.2%	5.4%	5.2%	5.7%	5.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION REFORM	5.6%	5.3%	5.5%	4.8%	4.3%	4.0%	4.3%	3.7%	3.5%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR JUSTICE	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR LEARNING	2.7%	2.7%	2.8%	2.6%	2.7%	2.6%	2.6%	2.4%	2.3%	2.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND SKILLS	2.9%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.5%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES	3.2%	3.1%	2.9%	3.1%	3.3%	3.2%	3.1%	3.0%	2.9%	2.8%
DG HSC
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER	3.7%	4.0%	4.2%	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%	4.1%	4.0%	4.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF NURSING OFFICER	4.7%	5.1%	5.1%	5.2%	5.4%	4.7%	5.4%	5.9%	4.8%	5.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, NHS SCOTLAND	2.9%	3.0%	3.6%	3.4%	3.2%	4.2%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%
DIRECTORATE FOR DIGITAL HEALTH AND CARE	3.4%	3.3%	3.2%	2.4%	2.7%	2.4%	3.2%	3.1%	3.5%	3.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH FINANCE, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & VALUE	3.0%	3.1%	3.1%	3.3%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	3.9%	4.0%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE	2.8%	2.9%	3.0%	3.0%	2.9%	3.1%	2.9%	2.9%	3.2%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT	5.0%	5.5%	5.4%	5.8%	5.6%	5.7%	5.5%	5.6%	6.0%	6.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH	3.1%	3.2%	3.0%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR POPULATION HEALTH	2.9%	3.2%	3.2%	3.3%	3.3%	3.3%	3.4%	3.4%	3.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR PRIMARY CARE	3.3%	3.4%	3.6%	3.1%	3.1%	3.1%	2.9%	3.0%	3.1%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR SOCIAL CARE AND NATIONAL CARE SERVICE DEVELOPMENT	2.7%	2.7%	3.1%	3.1%	3.4%	3.7%	3.9%	4.0%	4.3%	4.2%
DG NZ
DIRECTORATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY	3.4%	3.6%	3.6%	3.8%	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE	3.5%	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	4.0%	3.9%	3.6%	3.5%	3.7%	3.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTRY	3.3%	3.4%	3.5%	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%	3.7%	3.9%	4.1%	4.1%
DIRECTORATE FOR MARINE SCOTLAND	3.6%	3.7%	3.8%	3.9%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	4.1%	4.2%
DG SE
DIRECTORATE FOR BUDGET & PUBLIC SPENDING	3.6%	3.8%	3.6%	3.6%	2.3%	1.9%	1.6%	1.7%	2.0%	2.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL POLICY AND CONSTITUTION	1.0%	1.0%	0.8%	0.8%	0.7%	0.8%	0.6%	0.6%	0.5%	0.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCHEQUER DEVELOPMENT	4.1%	4.5%	4.9%	5.5%	6.2%	3.0%	2.6%	2.7%	2.5%	3.5%
DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNAL AUDIT AND ASSURANCE	4.3%	4.3%	4.2%	4.4%	4.5%	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	4.5%	4.3%
DIRECTORATE FOR TAX AND REVENUES	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	1.4%	2.0%	2.0%	1.5%	1.5%	1.6%	1.6%
DG SEA
DIRECTORATE FOR CONSTITUTION	3.3%	3.1%	3.2%	3.3%	3.6%	3.6%	4.3%	4.6%	3.7%	3.2%
DIRECTORATE FOR COVID CO-ORDINATION	3.2%	3.7%	3.2%	3.1%	4.8%	5.4%	3.1%	2.4%
DIRECTORATE FOR CULTURE AND MAJOR EVENTS	3.0%	3.4%	3.7%	4.0%	3.7%	3.6%	3.7%	4.2%	4.5%	4.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS	2.1%	2.2%	2.3%	2.8%	2.9%	3.1%	3.1%	3.2%	3.2%	2.9%
DIRECTORATE FOR PERFORMANCE, DELIVERY AND RESILIENCE	1.8%	1.8%	1.8%	1.9%	2.1%	2.2%	2.2%	2.5%	2.7%	3.0%
DIRECTORATE FOR STRATEGY	0.8%	1.0%	1.3%	1.5%	2.9%	2.7%	2.1%	1.9%	1.6%	1.5%
EU DIRECTORATE	3.7%	3.2%	1.5%	1.8%	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%	2.6%	3.5%	3.9%
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL OFFICE	0.6%	0.5%	0.9%	1.3%	1.9%	1.7%	1.7%	1.8%	1.8%	2.0%
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE
UNASSIGNED TO DIRECTORATE	1.7%	1.0%	2.1%	2.0%	1.8%	1.9%	2.0%	2.2%	2.2%	0.5%

The information covers the period to December 2022. Figures after that date have not yet been published. Sickness absence is always reported in 12 month rolling periods to account for seasonality.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting staff who are absent from work through sickness with a view to facilitating a return to the workplace as soon as possible. Staff sickness levels and the causes of absence continue to be closely monitored.

Question reference: S6W-16308

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what grant funds it has made available to third sector organisations over the past 12 months.

Question reference: S6W-16322

Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of information required from third sector organisations for grant applications has increased compared with previous years, and, if so, what the reasons are for this, and what consideration it has given to the ability of these organisations to access funding.

Question reference: S6W-16289

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has developed a framework for distributing emergency funding in a fair and timely manner as set out in the Social Justice and Social Security Committee’s 8th Report, 2022 (Session 6), Robbing Peter to pay Paul: Low income and the debt trap (SP Paper 211).

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of working with partners to ensure that emergency funding meets need effectively.

To ensure local authorities have the capacity and resources required to deliver any new policy commitments, all new policy or changes to existing policy that have a financial cost for local government, including those put in place in an emergency, are approved through the formal financial governance process. This requires agreed recommendations from the joint Scottish Government and COSLA Officers’ Settlement and Distribution Group and political sign-off from Scottish Ministers and COSLA political Leaders.

Question reference: S6W-16519

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of women who are reportedly experiencing long waits for referrals for colposcopy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-16518 on 27 April 2023. This answer set out action being taken to enhance capacity and facilitate increased activity within colposcopy services.

We recognise that uncertainty while waiting can have an impact on health and wellbeing. That is why we are undertaking a new programme of work, ‘Waiting Well’, which aims to support an active waiting well period by providing access to good information, signposting to local services and community assets, and to professional support and services as required.

In addition, we have launched a Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform to help women find the information they need on a range of issues relating to their health. The platform hosts information and advice on mental health as well as a series of self-help guides. These offer practical help and support with mental health symptoms and sign post to further support from NHS24 mental health services, Breathing Space and NHS psychology services as required.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-16468

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 18 April 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with An Lanntair since May 2021, and what the agreed outcomes were of any such meetings.

An Lanntair are a key stakeholder of our public bodies. The Scottish Government has not met An Lanntair directly during this period, however Highlands and Islands Enterprise hold regular meetings with An Lanntair, normally on a monthly basis, to discuss operational matters.

In addition, as they are a regularly funded organisation (RFO), An Lanntair has met with Creative Scotland during this period through virtual and in-person meetings, and phone calls.

The key outcomes from those discussions include (i) funding levels, (ii) additional financial support from the various Scottish Government COVID-19 Emergency Funds and (iii) updates of An Lanntair’s ongoing RFO activity including artistic planning, annual review and annual reporting.

The Scottish Government will continue to have regular dialogue with the culture sector and, given the recent changes in the Scottish Government Ministerial team, introductory meetings between relevant Ministers and Creative Scotland and partners across the sector are currently being considered.

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