- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what impact assessment has been carried out to examine the potential impact on NHS Scotland laboratory transformation of the 19.4% reduction in genomics funding, as set out in the draft Budget 2023-24.
Answer
As a result of the 22-23 Emergency Budget Review genomics was allocated a revised budget of £5 million, which has been sustained for 23-24.
Neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine has carried out any specific impact assessments in relation to genomics. However the draft budget was published alongside an equalities impact assessment, high level carbon assessment and an analytical report on the Impact the Cost of Living Crisis is having in Scotland. All of this material can be found online via the following link.
Scottish Budget - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The fiscal position remains challenging; however, the development of our transformation plans for the NHS Genetic Laboratories and Genomics Strategy is ongoing.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for the Scottish Child Payment have been delayed, and, of these, how many applicants (a) received bridging payments in December 2022 and (b) are new applicants.
Answer
Social Security Scotland works to progress applications as quickly as possible.
Decisions for the majority of people who applied for Scottish Child Payment, or added additional children to their award, between 14 November and 31 December 2022 have now been issued and this will be reported on in the next round of statistics. As previously announced, all successful awards will be backdated to the date that the application was received.
Around 143,000 school age children benefitted from the Winter 2022 Bridging Payment of £260, with over £37.1 million of payments awarded to families. We do not hold information on the number of people who applied for Scottish Child Payment who also received Bridging Payments.
The latest available information on new applications for Scottish Child Payment is contained in the most recent official statistics release, covering the period to 31 December 2022 - https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/scottish-child-payment-high-level-statistics-to-31-december-2022 .
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether all Scottish Child Payment applicants will receive their payments by the end of February 2023.
Answer
Social Security Scotland received 91,225 new applications for Scottish Child Payment between 14 November and 31 December 2022. This does not include applications from existing clients looking to add additional children to their current award.
The majority of people who applied or added additional children to their existing award during this period have now received a decision. People who made new applications and received an award decision received their payment by the end of February. For people who were adding additional children, payments will follow their existing payment cycle.
Where someone applied for Scottish Child Payment before 31 December 2022 and has not received a decision, this is because additional information or evidence is required to process their application. Social Security Scotland has been in contact with everyone in this situation.
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is (a) in the Scottish Borders and (b) nationally for rheumatology patients to receive treatment by homecare medicines services.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
Statistics on rheumatology patients waiting to receive treatment by homecare medicines services are also not held by Public Health Scotland (PHS). More detailed information on the treatment or procedure(s) that is planned or undertaken for a patient will be held locally by NHS Boards.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-13436 by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023, what the membership of the Joint Working Group is.
Answer
The Joint Working Group membership includes the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party, and COSLA.
The core membership of the group is:
- Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth
- Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights
- Minister for Social Security and Local Government
- COSLA President – Cllr Shona Morrison
- COSLA Vice-President – Cllr Steven Heddle
- COSLA Resources Spokesperson – Cllr Katie Hagmann
- Representative from Local Authority Directors of Finance
- Representative from Institute of Revenue Rating and Valuation Representative
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for social security benefits have been on behalf of (a) couples and (b) individuals in each year since 2018.
Answer
Social Security Scotland routinely produces information at application level and not by household type, such as on behalf of couples or individuals.
Information relating to applications received for benefits is routinely published by Social Security Scotland as part of Official Statistics releases and includes both monthly and financial year breakdowns of data.
These statistics are available at https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/about/statistics/social-security-scotland-statistics-publications .
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS boards to identify and deliver sustainable new uses for historic NHS-owned properties that are currently on the Buildings at Risk Register.
Answer
We are fully supportive of the need to properly maintain and invest in our existing estate. This is why we are committed to doubling our annual funding for maintenance over the capital spending review period. This means that we will invest around £1 billion in enhancing or refurbishing existing health facilities, and updating and modernising medical equipment that is essential for delivering high quality medical services. However, it is for NHS Boards locally, to determine how that resource will be invested and it is for them to decide how they will manage property on the Buildings at Risk Register.
The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland. This support allows Historic Environment Scotland to publish advice and guidance on its website which enables the owners of traditional and historic properties in Scotland to make informed choices about the options available to them.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on administering the SME Loan Scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Government has spent £292,985 (inc vat) on administering the SME Loan and Grant Scheme over the period 2019-20 – 2022-23 as set out in the following table. This scheme has provided significant financial support to SMEs in Scotland to decarbonise, improve their energy efficiency, cut energy bills and become more economically competitive over the Scheme’s lifespan.
2019-2020 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
£57,062 (inc vat) | £67,126 (inc vat) | £ 100,494 (inc vat) | £ 68,303 (inc vat) |
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what the current average distance is that patients have to travel to access a dentist in the NHS (a) Highland and (b) Western Isles area.
Answer
This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. NHS dental services are provided by independent contractors/high street dentists and any management information on waiting times will be held by each practice. There is no central consolidation of this information.
- Asked by: Sharon Dowey, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns regarding the health and safety of workers and poor environmental management practices in connection with allegations that Scottish Power has used diesel generators to power 71 wind turbines after a fault developed.
Answer
The rules and regulations that govern the resilience of the GB electricity grid are a matter entirely reserved to the UK Government.
The Scottish Government has no responsibility in relation to the operational management of wind farm sites.
Scottish Power Renewables have told Scottish Government officials that their management systems are accredited to ISO standards and that they have established a working group to consider alternatives to diesel.
