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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-15714

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the average administration cost per payment of the Scottish Child Payment has been to date, including both start-up costs and ongoing costs of administration.

As Social Security Scotland staff and systems are organised to provide more than one form of assistance, it is not possible to separately identify the cost of Scottish Child Payment administration.

In November 2022 the Scottish Child Payment was increased from £20 to £25 and extended to under 16s providing support to thousands of low income households.

The Scottish Government expect to spend £442 million on directly tackling child poverty through the Scottish Child Payment during 2023-24, this is significantly more than the £226 million expected to be spent in 2022-23.

Question reference: S6W-15713

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what the administration cost has been to date of delivering the (a) Social Security Scotland agency and (b) Scottish Child Payment.

Social Security Scotland’s administration costs are published in our Annual Report and Accounts . This document is laid before the Scottish Parliament annually.

Since 2018 our Annual Report and Accounts have recorded administration costs of:

2018-2019 - £12.8 million (part year)

2019-2020 - £36.0 million

2020-2021 - £130.3 million

2021-2022 - £194.9 million

These figures are the total cost of the organisation, which includes the cost of administering the Scottish Child Payment.

As Social Security Scotland staff and systems are organised to provide more than one form of assistance, it is not possible to separately identify the cost of Scottish Child Payment administration.

Question reference: S6W-15497

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Golden Jubilee regarding the use of the hotel to generate income.

Question reference: S6W-15352

Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many people have accessed the Home2Fit online accessible housing database in each year since it was established.

Question reference: S6W-15101

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was consulted on any implications for competition in the waste collection market arising from the Deposit Return Scheme, including the appointment of a single waste collection provider under the scheme, and whether the CMA has (a) raised questions and (b) offered advice in relation to any such matter.

Question reference: S6W-15092

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 February 2023
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether any exclusive rights have been conferred on Circularity Scotland in relation to the collection of deposit return materials from (a) public and (b) private sector sites.

Question reference: S6W-15814

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Elena Whitham on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government, as it relates to Scotland, regarding the appointment of an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, in light of the post having been vacant since April 2022.

The Scottish Government has regular communication with the UK Government on a range of issues relating to human trafficking and exploitation, including the vacant role of Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Section 40 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out that the Secretary of State must appoint an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

While we understand that a second appointment round is now underway, the delay in replacing the former Commissioner is unacceptable at a time of UK Government legislation which seeks to prohibit access to vital support and assistance for victims of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-15715

Asked by: Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the anticipated date is for the completion of the full roll-out of the Scottish Child Payment.

Question reference: S6W-15693

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when its ministers last met UK ministers to discuss issues surrounding loss and damage.

The Scottish Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development met with the UK Minister for Development and Africa on 15 March, where they discussed a number of key international development issues including climate justice. In particular, in relation to loss and damage, the Bridgetown Initiative and the Scottish Government’s recently published report , Practical Action for Addressing Loss and Damage were covered. Additionally, Scottish Government officials meet on a semi-regular basis with UK Government officials to discuss international climate change matters, including loss and damage.

Question reference: S6W-15692

Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2023
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 20 March 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the tender awards for the Climate Just Communities programme, and what percentage of the £36 million Climate Justice Fund will go towards this initiative.

The Scottish Government thanks all those who submitted proposals in response to the Climate Just Communities invitation to tender. The Scottish Government anticipates announcing the contract winner early into next financial year.

Up to £24 million will be awarded from the Climate Justice Fund (CJF) to the Climate Just Communities programme, making it the largest programme launched under the CJF. This will be split across the three countries of Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia through three separate contracts equalling up to £8 million each over 3 years.