- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to (a) implement measures to make streets and pavements accessible for disabled people and (b) ensure there are lowered kerbs and correct tactile paving where needed.
Answer
Ensuring paths and pavements are clear and accessible for all’ is a key objective within our Accessible Travel Framework and a current priority in our Annual Delivery Plan . The Scottish Government continues to work collaboratively with a range of different organisations, including local authorities, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) and disabled people’s organisations, on improving accessibility of streetscapes.
In relation to use of dropped kerbs and tactile paving, the Scottish Government is currently developing co-produced guidance on inclusive design in town centres and busy street areas in Scotland. The guidance, which will soon go to public consultation, is aimed at project commissioners, designers and members of the public to support the inclusive design and engagement processes that deliver accessible town centre and busy street environments for everyone.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider the experience of asylum seekers in Glasgow hotels as being within the scope of the inquiry into the handling of COVID-19.
Answer
The terms of reference for the Scottish Covid-19 Public Inquiry task it with considering the strategic elements relating to 12 distinct areas of investigation. They do not name specific groups affected by the pandemic, ensuring that no groups’ experiences are excluded from the Inquiry’s remit, provided the experiences relate directly to the impact of devolved areas within the Inquiry’s scope.
It is a matter for the Chair of the Inquiry to decide how to investigate specific issues.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland)
Bill.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 10 March 2022
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the results of its monitoring and evaluation of the Winter Support Fund.
Answer
There is no single programme of monitoring and evaluation for the Winter Support Fund. Evaluations of the £25 million local authority flexible funding and £10 million Fuel Insecurity Fund will be published by summer 2022. We do not intend to publish an overarching evaluation of the funding awarded to third sector organisations.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the parameters and workstream details are for the programme of monitoring and evaluation of the Winter Support Fund.
Answer
The £25 million local authority flexible funding will be evaluated on the key activities delivered and key groups supported while the funding issued through the Fuel Insecurity Fund and to third sector organisations will be evaluated against the objectives and/or key performance indicators agreed with individual grant recipients.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether ScotRail Trains Ltd and ScotRail Holdings Ltd will fall within the scope of the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Answer
The Scottish Government considers that both Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd and ScotRail Trains Ltd should be subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty.
It is our intention for this requirement to be included in the governance arrangements for both organisations.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 2 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the last (a) regular Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare and (b) bilateral meeting between the Department for Work and Pensions and Scottish Ministers, took place.
Answer
The last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare took place on 2 November 2021. The last bilateral meeting was held between the Minister for Social Security and Local Government and UK Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work on 3 November 2021.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Clare Haughey on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address any pay disparities that exist for social workers in different local authorities, including differences in starting salaries.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of variations in social worker pay across different local authorities, both at recruitment stage and throughout their careers. Social workers primarily practice within, and are employed by local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for setting the terms and conditions and pay rates for the social workers they employ and this results in difference. One of the ambitions of the National Care Service (NCS) is to address this issue.
The Government proposals included within the NCS consultation would create a National Social Work Agency which would have oversight of pay and grading for social workers within a national framework. The consultation has concluded and Government decisions will be announced shortly.
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to prepare for refugees arriving in Scotland as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2022
- Asked by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 25 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland that Motability Operations is profiting from disabled people.
Answer
I met with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) on 25 January 2022. We share with MACS a concern to ensure the best service possible to disabled people and value for money for taxpayers. The Government has noted that Motability has committed to utilise their surplus profits for good causes, including a rebate to clients and future investment in greener vehicles. That is the right thing to do and we would urge Motability to ensure all those profits are used to benefit the public.
On disability benefits in Scotland, whilst Motability is currently the only provider accredited under the Accessible Vehicle and Equipment Scheme, we plan to begin work to re-open further accreditation rounds towards the end of this year. This will ensure we are doing all we can to encourage value and promote choice.