Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government intends to engage with local authorities and other relevant organisations in order to explore what action might be necessary to refine the suite of safeguards currently in place for children participating in performances. Recent developments elsewhere in the UK, including the publication of guidance regarding the use of “body of persons” approvals, will be considered as part of this activity.

No such guidance has been issued to local authorities or amateur groups.

The block grant which the Scottish Government provides to Scotland’s local authorities includes funding for kinship care. The block grant is allocated to individual local authorities using a formula based on the relative need of each local authority. This formula has been developed over a number of years in consultation with local government.

Financial and non-financial support to kinship carers is provided by a number of organisations already. The need for further specific support is being reviewed and a decision on this will be made in due course.

The level of kinship care payments are the responsibility of local authorities, who are best placed to determine local need. The Scottish Government recognises progress so far on delivering kinship care payments and we are committed to working with local authorities to ensure that kinship carers receive the support they need.

The Scottish Government made a commitment in 2007 to recognise kinship carers for the first time. This was recognised through subsequent legislation and specific additional funding to local authorities, set out in previous Budget agreements. Funding for kinship care allowances is now rolled-up in the general local government grant. It is therefore a matter for local authorities to allocate their total resources available having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

The vast majority of the funding provided to local government by the Scottish Government, including the funding for kinship care allowances, is provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

Guaranteed pension credit is not included as a qualifying criteria for free school meals. In Scotland, our approach is to use other qualifying criteria, such as maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit. Over the past two years, as a result of the extended national eligibility and targeted local initiatives, 29,301 (or 28.7%) more pupils have registered to receive a nutritious free meal at school. Additionally, local authorities are encouraged to target their resources to the benefit children and families most in need using the legislative powers that exist, and this may include the provision of free food and drink in schools.

No. The Scottish Government is stepping back from ring fencing, giving councils more freedom and flexibility in allocating their resources as they best see fit.

Scottish Government officials have met and discussed the issue of benefit eligibility and the impact of kinship care allowances on this on a number of occasions since the policy was introduced. Further discussions will be undertaken as part of the wider welfare reform agenda by the UK Government.