Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20607 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Public Appointments Centre of Expertise are currently considering options on raising awareness of diversity issues by delivering training to selection panel members on unconscious bias. This is part of the on-going continuous improvement work currently underway as part of the programme of activity being developed by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board and stakeholders.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20617 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at;

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Awareness raising work and its impact on increasing diversity on public boards is being considered as part of the programme of activity being developed by the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme board. Options for this will be considered in conjunction with specific stakeholder advisory panels as these are developed by the programme board.

The Scottish Government is committed to understanding the experience of applicants for public appointments, and to using different application and selection methods to enhance the diversity of our public bodies.

We have fully supported and worked in collaboration with the Commission for Ethical Standards in Public life in Scotland on the content of the questionnaire about applicants experience in 2012 and 2013. This research has been published and can be found on the: Commission for Ethical Standards and Public Life in Scotland website.

The Scottish Government’s Public Appointments Centre of Expertise have used the applicant research to inform actions on our continuous improvement agenda. This includes a project on improving the applicant tracking system, making it simpler for applicants to apply online, improving the quality and availability of feedback offered to applicants and the use of social media to publicise appointments.

We will also use the research to understand more fully how applicants view different application and selection methods. No other formal evaluation has been carried out in addition to the 2012 and 2013 surveys. However the 2013 survey has shown significant improvements from 2012 in the views of applicants about almost all aspects of the process. This includes improvements in applicant experience of the application and selection processes. Applicants have also reported that they feel feedback and the overall experience has improved. There is still work to be done and we will use the research to inform our future improvement work.

The Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 detail circumstances where a family member may provide support. There are two exceptions to this family members rule:

a) Where the local authority determines that either the family member or the direct payment user is under undue pressure to agree to a family member providing support and;

b) Where the family member is a guardian, continuing attorney or welfare attorney with power to make decisions as regards the support to be provided through a direct payment

The second restriction was proposed during the consultation on the draft regulations.

There are no immediate plans to amend this set of regulations, however the Scottish Government, in partnership with organisations, is carrying out on-going monitoring and evaluation during the first year of implementation of the Self-directed Support legislation.

As part of this monitoring I have asked my officials to discuss this particular issue with PAMIS and Alzheimer Scotland.

At the time of temporarily putting on hold the affordable warmth scheme, there were 181 customers who were waiting for a referral. Those customers have all been contacted by Home Energy Scotland and advised that the scheme has been put on hold. Those customers have also been given advice on any other schemes for which they may be eligible.

The Scottish Government is clarifying with obligated energy companies what they are willing to offer under the affordable warmth scheme in light of the changes the UK Government proposes to make to the Energy Company Obligation. We hope to re-open the Scheme to referrals in May 2014.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20560 on 29 April 2014. People who have already been referred to energy companies for an installation under the affordable warmth scheme are not affected. People whose referral was in preparation when the scheme was paused have been contacted by Home Energy Scotland.

People calling Home Energy Scotland since the scheme has been paused, and who may be eligible for assistance, can leave their details with Home Energy Scotland. Home Energy Scotland will keep in touch with them and will let them know of any developments on the affordable warmth scheme or of any other assistance from which they may benefit.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.