Chamber and committees

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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2258 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S5W-08884

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 3 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its long-term strategy is with regard to 18- to 21-year-olds having access to housing benefit.

We remain disappointed that the UK Government have refused to agree an approach that would have avoided housing benefit being withdrawn from young people in Scotland.

We continue to seek a solution that will allow all 18-21 year olds to receive housing costs through Universal Credit subject to the same criteria and eligibility as claimants aged 22 and over and will raise this issue with the incoming UK Government after the election period.

In the interim we will monitor the impact of the regulations in Scotland, and continue to work with local authorities to ensure those young people who will be excluded from financial support by the UK Government will still be able to receive assistance with housing costs through the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Question reference: S5W-08883

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2017
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2017

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its research into barriers to engagement and the role of community councils in planning.

Question reference: S5O-00880

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 April 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to automating some benefits, such as school clothing grants, free school meals and the educational maintenance allowance, to increase the uptake by those most in need.

Question reference: S5O-00848

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending child fares to the age of 18 for all forms public transport.

Question reference: S5O-00812

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the impact that welfare reforms have had on access to free school meals.

Question reference: S5W-07681

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 16 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the proposed introduction of a young carer's allowance.

The Scottish Government is aware that young carers face challenges to their health and well-being, and many are unable to access opportunities that are available for other young people. That is why we committed to considering the introduction of a Young Carer’s Allowance to provide extra support for young people with significant caring responsibilities. We have set up the Young Carers Allowance Working Group, which consists of key individuals from organisations such as the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance, the Scottish Young Parliament and Carers Trust. The Group are developing options for a package of financial and enhanced non-financial support to help young carers. We also received a number of responses from young carers, and the organisations that represent them, during the social security consultation, which we are carefully considering to determine the right package of additional support young carers need.

Question reference: S5W-07724

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) the UK Government regarding legislation to prevent ticket touting.

The Scottish Government fully appreciate the concerns expressed about the deliberate resale of tickets for profit, known as “touting” and recognise that some events do sell out quickly and ticket touts or online sellers take the opportunity to sell tickets at significantly higher prices.

Powers in relation to secondary ticketing are reserved to Westminster and we cannot bring forward any legislation in this area under the current constitutional arrangements. I welcome the amendment that the UK Government is proposing to the Digital Services Bill in relation to ticketing bots. The UK Government’s response to Professor Waterson’s report into secondary ticketing has now been issued. We are giving careful consideration to the proposals on how to deal with secondary ticketing and in particular on how any issues relating to Scotland can be dealt with successfully. My officials are continuing to keep in touch with officials in Whitehall on this to ensure a positive outcome for Scottish consumers.

Question reference: S5W-07677

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will ensure that a higher proportion of assessment reports for claimants of disability benefits are carried out by qualified doctors.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a social security system that is founded on dignity and respect. Throughout the consultation we heard many issues around how the assessment process works, including concerns raised about who is delivering assessments and the level of qualification, training and specialism assessors have. We are committed to designing an assessment process which prioritises the needs of the person with disabilities – not the needs of those delivering the assessment. The Disability and Carers’ Benefits Expert Advisory Group will provide recommendations and guidance on how the assessment process should work, including who should be delivering assessments. The Experience Panels will also explore this important issue, ensuring that the people who use the system are fully involved in developing the new Scottish assessments.

Question reference: S5W-07682

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will ensure that claimants with (a) speech and (b) hearing problems have greater flexibility in the format of assessment for applying for disability benefits.

Yes we are committed to ensuring that Scotland’s social security is designed with and around the people who use it and that it is accessible to everyone, including those with different speech and hearing requirements. To achieve this we are continuing our extensive collaboration with people and organisations to develop an inclusive system that has dignity and respect at its core. I recently launched the social security experience panels. This is an ambitious programme that will see us work in formal partnership with at least 2000 individuals who have direct experience of the current system to design, build and refine a new and better model.

Question reference: S5W-07679

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 March 2017

To ask the Scottish Government whether its new social security system will allow high-grade brain tumour patients with a terminal prognosis of fewer than six months to be exempted from assessments.

We said in our consultation on social security that as a minimum we will replicate the current special rules for people with terminal illnesses which establish an urgent approach to providing benefits without the need for the standard assessment process. I am happy to confirm that when the powers for disability benefits transfer to the Scottish Parliament, we will ensure a fast track system is in place for people who are terminally ill, including high-grade brain tumour patients with a terminal prognosis of fewer than six months, so that those payments get to the person as soon as possible.