- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold discussions with the UK Border Agency regarding the ending of its contract with Glasgow City Council for asylum seekers in light of the impact on services in Glasgow.
Answer
The ending of the contract is a matter between the UK Border Agency and Glasgow City Council. However, the Scottish Government is clear that asylum seekers dispersed to Scotland are treated fairly and humanely and whilst they are in Scotland must be welcomed and supported.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 19 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with the voluntary sector the implications on that sector of the UK Government’s proposal to require recipients of benefits to work unpaid as a condition of continuing to receive benefits.
Answer
We intend that such discussions should take place. A meeting with relevant officials will be taken forward.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to discuss with COSLA the UK Government’s proposals for the localisation of council tax benefits.
Answer
I intend to do so.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to discuss with the UK Government its proposals for the localisation of council tax benefits.
Answer
I intend to do so.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 11 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Permanence Orders were used in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009 and have been used in 2010.
Answer
The Children Looked After Statistics show that on both 31 March 2008 and 31 March 2009 there were four children subject to Permanence Orders.
However, as Permanence Orders came into effect on 28 September 2009, these figures, as reported by local authorities, are likely to be recording errors.
Statistics for 2009-10 will be published in February 2011.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36476 by John Swinney on 30 September 2010, whether a decision has been taken on providing an analysis of the implementation of the 2009-10 single outcome agreements.
Answer
No decision has yet been made.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 9 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36795 by Alex Neil on 27 October 2010, whether it will contribute to the independent review by Professor Michael Harrington to scrutinise the assessment process.
Answer
The call for evidence for the independent review of the Department for Work and Pensions'' Work Capability Assessment, being carried out by Professor Malcolm Harrington, ended on 10 September 2010. The Scottish Government did not make a submission. Its report is anticipated to be published in December 2010. We will give due consideration to the conclusions of the review once these are known.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 8 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland regarding changes to the role of the organisation proposed by the UK Government.
Answer
The future role and function of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is a reserved matter. Officials from the UK Government Equality Office have been in contact with Scottish Government officials and I am writing to Lynne Featherstone MP, Minister for Equalities, to emphasise the importance of consultation on any proposed changes.
Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, and the announcement of changes to the future role and function of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland has been raised.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 8 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Work and Pensions regarding the UK Government’s proposal of a £500-per-week cap on state benefits.
Answer
The Minister for Schools and Skills, Councillor Harry McGuigan, representing COSLA, and I met with Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment in the UK Government on 28 October 2010. Discussion covered a range of welfare reform issues.
Given the impact of the proposed benefit changes on Scottish people and devolved services at all levels it is crucial that the Scottish Government has a formal role in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) policy formulation. We will therefore pursue our commitment to meet regularly on a tri-partite basis to make representations to the DWP to ensure that the needs of Scotland are fully considered including the proposed weekly benefits cap of £500 for an adult couple or lone parent household.
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 8 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will have a role in administering the UK Government’s proposed cap of £500 per week on state benefits.
Answer
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) anticipate that in the first instance the proposed cap is likely to be delivered by local authorities through housing benefit payments. In the longer term the cap will be administered as part of the new universal credit system.
It is clear that the proposed changes in the welfare regime will place additional pressure on devolved services like health, housing and social care, many of which are delivered by local authorities and it is important that the Scottish Government and COSLA are involved in DWP policy development. To that end, we intend that these will be the subject of regular discussions with the DWP and COSLA and the administration of the benefits cap will be an important consideration.
