Chamber and committees

Official statistics on the number of Best Start Grant applications received from people with non-Scottish postcodes to 28 February 2019, and the number of these applications that were processed, are available at: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/SocialSecurityforScotland/BSGFeb2019 . All applications received by Social Security Scotland are processed, to determine whether they will be authorised or denied. We do not hold information on the number of staffing hours spent processing applications with non-Scottish postcodes.

88 directly employed staff in the Programme Management and Delivery division recorded a short term sick absence during the year 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

10 directly employed staff in the Programme Management and Delivery division recorded a long term sick absence during the year 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

The Scottish Government will pay for the costs incurred for delivery of welfare foods under agency agreement with Department of Health and Social Care. The costs for financial year 2019-20 are estimated to be in the region of £45,000.

The Prior Information Notice (PIN) published on 3 April alerted interested parties to the Scottish Government's intention to establish an Advocacy Service for the Scottish Social Security system. Alongside the PIN, the Scottish Government published a "Request For Information" (RFI). The RFI sought information from the advocacy sector around contract options, capacity and outcomes to enable the SG to develop a suitable procurement strategy. Services were able to ask for further information and seek clarity while the RFI was open.

Officials have also been working with advocacy and other third sector organisations around the development of the advocacy service standards required by the Act. At meetings with these organisations, officials outlined the procurement options being considered.

Ten third sector organisations responded to the prior information notice/request for information. The number of bodies requesting information cannot be given as the Public Contracts Scotland portal anonymises questions.

Reporting and operating arrangements would be agreed with the contractor or contractors as part of any procurement process.

The £10 million capital funding in the 2019-20 Social Security Directorate budget is allocated to the development of IT systems.

Any procurement process would require bidders to indicate capacity to provide advocacy support and to demonstrate how they would intend to recruit and train staff. This would be assessed as part of tender evaluation.

Yes.

Social Security officials have liaised with colleagues responsible for the development and introduction of Children's Hearing advocacy services and shared knowledge and experience where this was relevant.