Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-15425

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 18 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, whether a resolution with UK Government officials regarding the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit will be reflected in universal credit calculations by the end of June 2017.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15424 on 18 April 2018. The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government to understand the impact on households across the income distribution of the combined income tax and UC policies before deciding what action, if any, is taken. UC computations are carried out by DWP and the power to change these is reserved to the UK Government.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S5W-15428

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14366 by Derek Mackay on 20 February 2018, how much of the net benefit of the starter rate of income tax will an individual (a) receive and (b) lose due to the complex interaction between Scottish income tax policy and entitlement to universal credit.

Question reference: S5W-15747

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were counted when calculating the £152,210.25 gain that is referred to in the document, “You’ve Earned It” Benefit Uptake Campaign – October 2017 Evaluation Report.

The Client Financial Gain figure is based on awards to 66 individuals.

The Client Financial Gain figure is based on confirmed awards for individuals who engaged with a Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB), either in person or by phone, and who referenced campaign activity as the reason for their initial engagement.

The figure is only completely confirmed awards and is not based on any extrapolation. That is because CAB advisers only record a gain once the client has confirmed the award directly with them. The actual figure therefore is likely to be more as it does not include awards to people who engaged with a Citizens Advice Bureau due to the campaign but didn't go back to CAB to confirm an award was successful. It is also expected to increase as CAB advise that it can take many weeks or even months to go through the process following a CAB intervention, and they only record a gain once the client has confirmed the award.

Question reference: S5W-15748

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the figures that it used to calculate the £152,210.25 gain that is referred to in the document, “You’ve Earned It” Benefit Uptake Campaign – October 2017 Evaluation Report.

Question reference: S5W-15746

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £152,210.25 gain that is referred to in the document, “You’ve Earned It” Benefit Uptake Campaign – October 2017 Evaluation Report, represents the total gain to date or is the annual gain based on awards.

The figures used to calculate the Client Financial Gain are calculated relevant to the length of the award. In some cases these are one-off payments. When awards are for on-going benefits these have been calculated up to a maximum of 52 weeks.

The Client Financial Gain figure is based on confirmed awards for individuals who engaged with a Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), either in person or by phone, and who referenced campaign activity as the reason for their initial engagement.

The figure is only completely confirmed awards and is not based on any extrapolation. That is because CAB advisers only record a gain once the client has confirmed the award direct with them.

The actual figure therefore is likely to be more as it does not include awards to people who engaged with the Citizens Advice Service due to the campaign but didn't go back to the service to confirm an award was successful. It is also expected to increase as CAB advise that it can take many weeks or even months to go through the process following a CAB intervention, and they only record a gain once the client has confirmed the award.

Question reference: S5W-15588

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 12 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14564 by Jeane Freeman on 6 March 2018, which other DWP technology platforms and systems the Social Security Programme Board has (a) considered and (b) approved the re-use of.

Question reference: S5W-15421

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the net benefit of its starter rate of income tax will have on an eligible claims for council tax reduction.

All applicants to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme have their circumstances and income assessed in line with the Regulations setting out the scheme. Those who are receiving specified benefits receive a full reduction in their council tax liability, and pay no council tax. Those who are not receiving specified benefits will continue to have their income assessed against their household circumstances. If their income is beyond that assessed as necessary for their household under the current Regulations they are required to contribute 20% of any excess income towards paying their council tax. The Scottish Government will continue to proactively amend the Council Tax Reduction scheme where evidence indicates any element of its impact or operation is unsatisfactory.

Question reference: S5W-15420

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 19 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 April 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether the net benefit of its starter rate of income tax will be treated as additional income for the purposes of council tax reduction.

All applicants to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme have their circumstances and income assessed in line with the Regulations setting out the scheme. Those who are receiving specified benefits receive a full reduction in their council tax liability, and pay no council tax. Those who are not receiving specified benefits will continue to have their income assessed against their household circumstances. If their income is beyond that assessed as necessary for their household under the current Regulations they are required to contribute 20% of any excess income towards paying their council tax. The Scottish Government will continue to proactively amend the Council Tax Reduction scheme where evidence indicates any element of its impact or operation is unsatisfactory.

Question reference: S5W-15279

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 29 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13733 by Aileen Campbell on 18 January 2018, how much funding has been made available for a welfare advice service facilitator in 2018-19.

Question reference: S5W-15278

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 28 March 2018

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13733 by Aileen Campbell on 18 January 2018, when it will publish the findings of the welfare advice service facilitator.

The report 'Forecast Social Return on Investment Analysis on the Co-location of Advice Workers with Consensual Access to Individual Medical Records in Medical Practices' was published in 2017 and is available on the Improvement Service website.

http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/documents/money_advice/SROI-co-location-advice-workers.pdf

The Scottish Government do not have any plans for further reporting at this time.

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