- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 15 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how the new GP contract has taken account of the preferred model for delivery of the new social security agency.
Answer
The new GP contract is agreed through a process of bilateral discussion between the Scottish General Practitioners Committee and the Scottish Government. These negotiations are commercially sensitive and details will be published once they have concluded.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 11 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government to ask how many 16- to 24-year-olds who had been unemployed for six months or more have moved into work since September 2016.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
The Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics, and held by the Scottish Government, is the official source of information for unemployment (based on International Labour Organisation Definitions) amongst 16 to 24 year olds. However this measures economic status (employment, unemployment or inactivity) at a point in time and does not measure flows of individuals between categories of economic activity over time.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 11 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed with the Department for Work and Pensions bringing forward winter fuel payments for 2017-18 to support older people who use off-grid energy and, if so, what the outcome was.
Answer
The administrative lead-in time for arranging each year’s winter fuel payments by the Department of Work and Pensions is around 18 months and therefore any changes have to be arranged far in advance. Furthermore, UK Government regulations, to commence the relevant section of the 2016 Scotland Act, have yet to come into effect. As a result payments will not be brought forward for 2017-18.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when it will cease its engagement with Atos Healthcare.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not have any engagement with Atos Healthcare.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 10 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Transplant and Donation Group last met.
Answer
The Scottish Donation and Transplant Group last met on 8 March 2017.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Aileen Campbell on 10 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Transplant and Donation Group last discussed opt-out.
Answer
The Scottish Donation and Transplant Group last discussed opt out on 8 March 2017.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Jeane Freeman on 27 April 2017 (Official Report, c. 44), which of the 11 devolved benefits will not be delivered by the new social security agency.
Answer
As I said in my statement on 27 April 2017, Discretionary Housing Payments will continue to be delivered by local authorities. This benefit will not be delivered by the new social security agency.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the new social security agency offering a public services card similar to that used in Ireland for the delivery of services.
Answer
My announcement to Parliament on 27 April 2017 presented the high level delivery model for social security in Scotland. Within that delivery model there are a wide range of detailed design decisions to be made. We will consider a range of options as we endeavour to provide a more integrated service for the new social security agency. Our processes and services will be evidence based, we will examine with interest the Irish approach, amongst others, and work closely with our Experience Panels to design and deliver a system that works best for individuals in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 9 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, following the establishment of a social security agency, whether decisions made by social security agency staff will be taken on behalf of the Scottish ministers.
Answer
The social security agency will be an executive agency, which means that it will be an integral part of the Scottish Government. The staff, who will be civil servants, will be directly accountable to Ministers and will take decisions within a policy framework that is determined by Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 8 May 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what future engagements (a) ministers and (b) officials have with Atos Healthcare.
Answer
No future engagements with Atos Healthcare have been arranged or scheduled with either SG Officials or Scottish Ministers.