Chamber and committees

Personal independence payment appeals are currently conducted by HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) and are subject to their equality and diversity policies. The Scottish Government welcomes any operational steps taken by HMCTS to promote inclusive communication during, and beyond, the COVID-19 crisis.

When the SCTS assumes responsibility for Personal Independent Payment appeals, it will be a matter for the Chamber President, in consultation with SCTS, to decide upon the most appropriate methods to ensure inclusive communications in line with this commitment. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) is committed to developing a culture where equality and diversity are firmly established.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-30113 on 15 July 2020. 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 .

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have provided the Scottish Government with management information that shows Universal Credit declarations to 4 April 2020 broken down by the following household characteristics: (a) restricted ability to work, (b) fit note, (c) employment status, (d) housing status, (e) children, (f) couples, (g) initial claims, (h) work group and (i) ID verification on the day of declaration. This information is available at Great Britain level only and it has not been updated.

Since the start of lockdown restrictions to date (23 March 2020 to 26 June 2020), 17 interim workers have been assigned to the Scottish Government under the Framework Agreement for Interim Professional Staff Services - National. The cost of using the framework over this period was £10,387. This is the total commission rate charged by the suppliers to provide these workers during this period. It does not include their pay. Where these assignments continue beyond 26 June we will continue to be charged a daily commission rate and so this figure will increase until the assignments come to an end.

Due to the range and complexity of post specific and larger scale external recruitment rounds, we do not have an average cost to recruit externally across all recruitments. The average cost to recruit a candidate calculated for a large scale external campaign completed in 2018 was £744 (this includes advertising, outreach and assessments, but excludes internal Scottish Government staff costs associated with interviewing and general administration).

We recognise that rehabilitation is critical to ensuring people are appropriately supported during their recovery from the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Chief Scientist Office has commissioned a number of rapid research studies on coronavirus (COVID-19) that include how to support people afterwards and during rehabilitation, and the longer term effects of the virus. Further information is available at: https://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/rarc19projects/ .

Scotland also contributes to the National Institute for Health Research that is undertaking coronavirus (COVID-19) studies ( https://www.nihr.ac.uk/covid-studies/ ).

This research, and emerging evidence globally, is informing the likely long term psychological and physical effects of the pandemic across Scotland but the clinical findings and our knowledge are continually evolving.

The Health Secretary has commissioned a framework on recovery and rehabilitation from coronavirus (COVID-19) that will encompass different ways that people have been affected by the virus and the public health measures put in place to save lives and protect the NHS during lockdown.

A strategic leadership group led by the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer is undertaking this activity, which will provide clear principles, priorities and objectives to support planning to meet increasing demand and to provide high quality person-centred rehabilitation in different settings.

The Scottish Government was made aware of Momentums intention to cease operations on Fair Start Scotland in April 2020. Since then the Scottish Government has worked closely with Momentum to ensure there is no disruption to service delivery, both in terms of participants and Momentum staff where possible, as it is important to retain their expertise in employability support.

The Scottish Governments main priority is to ensure staff working on Fair Start Scotland are retained where possible, as their skills and expertise are essential in meeting the current demand for increased support in the employability market.

In this situation, Start Scotland have agreed that TUPE regulations apply and have taken action to transfer all relevant staff over, where staff choose to do so.

In the event of a prime delivery partner ceasing operations on Fair Start Scotland, the Scottish Governments main priorities are to ensure continuity of the service with minimal impact on its participants, and to protect delivery partner staff where possible.

In this event, a novation agreement has been signed between Momentum and Start Scotland – prime delivery partner in the East and South West of Scotland, who will take over operations from Momentum in the North East.

Under the terms of the contract novation from Momentum, Start Scotland have agreed that TUPE regulations apply and have taken action to transfer all relevant staff over, where staff choose to do so.

The undertaking of this process is a matter between Momentum and Start Scotland.