Questions and answers

Question reference: S5W-31860

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 October 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government consultation on changes to the Human Medicine Regulations to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, and whether it will publish any representation it has made to the Department of Health and Social Care on this matter.

Licensing of medicines, as set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, is reserved to the UK Government. It would be preferable if any medicine that was to be deployed for use was subject to full licensing. However, the Scottish Government makes decisions on immunisations informed by the independent scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations. If their recommendation was that any vaccine was safe and effective, it is important UK legislation allows for it to be deployed as quickly as possible.

The proposed changes include provision for a wider range of persons to be permitted to administer some vaccines, to be set out via a protocol to be approved by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government welcomes these proposals which offer scope to support both the expansion of the seasonal flu vaccination programme and delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine, in the event that a safe and effective vaccine is found.

The Scottish Government officials have liaised with their UK Government counterparts to seek information about the proposed changes.

Question reference: S5W-31916

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what protections it is putting in place to ensure that the Best Start Grant and Scottish Child Payment Invitation to Apply system is not targeted by scammers or phishing schemes.

Invitations to Apply for benefits take the form of letters from Social Security Scotland. These letters notify clients that they may be eligible for a benefit and ask them to apply through one of our existing secure application channels. Social Security Scotland communications are clear that these are the only official contact points for clients, including that they would never ask for personal or financial details on social media, by SMS or by web chat. As part of our continuous improvement work these letters will be kept under review and wording tested with users.

Question reference: S5W-31896

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Office of the Public Guardian will accept an Access to Funds procedure application for adults with incapacity who are unable to access a matured Child Trust Fund.

Question reference: S5W-31835

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Advisory Group last met, and whether the published minutes for the group are up to date.

The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Advisory Group last met in December 2017. Minutes for this meeting and previous meetings of the Advisory Group can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.scot/groups/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-advisory-group/#:~:text=The%20Industrial%20Injuries%20Disablement%20Benefit%
20%28IIDB%29%20Advisory%20Group,the%20Scottish%20Government%
20and%20UK%20Government%20policy%20landscapes

Question reference: S5W-31834

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28018 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 30 March 2020, when the consultation will begin.

Question reference: S5O-04633

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2020

To ask the Scottish Government how its planned disability assistance benefits will support people experiencing the long-term health impacts of COVID-19.

Question reference: S5W-31337

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of payments starting by the end of February 2021, what its expenditure on the Scottish Child Payment will be in 2020-21, and how many children will be eligible.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) will publish an updated forecast of how many children they expect will be eligible and expenditure when the Scottish Child Payment Regulations are laid in parliament in September. The update will account for payments starting from the end of February 2021 and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of COVID-19, the SFC expect there to be more eligible children than previously projected due to the increase in numbers of families applying for qualifying benefits, such as Universal Credit.

As a demand led benefit, the Scottish Government guarantees that all those who are eligible and apply for the payment will receive their entitlement.

Question reference: S5W-31338

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 21 August 2020
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin sending Scottish Child Payment Invitation to Apply letters, in light of applications opening in November 2020 and payments starting by the end of February 2021.

The launch of the Scottish Child Payment will be supported by a communications and marketing campaign outlining the early application approach. Once Scottish Child Payments start to be made from the end of February, Social Security Scotland will begin the next phase of that campaign promoting all Best Start benefits and the Scottish Child Payment. All communications and marketing activity will build upon what we have learned through the promotion of Best Start payments and wider benefit take up activity.

We will continue to review take up of the Scottish Child Payment and consider what other measures will be needed and when, including invitation to apply, following go-live of the benefit.

Question reference: S5W-31019

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what financial support it is providing for wedding venues and wider wedding industry.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of marriage and civil partnership to couples and to society more widely. Whilst our priority is public health, we know that the sector has been hit hard and we do not underestimate the crisis created by the pandemic.

The Scottish Government continues to listen to concerns from businesses as we explore how to continue to help during this unprecedented economic crisis. Officials met with representatives from the Association of British Wedding Businesses on 4 August 2020 to hear their concerns and we will consider next steps.

Our total package of support now totals over £2.3 billion.

Depending on the specific business type within the weddings sector, there have been a range of support mechanisms available. Businesses in this sector may have already been able to benefit from:

Rates relief
Associated grants of £10k or £25k.
£30 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Fund
£120 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund
Bounce back loan scheme
CoronaVirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Job Retention Scheme

The Scottish Government will explore options for further support for sectors that that have not to date been able to access sufficient support, for whatever reason. This includes continuing to press the UK Government on this matter.

Question reference: S5W-31016

Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 July 2020
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 27 August 2020

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the wedding industry regarding the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown to avoid a wave of cancellations.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of marriage and civil partnership to couples and to society more widely. Whilst our priority is public health, we know that the sector has been hit hard and we do not underestimate the crisis created by the pandemic.

The Scottish Government continues to listen to concerns from businesses as we explore how to continue to help during this unprecedented economic crisis. Officials met with representatives from the Association of British Wedding Businesses on 4 August 2020 to hear their concerns and we will consider next steps.

Our total package of support now totals over £2.3 billion.

Depending on the specific business type within the weddings sector, there have been a range of support mechanisms available. Businesses in this sector may have already been able to benefit from:

Rates relief
Associated grants of £10k or £25k.
£30 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Fund
£120 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund
Bounce back loan scheme
CoronaVirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Job Retention Scheme

The Scottish Government will explore options for further support for sectors that that have not to date been able to access sufficient support, for whatever reason. This includes continuing to press the UK Government on this matter.

Chamber and committees