- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest time has been for a Scottish Welfare Fund application to be processed in the last year.
Answer
During 2018 the average (median) time taken for Scottish Welfare Fund applications to be processed was one working day for Community Care Grant (CCG) and the same working day for Crisis Grant.
We are unable to provide an accurate figure for the longest time, as we cannot distinguish between cases that are being processed and cases that have been closed and reopened. The most recent statistics on processing times are available in tables 8 to 11 of the official statistics publication “Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics: Update to 31 December 2018”, published at: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/swf/SWF31Dec2018 .
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 4 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the overtime rates are for (a) its and (b) Social Security Scotland's staff.
Answer
The staff below Senior Civil Service in Social Security Scotland are employed on Scottish Government Main (SGM) terms and conditions. The overtime rates in SGM are detailed in the following table. Staff in the Senior Civil Service are not entitled to claim overtime.
Overtime Rates | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Public Holiday | Privilege Holiday |
Staff in Band A | Time+½ | Double Time | Double Time | Plain Time + TOIL (Double Time if TOIL not available) | TOIL (Plain Time if TOIL not available) |
Staff in Bands B & C | Plain Time | Time+½ | Double Time | Plain Time + TOIL (Double Time if TOIL not available) | TOIL (Plain Time if TOIL not available) |
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 4 June 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of nitrites in school meals.
Answer
We are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our children and young people and recognise the key role schools have by providing healthy, balanced and nutritious food and drink.
In 2018 we consulted on proposals put forward by a scientific technical working group which reflected latest scientific evidence and dietary advice to make school food and drink even healthier. This included a proposal to introduce a maximum level of red and red processed meat served in schools.
The Scottish Government will be publishing the consultation report and detail on the changes to be made to the school food and drink Regulations, including action on red processed meat before the end of the June.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the Heriot Watt School of Textile and Design in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides funding to universities in Scotland, including Heriot-Watt, via the Scottish Funding Council; this includes grants for teaching, research, and capital. As autonomous institutions, it is for each university to determine how to best use this funding to meet the outcomes set out by Scottish Ministers; as such, information on funding to the School of Textiles and Design is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes and maintains staff morale across the social security programme.
Answer
The culture and values of the social security programme is key with a focus on support and development of staff. This is achieved through staff engagement, providing the appropriate guidance and support for both line managers and staff and creating the right environment for staff to work in.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made in appointing a permanent social security programme manager.
Answer
The Programme
has required to date, and will continue to require, specialist resources that
are either not currently available or are in short supply within the Scottish
Government.
To ensure the levels of resourcing and skills
required for delivery are in place, the programme manager post is currently
held by a highly experienced contractor. Their expertise in programme
management from both public and private sector provides the opportunity for
Scottish Government staff to learn key skills directly.
The Programme Manager leads the Programme
Management Office functions and reports to the Programme Director, who has
overall responsibility for the delivery of the totality of the programme.
Senior roles within the programme have been consistent for the life of the
programme. The Social Security Director and the Programme Director – the two
most senior roles in the programme - have been in post since the beginning of
the programme.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 28 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of subjects studied by (a) S4 and (b) S5 pupils at (i) Penicuik High, (ii) Lasswade High, (iii) North Berwick High, (iv) Ross High and (v) Musselburgh Grammar School has been in each of the last 10 years, and how this compares with the national average.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding the implementation of the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides the Scottish Welfare Fund Statutory Guidance to all local authorities, and it is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-welfare-fund-statutory-guidance-9781788519687/
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is provided to applicants to the Scottish Welfare Fund, and what advice it can give to applicants who do not have a specialist or benefits adviser.
Answer
Local authorities have discretion over how the Scottish Welfare Fund is delivered in their area. This allows the scheme to
be tailored to reflect the needs of individuals in their local communities.
Local authorities maintain relationships with a range of partners, including
money advice agencies who can provide advice and assistance to potential
applicants.
- Asked by: Michelle Ballantyne, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2019
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 May 2019
To ask the Scottish Government whether Social Security Scotland staff use telephony scripts and, if so, (a) for what reason and (b) whether it will publish these or place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
Answer
Social Security Scotland client advisors undertake a rigorous induction and training programme to ensure that can deliver advice and services with dignity, fairness and respect.
Social Security Scotland does not use telephony scripts when engaging with our clients.