Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-03320

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 September 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 14 October 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many children in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency it expects will receive support from the proposed expansion of child winter heating assistance.

The proposed amendment to the Child Winter Heating Assistance regulations would expand eligibility to those young people (16 to 18) who were in receipt of the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for at least one day during the qualifying week. This change would also apply retrospectively to those in receipt of this rate of the PIP component during the qualifying week in 2020.

Data published by the Department for Work and Pensions for September 2020 shows that 68 people aged 16,17 or 18 living in the Scottish Parliament constituency of Airdrie and Shotts were in receipt of the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP. Data is not currently available for 2021.

Question reference: S6O-00231

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action it is taking to close the poverty-related attainment gap, including in response to the reduction to universal credit.

Question reference: S6O-00126

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2021

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of removing the not proven verdict.

Question reference: S6F-00202

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 30 August 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2021

To ask the First Minister what engagement the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the reduction to universal credit that is set to take place at the end of September.

Question reference: S6W-00812

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 1 July 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many 18- to 25-year-olds it estimates will be eligible for free NHS dental charges in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency.

Question reference: S6F-00143

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2021
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 June 2021

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government, the Post Office and CJ Lang regarding the proposed closure of 31 Post Office branches across Scotland.

Question reference: S6W-00678

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 June 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Tom Arthur on 15 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with consulting retail employees and businesses regarding large retail stores trading on New Year’s Day.

The Scottish Government has launched a 10 week consultation into New Year’s Day trading for large retail stores today.

The consultation is seeking the views of shop workers and retail businesses and their representatives on whether the current law should change so that large retail businesses must close on New Year’s Day, as they currently do on Christmas Day. I would encourage all relevant parties to access the consultation on the Scottish Government’s consultation hub to ensure their views are taken into account.

Question reference: S6W-00627

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 June 2021
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any progress on consulting retail employees and businesses regarding large retail stores trading on New Year’s Day.

Question reference: S6W-00091

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 2 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many children in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency it estimates will be included in the roll-out of the Scottish Child Payment to 16-year-olds.

Using the latest available forecasts published by the Scottish Fiscal Commission in January 2021, Scottish Government analysis estimates there could be up to 3,500 children potentially eligible for the payment in Airdrie and Shotts in 2023-24 (the first full financial year of the payment for under 16s). The number of children receiving the payment in Airdrie and Shotts is likely to be around 2,600 in that year - this is a separate forecast based on the take-up assumptions for the payment.

Question reference: S6W-00092

Asked by: Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 May 2021
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 June 2021

To ask the Scottish Government how many children in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency it estimates will be included in the roll-out of free school breakfasts and lunches.

We estimate that an additional 2,400 pupils across 23 primary schools within the Airdrie and Shotts constituency will be entitled to receive a free school lunch after the rollout of universal free school meals to include all primary school children is completed. In addition, all 5,300 children attending these primary schools will be entitled to receive a free school breakfast.

The Scottish Government recognises that free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children are fed and ready to engage in learning. They are also a valued support for family budgets, providing a saving of approximately £400 per year per child. We are providing an additional £49.75 million in 2021-22 to support the expansion of universal free school meals to primary 4 and primary 5 children, and for targeted free school meal support during all school holidays to all primary and secondary children who are eligible.

Tell us your views

Seòmar agus comataidhean