Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-29488

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the impact on eligibility for the Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding simplifying the application process for pension credit.

Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of DWP. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take up rates.

The Scottish Government is keen to see further details of plans by the UK Government to merge the administration of Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, which should simplify the application process and improve take-up rates.

Question reference: S6W-29489

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what promotional efforts it will make in conjunction with the UK Government to encourage any pensioners impacted by the loss of the Winter Heating Payment to apply for pension credit.

Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask her to do more to increase take up rates. We have also offered to work with the DWP to improve take-up rates. This will include working with stakeholders across Scotland to increase awareness of Pension Credit and the link to eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

Our welfare advice services, supported by Scottish Government investment, also work very closely with people who may be entitled to benefits, devolved or reserved, but have not yet applied. These efforts include increasing the awareness and take-up of assistance to support people who are struggling financially.

This is why we have committed to investing over £12 million for the provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice services in 2024-25, including support for the Citizens Advice Scotland Money Talk Team Service, which last year supported over 9,000 older people.

Question reference: S6W-29219

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what feedback it has received from the expert group on the minimum income guarantee in relation to the social security elements of the minimum income guarantee.

The work to define a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland, including the role of social security, continues to be led by an independent Expert Group. the Expert Group’s Interim report which published in March 2024, contained recommendations for actions around social security elements of a Minimum Income Guarantee. The report is available at: Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group: Interim report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The Chair of the Expert Group also brought early thinking on the vision for the social security aspects of a Minimum Income Guarantee to the Steering Group meeting on 27 March this year. The minutes for that meeting can be found at Minimum Income Guarantee Steering Group minutes: March 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The Scottish Government look forward to receiving the recommendations for the Expert Group’s final report later this year and will respond in due course.

Question reference: S6W-29220

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Minimum Income Guarantee Steering Group, what process was put in place to recruit and identify the members of the Expert by Experience panel.

The independent Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group commissioned a public participation charity to appoint an Experts by Experience Panel to ensure the policy is developed with the voices and experiences of financial insecurity at its core. Panel members were initially recruited through a civic lottery database, additional recruitment then took place through the Expert Group member’s organisations, following an extension of the project. Further details regarding the recruitment process are available online at: Minimum Income Guarantee: Experts by Experience Panel report - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Question reference: S6T-02083

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2024
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the Grenfell report, what plans it has to ensure that the reported 107 buildings identified in its cladding remediation programme are fixed, including how many will be remediated this year.

Question reference: S6W-29481

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what it has concluded from its economic impact assessment of the potential closure of the Grangemouth Refinery, which is yet to be published.

Question reference: S6W-29456

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21297 by Emma Roddick on 25 September 2023, which of the recommendations that were made by the expert group to "measure, track and evaluate progress made in eradicating racism in Scotland' it has followed.

The Scottish Government is determined to play our part in eradicating racism, inequality and injustice – and in building a better, fairer world.

On the recommendation of the Anti-Racism Interim Governance Group to Develop National Anti-Racism Infrastructure (AIGG), a public procurement process has commenced to identify a host organisation for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). The tender process closed on the 2nd September and tenders are currently being evaluated. The contract award is scheduled to take place at the end of October and the contract will commence in January 2025.

AROS will support the development of a detailed workplan to track and measure progress being made with the Scottish Government’s antiracism commitments, including relevant Key Performance Indicators. Working in partnership with partners, including third sector organisations and communities, AROS will develop robust governance and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective oversight of the workplan and strategic objectives that will drive anti-racism change.

Question reference: S6W-29281

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted on the screening of non-FAST (face, arms, speech, time) stroke symptoms, since the publication of the 2023 National Clinical Guideline for Stroke.

Question reference: S6W-29479

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing talks with Petroineos and the UK Government on extending the life of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Question reference: S6W-29478

Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 September 2024
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 6 September 2024

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board.

The Grangemouth Future Industry Board continues to meet regularly with the last meeting of the programme board taking place on 19 August. At the invitation of the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Net Zero, the leadership forum will now be co-chaired by the UK Government Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The Board continues to focus its effort on securing a long-term and sustainable future for the Grangemouth cluster.

Minutes of previous meetings are on the Scottish Government website, accessible here: Grangemouth Future Industry Board - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

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