ANNEX B
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
7 September 2000
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that a separate database to assist in the
collection of statistics on poverty be developed in Scotland and
what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government on
the development of such a database.
(S1W-09234)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive is currently developing a database of poverty
related information for Scotland with assistance from the DSS
and IR. It is considering a wide range of currently available
data sources in addition to the option of boosting existing surveys
for Scotland, and introducing new data collections. A project
is currently underway to investigate the possibility of using
the Scottish Household Survey dataset to produce relevant analysis.
An area of priority within the Executive is to develop a more
comprehensive range of local area data. Information on poverty
will be covered by this initiative.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that specific Scottish statistics be kept
for all relevant matters reserved to Her Majesty's Government
and what representations it intends to make to Her Majesty's Government
in pursuit of this matter.
(S1W-09235)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive is involved in ongoing discussions about the
full range of statistics relevant to poverty issues in both reserved
and devolved matters with a range of Whitehall departments including
the DSS, IR and HM-Treasury. A number of datasets, analysis and
models have already been developed for Scotland in the past year
with their assistance, and a number of further projects are currently
being considered.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that the present postcode area level information
on benefit claimants be replaced with smaller area level information
and what representations it intends to making to Her Majesty's
Government in pursuit of this matter.
(S1W-09236)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive is currently reviewing all local area statistics
for Scotland, including benefits data. We are in discussion with
data users and DSS, in order to identify the range of needs, and
to assess what level of information is available.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that it should consider introducing and financing
a remote living allowance to compensate for the higher costs of
living in remote or island communities and whether it intends
to act upon this recommendation.
(S1W-09237)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive provides for the additional costs to councils
serving remote and dispersed rural and island communities through
special measures in the local government finance distribution
formula. Adjustments redistribute around £40 million of grant
support towards rural councils each year, helping to meet additional
service costs and hold down council tax levels. Additional assistance,
totalling over £24 million this year, is provided through
the Special Islands Needs Allowance to compensate councils with
significant islands costs. A review of the level and distribution
of SINA is due to be completed this year.
In addition, the Executive is providing record levels
of support for lifeline air and ferry services and through the
Rural Transport Fund, £14.6 million in new investment over
3 years from 1998/99 to improve transport links in rural Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
made by Energy Action Scotland to the Select Committee on Scottish
Affairs during its investigation into poverty in Scotland that
a detailed cost/benefit analysis of the impact on Scottish households
of living in cold damp homes versus warm dry and healthy homes
be carried out.
(S1W-09238)
Wendy Alexander: The Scottish
Executive have commissioned a pilot evaluation of the health and
other benefits of home insulation and central heating.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that it should conduct a review into fuel
poverty and energy efficiency in Scotland and whether it intends
to act upon this recommendation.
(S1W-09239)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Department of Trade and Industry is leading an interdepartmental
Ministerial Group on Fuel Poverty to develop a longterm
strategy for tackling the problem. The work of the group covers
Scotland and the Executive is represented by the Deputy Minister
for Local Government. The strategy will be published later this
year.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that it might "wish to develop the effectiveness
of money advice services which are delivered into Scotland's poorer
communities" and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.
(S1W-09240)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive is committed to improving the effectiveness
of money advice services in Scotland's deprived communities. We
are actively considering how best a national debtline for Scotland
can be implemented which will provide access to free, quality
money and debt advice. We are also considering what needs to be
done to strengthen the infrastructure of money advice provision
in Scotland to support the debtline.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that local authorities in Scotland should
keep debt management strategies for dealing with people who encounter
debt problems and whether it intends to act upon this recommendation.
(S1W-09241)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
Scottish Executive is discussing with CoSLA how the money and
debt advice services provided by local authorities in Scotland
can be improved.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what its position is in relation to the recommendation
in the recent report on poverty in Scotland by the Select Committee
on Scottish Affairs that a record of subsequent developments in
the working lives of New Deal participants should be placed in
the public domain and whether it intends to make representations
to Her Majesty's Government in pursuit of this matter.
(S1W-09242)
Henry McLeish: Employment
policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes
the lead on the funding and delivery of New Deal throughout Great
Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including
the Scottish Executive. The New Deal evaluation programme is carrying
out detailed monitoring of the post-New Deal experience of a sample
of individuals. We are committed to a continuous improvement strategy
for New Deal and the Scottish New Deal Advisory Task Force are
actively monitoring performance and progress.
30 September
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that Her Majesty's Government should conduct
a review of the activities of licensed credit brokers who encourage
vulnerable people to take on financial commitments that they cannot
sustain and, in the light of any such implications, what representations
it will make to Her Majesty's Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09363)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
licensing of credit brokers is a matter for DTI. Social Justice....
A Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are
UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely
outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications of this recommendation
would largely be for these milestones.
However poverty can only be successfully tackled
by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish
Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers
on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work
together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee
on Poverty.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that an "in-depth review of the working
of the Social Fund and its impact on some of the most vulnerable
sections of the community is long overdue" and, in the light
of any such implications, what representations it will make to
Her Majesty's Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09364)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
operation of the Social Fund is a matter for DSS. Social justice¼.
A Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are
UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely
outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications would be largely
for these milestones.
However poverty can only be successfully tackled
by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish
Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers
on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work
together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee
on Poverty.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that the level of state retirement pension should
be linked to changes in national average earnings and, in the
light of any such implications, what representations it will make
to Her Majesty's Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09365)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that Her Majesty's Government should look "very
carefully at how best it could further promulgate advice to pensioners
and maximise take-up of benefits" and, in the light of any
such implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty's
Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09366)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that the earnings disregard for disabled people
should immediately be increased to a more appropriate ceiling
and that it should apply for a period of six months and, in the
light of any such implications, what representations it will make
to Her Majesty's Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09367)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
level of and the conditions governing entitlement to benefits
is a matter for DSS. Social justice¼.
A Scotland where everyone matters contains milestones which are
UK benchmarks in reserved areas where policy delivery is largely
outwith the Scottish Executive. Any implications would be largely
for these milestones.
However poverty can only be successfully tackled
by the Government and the Executive working together. The Scottish
Executive will continue its regular dialogue with UK ministers
on how the Scottish Executive and the UK Government can best work
together to tackle poverty through the Joint Ministerial Committee
on Poverty.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee for a carefully evaluated pilot project in Glasgow
to establish the worth and viability of disregarding the working
families' tax credit as income for the purpose of assessing entitlement
to housing and council tax benefit and, in the light of any such
implications, what representations it will make to Her Majesty's
Government regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09368)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that local social security offices be given local
autonomy and local budgets and, in the light of any such implications,
what representations will it make to Her Majesty's Government
regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09369)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that the Benefits Agency Remote Access Terminal
scheme run by South Lanarkshire Council be extended across the
rest of Scotland and, in the light of any such implications, what
representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government regarding
this recommendation.
(S1W-09370)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish
Executive what the implications are for its social justice strategy
as outlined in the document Social Justice ¼a
Scotland where everyone matters, specifically for the milestones
and targets within its responsibility, of the recommendation in
the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish Affairs
Select Committee that "the Government should introduce take-up
targets for the DSS to encourage a positive outward-looking attitude
to benefit provision" and, in the light of any such implications,
what representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government
regarding this recommendation.
(S1W-09371)
Ms Wendy Alexander: The
member is referred to the answer given to S1W-09367.
GRAHAME PQ - 31 August
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To
ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recommendation
in the recent report into poverty in Scotland by the Scottish
Affairs Select Committee that it should consider the appointment
of a Minister for the Elderly in Scotland and whether it intends
to act upon this recommendation.
(S1W-09116)
Iain Gray: We have no
plans to appoint a Minister for the Elderly. These responsibilities
are incorporated within my portfolio.
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