Lord MacKenzie of Culkein

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament and established a high-level enabling framework for social security in Scotland. This followed the devolution of certain aspects of the social security to the Scottish Government under the Scotland Act 2016. Its provisions are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, and it is not for the UK Government to make an assessment of matters which are devolved.

However, the UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government to ensure a safe and secure transition to the new benefits being introduced, which will replace Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments. Severe Disablement Allowance will also become a matter for the Scottish Government. Sure Start maternity grants and funeral expense payments have already been replaced with Scottish provision. The Act also provides for completely new benefits with no equivalent in England and Wales. The Scottish benefits will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.

The Department is taking forward as a priority its evaluation of how the benefits system supports people nearing the end of their life and those with severe conditions. We have made progress on all areas of this work and will be continuing to engage with clinicians and claimants, including those affected by motor neurone disease, to ensure their views are heard.

Due to their remote geographical area, home testing kits are not available in some areas. The home test service relies on Royal Mail's 24 hour guarantee priority post-boxes to ensure tests are returned to the laboratory in a suitable timeframe. Some remote areas in the Scottish Isles have had access to a dedicated testing service set up specifically that enables people to access tests through hospitals without being admitted as a patient. This has been rolled out to the areas of most acute need across the Islands first and is being expanded to provide testing across the Highlands. Residents can also access testing via the nearest regional test site, walk in test site or mobile testing unit.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary currently has one Fleet Solid Support ship capable of supporting a Carrier Strike Group; RFA FORT VICTORIA.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said during Defence Oral Questions in the House of Commons on Monday 21 September 2020, the procurement timetable for the warships will be announced in due course, after market testing has been completed. We are open to the principle of international partners working alongside UK firms for the bid.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said during Defence Oral Questions in the House of Commons on Monday 21 September 2020, the procurement timetable for the warships will be announced in due course, after market testing has been completed. We are open to the principle of international partners working alongside UK firms for the bid.

The Ministry of Defence is currently assessing the options for the fleet Solid Support ship programme, and as part of this process will review the requirement and any procurement strategy. It is not possible to provide any further details until this work has been completed.