Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the process for the Scottish Government to exercise their power to top up reserved benefits; and whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the potential merits of expediting that process.
Answered by Lord Jack of Courance
The Scottish Government is accountable for exercising its power to top up reserved benefits. Section 24 of the Scotland Act 2016 enables the Scottish Government to introduce discretionary top‐up payments to people in Scotland who are entitled to a reserved benefit.
The Scotland Office, DWP and the Scottish Government have dedicated work programmes to implement the relevant changes following the devolution of welfare powers introduced by the Scotland Act 2016. As my ministerial colleague the Minister for Pensions has previously set out, we work closely together and officials hold regular discussions. In addition, discussions are held at ministerial level through the regular Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare and bilateral meetings between the relevant Scotland Office, DWP and Scottish Government ministers take place as required.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to Part One of the National Disability Strategy, published July 2021, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) encourage and support workplace disability networks, (b) achieve and maintain the highest level of Disability Confident accreditation, (c) ensure responsive and timely support to meet workplace adjustment needs and (d) develop and embed flexible working.
Answered by Lord Jack of Courance
The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies; principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, who remain the employers. However, I am very supportive of the National Disability Strategy and can confirm that:
(a) all Scotland Office colleagues have access to and can fully participate in their Departmental disability networks;
(b) both of our recruiting Departments (Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice) are Public Sector Leaders in the Disability Confident scheme;
(c) we are fully committed to identifying and removing any barriers that colleagues face including meeting workplace adjustment needs;
(d) in addition to the standard flexible working offer provided by our recruiting Departments, the government is also committed to adopting smarter working, enabling people to work in a variety of locations to best deliver business needs.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information his Department holds on the socio-economic background of people appointed to senior positions in his Department in the last five years.
Answered by David Mundell
The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland does not employ staff directly. All staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government departments, who remain the employers.
Detailed information on the socio-economic background of people appointed to all positions would be retained by the parent employers.