FOI Request - Provision of Cookers under the Scottish Welfare Fund
Request 101003741961
I would like to request the following information regarding the provision of cookers under the Scottish Welfare Fund:
Policy & Criteria
1. What criteria does Moray Council use to determine the type of cooker provided under the Scottish Welfare Fund?
2. Are there any provisions in place to supply enhanced or accessible cookers for disabled individuals?
Disability Considerations
3. Does Moray Council consider the specific needs of disabled applicants when issuing cookers?
4. How many disabled individuals have received cookers through the scheme in the past five years?
5. Has Moray Council conducted any assessments on whether the provided cookers meet the accessibility needs of disabled individuals?
Alternative Options & Adjustments
6. Are applicants given any choice in the type of cooker they receive?
7. What reasonable adjustments are in place for individuals with disabilities who may require cookers with specific features (e.g., induction hobs for those with tremors, easy-access controls for those with limited mobility, etc.)?
8. Has the council ever funded or part-funded higher-specification cookers for disabled individuals under the Equality Act 2010 reasonable adjustments duty?
Complaints & Reviews
9. How many complaints have been received in the past five years regarding the suitability of cookers provided under the Scottish Welfare Fund?
10. What is the process for appealing or requesting a more suitable appliance based on health and disability needs?
Equality Impact Assessment
11. Has Moray Council conducted an Equality Impact Assessment regarding the provision of cookers under the Scottish Welfare Fund?
12. If so, please provide a copy of the most recent assessment.
Budget & Procurement
13. What is the budget allocation for cookers provided through the Scottish Welfare Fund in the last five years?
14. How does the council determine which cookers to procure, and what factors influence this decision (e.g., cost vs. accessibility features)?
Response 03-04-2025
Policy & Criteria
1. The Scottish Government created the Scottish Welfare Fund to provide occasional support to those in most need, It is a national scheme administered by individual local authorities. Community Care Grants aim to help eligible people on low income to establish or maintain a home. Support is provided if an applicant meets one of the following criteria
• Leaving care or at risk of needing to go into a care institution without grant support
• Leaving imprisonment or caring for someone who has been released from prison or a young offenders institution on temporary release
• If the applicant has been homeless or living an unsettled way if life
• If the applicant or someone in their household is facing exceptional pressure.
The Scottish Government invited companies to tender for providing and installing goods and CF Furnishers are the contracted company for the Moray Council. When making an award for a cooker there are 2 options, a single standard size option suitable for single, couple or smaller families, or a double cavity option available for larger families.
2. If the applicant or support worker highlights a particular disability or vulnerability that would require more than the standard cooker then provision would be made to contact CF Furnishings and enquire about a more suitable appliance.
Disability Considerations
3. As above
4. Not held. Information not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
5. Cookers are procured by Scottish Government
Alternative Options & Adjustments
6. As above
7. As above. We will work with individuals with particular needs to provide suitable items.
8. We are open to this
Complaints & Reviews
9. Not held. Information not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.
10. Contact with the service to look into alternative options
Equality Impact Assessment
11. No
12. Not applicable
Budget & Procurement
13. The Moray Council is not given a budget specifically for cookers. Every Local Authority is provided with funding at the start of each financial year that must be managed to ensure payments towards Crisis Grant and Community Care Grant can be maintained for the whole financial year.
14. As mentioned above Moray Council do not procure the cookers; this is done by the Scottish Government