Welfare policy in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 14 Oct 2020 Closed: 17 Feb 2022 Parliament page
The inquiry will examine the effect of welfare policies on the lives of claimants and poverty and inequality levels more broadly in Scotland. It will: assess the effectiveness of Scottish Choices which provide a unique degree of flexibility for those on Universal Credit in Scotland explore the consequences of Universal … Read more
37 Recommendations
111 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
5 Letters
9 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
7 Feb
2022
Correspondence
19 Nov
2021
Report published
23 Jun
2021
Report published
17 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
21 Apr
2021
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Virtual meeting
25 Mar
2021
Correspondence
25 Mar
2021
Correspondence
18 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
11 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
11 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
17 Jun 2021
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Bless Kuri · Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Claire Mack · Scottish Renewables Lucy Whitford · RES Matthieu Hue · EDF Renewables Steven McMahon · Ofgem
18 Mar 2021
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Andrew Latto · Department for Work & Pensions Justin Tomlinson · Department for Work & Pensions Margarita Morrison · Department for Work & Pensions Will Quince · Department for Work & Pensions
11 Mar 2021
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Callum Smith · Scottish Government Catherine Reeves · Scottish Government Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP · Scottish Government
11 Feb 2021
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Councillor Richard Bell · Glasgow City Council Polly Jones · The Trussell Trust Suzanne Lavelle · Southside Housing Association
21 Jan 2021
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Kirsty McKechnie · Child Poverty Action Group Scotland Marion Davis · One Parent Families Scotland Nina Ballantyne · Citizens Advice Scotland
16 Dec 2020
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Chris Birt · Joseph Rowntree Foundation David Eiser · Fraser of Allander Institute Neil Cowan · The Poverty Alliance Professor Gráinne McKeever · Ulster University Professor John McKendrick · Glasgow Caledonian University Professor Paul Spicker · Robert Gordon University
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotland HC 55 23 Jun 2021 148 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
20 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies.
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies. This will allow any complex issues to be ironed out before the announcement.
Government Response
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
Scotland Office
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8 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that Social Security Scotland consider all mechanisms for acquiring their own data where...
We recommend that Social Security Scotland consider all mechanisms for acquiring their own data where possible if they are requesting data which DWP does not hold. DWP and Social Security Scotland should develop a shared protocol and agreement about data … Read more
Government Response
The government redirects responsibility for Social Security Scotland acquiring its own data to the Scottish Government, and, regarding a shared data protocol, describes existing DWP data sharing boards and forums, without committing to developing a new protocol or shared team.
Scotland Office
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11 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance...
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including housing associations and Local Authorities & … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, but did not specifically commit to developing a Scottish welfare service directory as recommended.
Scotland Office
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12 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently...
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout Welfare policy in Scotland … Read more
Government Response
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
Scotland Office
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13 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as...
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion … Read more
Government Response
The UK government redirects the item, stating that it pertains to the Scottish Government's responsibilities and intentions regarding disability benefit assessments.
Scotland Office
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14 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather...
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face … Read more
Government Response
The government states that this is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Scotland Office
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52 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies.
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies. This will allow any complex issues to be ironed out before the announcement.
Government Response
The UK government states this recommendation is for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Scotland Office
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54 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that the DWP should prioritise delivering the six to 16-year-old data required by...
We recommend that the DWP should prioritise delivering the six to 16-year-old data required by the Scottish Government, or work with the Scottish Government to find an alternative type of data, so that the Scottish Government are able to roll … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines existing data sharing efforts but states data for older children are not always readily available and redirects responsibility to the Scottish Government to establish data needs and consider acquiring their own data from other sources.
Scotland Office
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61 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We heard how a wide range of organisations supported people to understand their eligibilities and...
We heard how a wide range of organisations supported people to understand their eligibilities and access benefits and poverty relief. Local Authorities have invested funds and developed services to help people experiencing poverty navigate the various benefits 128 Q102 129 … Read more
Government Response
The government states that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to continuously improve the benefits experience and review service delivery issues for future benefit delivery.
Scotland Office
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64 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
As discussed in detail in Chapter five, most people applying to the DWP for Universal...
As discussed in detail in Chapter five, most people applying to the DWP for Universal Credit in Scotland will initially apply through an online digital process. Once a claim is processed, they will meet with an assigned Jobcentre Plus work … Read more
Government Response
The government established a regular Operational Reference Group with Social Security Scotland to review service delivery issues and consider improvements for the shared benefits experience.
Scotland Office
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65 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
Policy in Practice submitted written evidence outlining how there are practical issues for claimants to...
Policy in Practice submitted written evidence outlining how there are practical issues for claimants to address in accessing job centres and their services in the more rural areas of Scotland. In their research, Policy in Practice found that uptake of … Read more
Government Response
The government established an Operational Reference Group with Social Security Scotland to review service delivery issues and consider improvements to the benefits experience, including accessibility challenges.
Scotland Office
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67 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We understand that the devolution of benefits has left a ‘tricky’ landscape of Scottish social...
We understand that the devolution of benefits has left a ‘tricky’ landscape of Scottish social security. There should be an improvement of communications to claimants on what measures are available to them and a review of how Jobcentres work in … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, deferring direct action on communication and Jobcentre reviews.
Scotland Office
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69 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance...
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including 159 Policy in Practice (WPS0010) 160 … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, but did not specifically commit to developing a Scottish welfare service directory.
Scotland Office
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70 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently...
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout the covid-19 pandemic to … Read more
Government Response
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
Scotland Office
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75 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
The DWP’s preferred approach for administering disability benefits in the UK centres on a contracted-out...
The DWP’s preferred approach for administering disability benefits in the UK centres on a contracted-out assessment process, involving face to face assessments to gain information and assess a claimant’s capability for work to determine the level of entitlement. The Minister … Read more
Government Response
The government states that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Scotland Office
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76 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
The Cabinet Secretary told us in her evidence that the Scottish Government were, in this...
The Cabinet Secretary told us in her evidence that the Scottish Government were, in this instance, moving away from the DWP’s system of using contracted out face to face assessments as part of the information gathering process to administrate disability … Read more
Government Response
The UK government states this observation is for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Scotland Office
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77 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
The Scottish Association for Mental Health ‘welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment that no one will...
The Scottish Association for Mental Health ‘welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment that no one will be subject to a face to face reassessment’190 once the Scottish 177 Scottish Government, Social Security, Disability Assistance, accessed 26 April 2021 178 Scottish Government, … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Scotland Office
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78 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
The UK Government’s Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, however, told us that he...
The UK Government’s Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, however, told us that he had reservations about the Scottish Government’s ‘potential changes to adult PIP [Personal Independence Payment]’192 and how he felt the potential changes ‘would replicate the limitations … Read more
Government Response
The government redirects responsibility by stating that this is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Scotland Office
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79 Conclusion Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as...
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Scotland Office
View details
80 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Welfare policy in …
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather...
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face … Read more
Government Response
The UK Government states that this recommendation is for the Scottish Government, thereby redirecting responsibility for providing more information on data gathering and impact.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 148 of 37 classified
Accepted 40
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 33
Deferred 20
Not Addressed 27
Rejected 27
Total 37 recs + 111 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
7 Feb 2022 Correspondence with Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, and David Rutley MP, Minister for Welfare Delivery, Department for Work and Pensions, on welfare policy in Scotland, dated 22 November 2021 and 27 January 2022
Parliament page
13 May 2021 To committee Letter from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson MP, and the Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince MP, Department for Work & Pensions, follow-up to oral evidence session on 18 March about welfare policy in Scotland, 22 April 2021
Parliament page
13 May 2021 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Department for Work and Pensions Ministers, Will Quince MP and Justin Tomlinson MP, relating to the oral evidence session on 18 March about welfare policy in Scotland, 30 March 2021
Parliament page
25 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, on a report the Scottish Government has published on the links between Universal Credit and homelessness in Scotland, 17 March 2021
Parliament page
25 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, on publication of the first evaluation of the Universal Credit (UC) Scottish choices, 5 March 2021
Parliament page