Stage 1 consideration of the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill
The Committee invites all interested individuals and organisations to submit written evidence on the Bill and its likely impact.
To help inform your response, you may wish to refer to the:
The Draft Regulations which are available on the Scottish Government’s website:
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman's briefing note on the Scottish Government's intended policy that the SPSO take on a new role in reviewing decisions on the Scottish Welfare Funds. This is available on the SPSO's website:
The Committee welcomes views on all of the Bill’s proposals. In particular, the Committee would like submissions to address the following questions:
General
1. Are you in favour of the Bill and its provisions? Do you think the Bill fully achieves the Scottish Government’s aim of providing assistance for short term need and community care?
2. The interim SWF scheme has already been running for two years. Do you feel that the Bill has suitably taken on the learning from this time?
3. Is there anything else that you feel should be included in the Bill?
4. Will the Bill and its provisions have a particular impact on equalities groups?
Administration of Welfare Funds
5. Do you agree with the proposal that local authorities have the option to outsource the provision of the fund to a third party or jointly administer the fund across local authority boundaries? What are the benefits or drawbacks to this approach?
Review of decisions and the SPSO
6. What are your views on the proposed internal local authority review process?
7. Do you agree that the SPSO is the appropriate body to conduct secondary reviews?
Further provision - regulations
8. What are your views on the level of detail that will be contained within the regulations? Is there any aspect which you feel would benefit from being on the face of the Bill?
Financial Memorandum
9. Do you think that the costs attributed to the running of the fund and the set-up of the SPSO to administer secondary reviews are realistic and proportionate?
Other provisions
10. Do you have any comments on any other provisions contained in the Bill that you wish to raise with the Committee?
Submitting written evidence to the Committee
Submissions should ideally be no more than 4 pages of A4. Responses should be sent, wherever possible, electronically and in MS Word format to the following email address: [email protected]
Before submitting your evidence please read the Parliament’s Policy on Treatment of Written Evidence by Subject and Mandatory Committees
Responses can also be sent by post to: Clerk to the Welfare Reform Committee, Room TG.01, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
The closing date for receipt of submissions is Thursday 28 August.
For Committee information, contact: Rebecca Macfie: 0131 348 5182 - [email protected]