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Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill

The Bill provides for an increase in the amount of the carer’s allowance supplement for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Anyone who qualifies for this supplement will get the increased amount.

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 15 November 2021

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Bill provides for an increase in the amount of the carer’s allowance supplement for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Anyone who qualifies for this supplement will get the increased amount. 

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 set the initial amount that carers would receive for this period. The Bill will increase this amount by £231.40. It will also give the Scottish Government the ability to increase the amount of a carer’s allowance supplement going forward.

Why the Bill was created

The Covid-19 outbreak has had a serious impact on unpaid carers in Scotland. The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 provided a financial top-up to support carers from 1 April to 30 September 2020.

This Bill was created to allow additional support to be provided to these carers.

Separately to this Bill, the Scottish Government plans to introduce a new benefit to support carers in the future that will replace carer’s allowance and this supplement.

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (114KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Policy Memorandum (159KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Financial Memorandum (159KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Delegated Powers Memorandum (100KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021

Statements on legislative competence (88KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (238KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Policy Memorandum (233KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Financial Memorandum (223KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Delegated Powers Memorandum (188KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021

Statements on legislative competence (175KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research briefing on the Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 22 June 2021

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

Call for views (closed)

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.

Read the call for views

Meetings of the lead committee

Correspondence: lead committee

Scottish Government's response to the Carers Allowance (Supplement) Scotland Stage 1 report

Letter from the Minister for Social Security and Local Government, 22 September 2021

Carer's Benefit Policy

Letter from the Minister for Social Security and Local Government of 16 June 2021

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee published its Stage 1 report on 13 September 2021

Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 report

Work by other committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meetings

Report

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 8 September 2021.

Read the report


Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 23 September 2021 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill.
  • Submitted by: Ben Macpherson
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 2021
  • Motion reference: S6M-01318
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 23 September 2021

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 23 September 2021

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

First meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 30 September 2021:

Marshalled list of amendments for Stage 2 (121KB, pdf) posted 28 September 2021

Revised Groupings of amendments for Stage 2 (133KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2021

Stage 2 Correspondence

Evaluation of carer benefits

Letter from Minister for Social Security and Local Government, 6 October 2021

See a full list of Stage 2 correspondence

Bill as amended at Stage 2

There is no Bill as amended at Stage 2 because no amendments were agreed to at Stage 2.

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 30 September 2021

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Debate on proposed amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 October 2021:

Marshalled list of amendments at Stage 3 (124KB, pdf) posted 05 October 2021

Groupings of amendments at Stage 3 (133KB, pdf) posted 05 October 2021

Final version of the Bill

There were no amendments at Stage 3. The Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill as introduced is the final version of the Bill.

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.

  • Motion title: Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Ben Macpherson
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 October 2021
  • Motion reference: S6M-01554
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 07 October 2021

Result 118 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 7 October 2021

Bill becomes an Act

The Bill was passed on 7 October 2021 and became an Act on 15 November 2021.

Read the Act

Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Act 2021