The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows–

1. The Carer's Allowance Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2019 [draft] was laid before the Parliament on 31 January 2019 and referred to the Social Security Committee.

2. The Carer's Allowance Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2019 [draft] is subject to the affirmative procedure (Rule 10.6). It is for the Social Security Committee to recommend to Parliament whether the Order should be approved.

3. The purpose of this instrument is to uprate Carer's Allowance, along with an increase in what is paid by way of Adult Dependency Increase. An agency agreement between the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions for the delivery of Carer's Allowance up to September 2020 requires that: “DWP and Scottish Government work together on any annual increases to the rate of Carer's Allowance as part of the normal up-rating cycle to ensure parity is maintained.” This year it will be 2.4%, the rate of inflation as defined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

4. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered this instrument at its meeting on 19 February 2019 and agreed that it did not need to draw it to the attention of the Parliament.

5. Following the evidence session, Shirley-Anne Somerville moved motion S5M-15926

   That the Social Security Committee recommends that the Carer's Allowance Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2019 [draft] be approved.

   After debate, the motion was agreed to by division: For 6 (Bob Doris, Alasdair Allan, Jeremy Balfour, Michelle Ballantyne, Keith Brown, Shona Robison), Against 2 (Pauline McNeill, Mark Griffin), Abstentions 1 (Alison Johnstone).

6. The evidence taken and debated can be found in the Official Report for 28 February 2019.