Contents
- Attendance
- Delivery of Devolved Benefits
- Decision on Taking Business in Private
- Subordinate Legislation
Subordinate Legislation
Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2019 (SSI 2019/133)
With that whole-hearted approval, we will move on. The next item, which is still in public, is on subordinate legislation. I refer members to paper 2 and the note by the clerk. The committee is invited to consider the regulations, which are subject to negative procedure. Is the committee content to note the instrument?
I want to ask a couple of questions to get it right in my head. The instrument relates to the withdrawal of council tax benefit, which happened a number of years ago. The council tax reduction scheme was introduced so that that benefit would, in effect, continue to be paid. The instrument tries
“to ensure that Discretionary Housing Payments are not treated as income or capital within the Council Tax Reduction scheme”
due to the introduction of later changes. Is the instrument basically about protecting people’s rights under that scheme? There is a policy note but it would be useful to get a bit more background if there is any, because I am new to the committee.
The way that Mr Brown has explained it is also my understanding, having read the same policy note. I am looking at our committee clerk who seems to have the same understanding also.
I cannot really answer the question because it is my job also to scrutinise the instrument, rather than answer questions. However, we can seek additional information from the Scottish Parliament information centre—let’s just do that. I am assuming that that does not prevent us from agreeing to merely note the instrument at this stage.
You are right, convener, I can check myself with SPICe. Having not been involved for a number of years with committees that are considering Scottish statutory instruments, I was not aware that the process is as perfunctory as that. I thought that there would be a discussion, but I see that the process is understood by people who have been involved with it previously.
I ask the clerks to confirm that the instrument would not apply elsewhere in the UK, and that the benefit would simply continue to apply in Scotland.
I see nodding heads. It is slightly unfair to ask the clerks, given that they are not here to give evidence, but to advise us. Let the Official Report show that there was a nod of a head. I am told that there are other schemes elsewhere.
It has been drawn to my attention that we will not have to ask SPICe for additional information as a more detailed briefing is available. We can make sure that it is sent round the members. The important thing is that we formally agree to note the instrument so that we can move on. Are we agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Thank you. We will move into private for the next item, which is consideration of the evidence on devolved benefits.
10:56 Meeting continued in private until 11:17.