Social Justice and Social Security Committee
The Committee was established in June 2021. It looks at subjects such as:
- the Scottish Government's policies on welfare, poverty and homelessness
- the social security system in Scotland
- violence against women and girls and domestic violence
- social justice (looking at ways to create a fairer Scotland)
- third sector including social economy and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
Next meeting
2nd Meeting, 2023
Agenda: Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry, Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill, Work programme
09:30am, 02 February 2023
T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
Get in touch
If you want to get in touch, you can contact Claire Menzies, the Clerk for the committee.
Address: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5320 Find out about call charges.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @SP_SJSS
If you're appearing as a witness at a committee, take a look at our witness guide for more information.
Members
Members of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Current Members
Natalie Don
Convener
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Renfrewshire North and West (Constituency)
Emma Roddick
Deputy Convener
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)
Jeremy Balfour
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Lothian (Region)
Miles Briggs
Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: Lothian (Region)
Foysol Choudhury
Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Lothian (Region)
James Dornan
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Glasgow Cathcart (Constituency)
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Glasgow (Region)
Paul McLennan
Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: East Lothian (Constituency)
Substitute Members
Mark Griffin
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Labour
MSP for: Central Scotland (Region)
Evelyn Tweed
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish National Party
MSP for: Stirling (Constituency)
Tess White
Substitute Member
Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)
Committee work
Current
Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill
Child poverty in Scotland
Delivering new benefits
Inquiry into Child Poverty and Parental Employment
Kinship care
Low income and debt problems
Reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use
Violence against women and girls
Previous
Future
The Committee has been holding one-off evidence sessions to find out what future work may be needed in these areas throughout the session.
The Committee has agreed to look at the following issues in 2022:
Refugee and asylum
The Committee are considering what further work we might do in this area, following meetings in February 2022.
Year-round budget scrutiny
The Committee made reaching the child poverty interim targets for 2023 the main theme of its first pre-budget scrutiny of 2022-23. The Parliament and Scottish Government need to give this issue their sustained focus to reduce the number of children growing up in poverty. We will also take evidence on the framework for a resource spending review and on the review itself.
Delivering new benefits
Delivery of new Scottish benefits is a huge project that is currently scheduled to continue to 2026. This provides an opportunity to undertake session-long scrutiny. The Committee's page on delivery of benefits will be updated as work progresses throughout the session. This will include the consideration of:
- specific regulations, like Adult Disability Payment
- costs of delivery
- implementation of the social security programme by Social Security Scotland
Some of the specific benefits that the Committee will look at in 2022 are Low Income Winter Heating Assistance and Scottish Carer's Allowance. The Committee will continue to develop its future work programme and decisions made will be noted in the meeting minutes. Please contact the Committee for further information.
Correspondence
Committee correspondence
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
UK Government response to low income and debt problems inquiry report
Letter from Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work. 23 January 2023
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Scottish Government response to 2023-24 pre budget report
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, 10 January 2023
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Letter to Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights, 22 December 2022
Official Reports
Official Reports
Meeting date: Thursday, January 19, 2023
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Budget 2023-24, Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: Thursday, December 22, 2022
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private, Budget Scrutiny 2023-24, Social Security Scotland
Meeting date: Thursday, December 15, 2022
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Subordinate Legislation
Reports
Committee reports
This report sets out the Social Justice and Social Security Committee's consideration of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) at its meeting on 15 December 2022.
This report sets out the Social Justice and Social Security Committee's consideration of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) at its meeting on 3 November 2022.
This report sets out the Social Justice and Social Security Committee's consideration of a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) at its meeting on 27 October 2022.
Remit
To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, excluding matters relating to local government, housing and planning.