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Chamber and committees

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 and poverty
  • the social security system in Scotland
  • homelessness and rough sleeping
  • fuel poverty and debt advice services
  • 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 of the committee

Start time: 9:00am, Thursday 29 January 2026

Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room

Agenda:

  1. Decisions on taking business in private
  2. Subordinate legislation
  3. Subordinate legislation
  4. Subordinate legislation
  5. Scottish Fiscal Commission
  6. Scottish Fiscal Commission
  7. Funeral Support Payment
  8. Work programme

Dates for future meetings

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee usually meets weekly on Thursdays.

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Current work

Work of the Committee: Completed work

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Commencement of Section 8 of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025

22 January 2026

Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 22 January 2026

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Fiscal Framework Review

19 January 2026

Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, 19 January 2026

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

2026-27 Pre-Budget report on future social security spending in Scotland

15 January 2026

Response from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 13 January 2026

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Two-child Cap

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Local Housing Allowance

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, United Kingdom Child Poverty Strategy

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Interests, Decision on Taking Business in Private, Social Security Independent Advocacy Service

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, November 27, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Adult Disability Payment, Subordinate Legislation

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, November 20, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, November 13, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, November 6, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1, Subordinate Legislation

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, October 30, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

Stage 1 report on the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill

Published: 19 December 2025

Lead committee report by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on the general principles of the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill.

Work of the Committee: Committee Remit

To consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, and matters related to homelessness and rough sleeping, fuel poverty, and welfare and debt advice services within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Housing.

Current Members

A photo of Collette Stevenson MSP

Collette Stevenson

Convener
Scottish National Party
A photo of Bob Doris MSP

Bob Doris

Deputy Convener
Scottish National Party
A photo of Claire Baker MSP

Claire Baker

Member
Scottish Labour
A photo of Jeremy Balfour MSP

Jeremy Balfour

Member
Independent
A photo of Marie McNair MSP

Marie McNair

Member
Scottish National Party
A photo of Carol Mochan MSP

Carol Mochan

Member
Scottish Labour
A photo of Alexander Stewart MSP

Alexander Stewart

Member
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
A photo of Elena Whitham MSP

Elena Whitham

Member
Scottish National Party

Full details of committee membership, including substitute and previous members

Call for views

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee is not currently seeking views on any of its current inquiries

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch, you can contact Diane Barr, the Clerk for the committee.