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Parliament dissolved ahead of election

The Scottish Parliament is now dissolved ahead of the election on Thursday 7 May 2026.

During dissolution, there are no MSPs and no parliamentary business can take place.

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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)

Previous meetings of the committee

See all meetings of the committee

Work of the Committee

Work of the Committee: Completed work

Budget scrutiny 2022-23

Budget scrutiny 2023-24

Budget scrutiny 2024-25

Budget scrutiny 2025-26

Budget scrutiny 2026-27

Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill

Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill

Delivering new benefits

Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship

Framework for the resource spending review

Fuel poverty

Homelessness and rough sleeping

Housing (Scotland) Bill

Inquiry into child poverty and parental employment

Kinship care

Low income and debt problems

Pensioner poverty

Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017

Poverty and Inequality Commission

Reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use

Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan

The extra costs of living with a disability

Violence against women and girls

Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill

Work of the Committee: Correspondence

Correspondence

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Adult Disability Payments Futures

19 March 2026

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 19 March 2026

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Adult Disability Payment

13 March 2026

Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 13 March 2026

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

National Performance Framework Review

12 March 2026

Letter to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, 12 March 2026

See all of this committee's correspondence

Work of the Committee: Official Reports of meetings

Official Reports of meetings

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Armed Forces Bill, Adult Disability Payment

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Job Start Payment, Subordinate Legislation

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Funeral Support Payment

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, and Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Meeting date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Budget Scrutiny 2026-27, Subordinate Legislation

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Subordinate Legislation, Scottish Fiscal Commission

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Decision on Taking Business in Private, Social Security Scotland

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

See all of this committee's Official Reports

Work of the Committee: Reports

Committee reports

Social Justice and Social Security Committee Session 6 Legacy Report

Published: 23 March 2026

Annual Report of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee 2025-26

Published: 19 March 2026

Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Armed Forces Bill

Published: 18 March 2026

A report on the consideration of a Legislative Consent Memorandum by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

See all of this committee's reports

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.

Membership

Conveners
Natalie Don-Innes, Scottish National Party (10 November 2022 to 11 April 2023)
Neil Gray, Scottish National Party (23 June 2021 to 25 January 2022)
Collette Stevenson, Scottish National Party (27 April 2023 to 8 April 2026)
Elena Whitham, Scottish National Party (27 January 2022 to 3 November 2022)
Deputy Conveners
Bob Doris, Scottish National Party (7 September 2023 to 8 April 2026)
Gordon MacDonald, Scottish National Party (27 April 2023 to 29 June 2023)
Emma Roddick, Scottish National Party (10 November 2022 to 31 March 2023)
Members
Claire Baker, Scottish Labour (10 December 2025 to 8 April 2026)
Jeremy Balfour, Independent (17 June 2021 to 8 April 2026)
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (17 June 2021 to 29 June 2023)
Foysol Choudhury, Scottish Labour (17 June 2021 to 25 April 2023)
Katy Clark, Scottish Labour (25 April 2023 to 15 January 2025)
James Dornan, Scottish National Party (9 November 2022 to 30 October 2023)
Pam Duncan-Glancy, Scottish Labour (17 June 2021 to 25 April 2023)
Mark Griffin, Scottish Labour (15 January 2025 to 2 September 2025)
Michael Marra, Scottish Labour (2 September 2025 to 10 December 2025)
John Mason, Scottish National Party (31 October 2023 to 17 June 2024)
Roz McCall, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (29 June 2023 to 10 October 2024)
Paul McLennan, Scottish National Party (31 March 2022 to 11 April 2023)
Marie McNair, Scottish National Party (17 June 2021 to 31 March 2022)
Carol Mochan, Scottish Labour (2 September 2025 to 8 April 2026)
Paul O'Kane, Scottish Labour (25 April 2023 to 2 September 2025)
Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (10 October 2024 to 26 June 2025)
Alexander Stewart, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (26 June 2025 to 8 April 2026)
Kevin Stewart, Scottish National Party (18 June 2024 to 13 November 2024)
Substitute Members
Stephanie Callaghan, Scottish National Party (18 April 2023 to 1 November 2023)
Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (8 September 2021 to 25 May 2022)
David Torrance, Scottish National Party (6 March 2024 to 8 April 2026)
Evelyn Tweed, Scottish National Party (31 August 2021 to 18 April 2023)
Tess White, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party (25 May 2022 to 5 September 2023)