All meetings of the committee

This is all meetings of Social Justice and Social Security Committee held in 2025. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

34th Meeting

18 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. UK Child Poverty Strategy
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Director Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice
  Scottish Government
3. UK Child Poverty Strategy
4. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill (in private)

33rd Meeting

11 December

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decisions on taking business in private
3. Social Security Independent Advocacy Service
Show witnesses
• Andrew Bartlett
  CEO
  Advice Direct Scotland
4. Social Security Independent Advocacy Service
5. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill (in private)
6. Correspondence
7. Work programme

32nd Meeting

04 December

1. Two-child limit policy (in private)
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill (in private)

31st Meeting

27 November

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Adult Disability Payments
Show witnesses
• Edel Harris OBE
  Former Chair
  Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment
and then from:
• Stephen Boyle
  Auditor General for Scotland
• Erin McGinley
  Senior Auditor, Performance Audit & Best Value
  Audit Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Adult Disability Payments
5. Work programme
6. Correspondence

30th Meeting

20 November

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Sarah Boyack MSP
  Member in Charge of the Bill
  Scottish Parliament
• Roz Thomson
  Head of Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
• Sean Taheny
  Assistant Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
• Caroline Mair
  Solicitor, Legal Services
  Scottish Parliament
3. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
4. Work programme

29th Meeting

13 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Richard Lochhead
  Minister for Business and Employment
  Scottish Government
• Iain Stewart
  Team Leader, Strategy Division
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

28th Meeting

06 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jenny Munro
  Policy, Practice and Research Officer
  Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland
• Duncan Thorp
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Social Enterprise Scotland
• Ellie Twist
  Co-Convenor for UKELA Scotland
  UK Environmental Law Association
• Emma Hunter
  Policy Officer
  Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

27th Meeting

30 October

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Adam Milne
  Senior Policy Advocate
  Carnegie UK
• Frances Guy
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scotland's International Development Alliance
• Skye Allan
  MSYP for Dumfriesshire
  Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament
• Kristers Lukins
  MSYP for Dundee City West
  Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament
• Lloyd Austin
  Convener of the LINK Governance Group
  Scottish Environment LINK
3. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
4. Work programme

26th Meeting

09 October

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Dawn Kane
  Senior Policy Officer, Carer Benefits
  Scottish Government
• Jane Sterry
  Team Leader, Carer Support Payment Policy
  Scottish Government
• Karolina Bodzak
  Solicitor, Disability and Carer Benefits Branch
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Professor Calvin Jones
  Economist
• Professor Colin Reid
  Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law
  University of Dundee
5. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
6. Work programme

25th Meeting

02 October

24th Meeting

25 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Director Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• James Wallace
  Deputy Director, Social Justice Finance Lead
  Scottish Government
• Ian Davidson
  Deputy Director, Social Security Policy
  Scottish Government
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
4. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
5. Work programme (in private)

23rd Meeting

18 September

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Owen Allen
  Team Leader, Winter Benefits & Welfare Fund
  Scottish Government
• Pamela Forsyth
  Service Manager, Carers Support Payment and Common Components
  Scottish Government
• Daniel Blaikie
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Thomas Nicol
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Leah Duncan-Karrim
  Policy and Influencing Lead
  One Parent Families Scotland
• Adam Stachura
  Associate Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs
  Age Scotland
• Fiona Collie
  Head of Public Affairs and Communications
  Carers Scotland
• Allan Faulds
  Senior Policy Officer
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
7. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
8. Work programme

22nd Meeting

11 September

1. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Professor Stephen Sinclair
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
• Emma Jackson
  Head of Social Justice
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Edel Harris OBE
  Chair
  Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

21st Meeting

04 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Tom Wernham
  Senior Research Economist
  Institute for Fiscal Studies
• David Phillips
  Associate Director
  Institute for Fiscal Studies
• Mairi Spowage
  Director
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• David Bell
  Professor of Economics
  University of Stirling
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

20th Meeting

26 June

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)
2. Declaration of interests
3. Decisions on taking business in private
4. Scottish Commission on Social Security
Show witnesses
• Ed Pybus
  Chair,
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
•  Judith Paterson
  Board Member
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
5. Scottish Commission on Social Security
6. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
7. Temporary and tied visa holders

19th Meeting

19 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
4. Correspondence
5. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)

18th Meeting

12 June

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Gemma MacAllister
  Lawyer, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Local authority housing emergencies
Show witnesses
• Maeve McGoldrick
  Head of Policy and Communications in Scotland
  Crisis
• Susie Fitton
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
• Fionna Kell
  Director of Policy
  Homes for Scotland
• John Blackwood
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Association of Landlords
• Mike Callaghan
  Policy Manager
  COSLA
• Tony Cain
  Policy Manager
  Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO)
5. Local authority housing emergencies
6. Work programme

17th Meeting

29 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Eradicating Child Poverty
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Director Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Ann McKenzie
  Unit Head, Tackling Child Poverty Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Ruth Steele
  Unit Head, Social Security Futures
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Eradicating Child Poverty

16th Meeting

22 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship
Show witnesses
• Kaukab Stewart
  Minister for Equalities
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Janine Kellett
  Head of Homelessness Unit
  Scottish Government
• James Messis
  Council Tax and Reform Policy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Eileen Flanagan
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
5. Child poverty statistics and next delivery plan
6. Annual report
7. Work programme

15th Meeting

15 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship
Show witnesses
• Lynne O'Brien
  Chief Officer for Children and Families
  Aberlour
• Erica Young
  Senior Policy Officer (Social Justice)
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Kirsty McKechnie
  Early Warning System Project Manager (Scotland)
  Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
3. UK Government Welfare Reforms
Show witnesses
• Fiona Collie
  Head of Public Affairs and Communications
  Carers Scotland
• Emma Jackson
  Head of Social Justice
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Dr Hannah Randolph
  Economist Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Dr Sally Witcher OBE FRSA
  Founder and Director
  Inclusive New Normal
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
4. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
5. UK Government Welfare Reforms

14th Meeting

08 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship
Show witnesses
• Sophie Berry
  Solicitor
  Govan Law Centre
• Aaliya Seyal
  Member, Access to Justice Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• Colin Lancaster
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Legal Aid Board
• Cindy Morrice
  Head of Civil Finance
  Scottish Legal Aid Board
3. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
4. Work programme

13th Meeting

01 May

1. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship
Show witnesses
• Lyndsay Clelland
  Policy Officer
  Age Scotland
• Stuart Duffin
  CEO and Company Secretary
  Counselling Services Glasgow
• Dr Jenn Glinski
  National Policy Lead for Economic Abuse
  Scottish Women's Aid
and then from:
• Viki Fox
  Policy & Participation Manager/Recovery Housing Service Manager
  All in for Change
• Susie Fitton
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
• Lee Valantine
  Homelessness Advisor
  South Lanarkshire Council
2. Financial considerations when leaving an abusive relationship (in private)

12th Meeting

24 April

1. Housing (Scotland) Bill

11th Meeting

03 April

1. Housing (Scotland) Bill
2. Correspondence

10th Meeting

27 March

1. Financial considerations of leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
2. Housing (Scotland) Bill

9th Meeting

20 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Housing (Scotland) Bill
4. Work programme

8th Meeting

13 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pensioner Poverty: digital exclusion
Show witnesses
• Louise Coupland
  Digital Health and Social Care Manager
  the ALLIANCE
• Jillian Matthew
  Senior Manager, Performance Audit and Best Value
  Audit Scotland
• Kyle Scott
  Policy Manager, Stronger Communities and Public Affairs
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Miriam Craven
  Chief Operating Officer
  Social Security Scotland
3. Pensioner Poverty: digital exclusion

7th Meeting

06 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Kyle Murray
  Procedural and International Policy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Gemma MacAllister
  Lawyer, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Work programme

6th Meeting

20 February

5th Meeting

06 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pensioner Poverty
Show witnesses
• Adam Stachura
  Associate Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs
  Age Scotland
• Mark McLeod
  Fuel Poverty Partnerships Manager, Home Energy Scotland
  Energy Saving Trust
• Richard Gass
  Welfare Rights & Money Advice Manager
  Glasgow City Council
• Debbie Horne
  Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Independent Age
• Heidi Karjalainen
  Senior Research Economist
  Institute for Fiscal Studies
• Claire Cairns
  Director
  The Coalition of Carers in Scotland
3. Pensioner Poverty
4. Work programme

4th Meeting

30 January

1. Financial aspects of leaving an abusive relationship (in private)
2. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (in private)

3rd Meeting

23 January

1. Work programme (in private)

2nd Meeting

16 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Social Security Scotland
Show witnesses
• David Wallace
  Chief Executive
  Social Security Scotland
• Miriam Craven
  Chief Operating Officer
  Social Security Scotland
• Ally MacPhail
  Deputy Director of Organisational Strategy and Performance
  Social Security Scotland
3. Social Security Scotland

1st Meeting

09 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• James Wallace
  Deputy Director for Communities Finance
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Director Tackling Child Poverty & Social Justice
  Scottish Government
3. Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
4. Work programme

This is all meetings of Social Justice and Social Security Committee held in 2024. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

34th Meeting

19 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Fiscal Commission
Show witnesses
• Professor Graeme Roy
  Chair
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor Francis Breedon
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Michael Davidson
  Head of Social Security and Devolved Taxes
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Scottish Fiscal Commission

33rd Meeting

05 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Ann McKenzie
  Unit Head, Tackling Child Poverty Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Andrew Fraser
  Child Poverty Briefing and Strategy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017
4. Financial aspects of leaving an abusive relationship

32nd Meeting

28 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017
Show witnesses
• John Dickie
  Director of Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
  End Child Poverty Coalition
• Dr Hannah Randolph
  Economist Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Professor Stephen Sinclair
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017
4. Correspondence

31st Meeting

21 November

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017
Show witnesses
• Evan Beswick
  Chief Officer
  Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership
• Sally Buchanan
  Library Services and Fairer Falkirk Manager
  Falkirk Council
• Martin Booth
  Executive Director of Finance
  Glasgow City Council
• Peter Kelly
  Chief Executive
  The Poverty Alliance
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Beth Stanners
  Senior Policy Officer: Carer Benefits and Case Transfer Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• David Hilber
  Team Leader, Case Transfer Policy
  Scottish Government
• Thomas Nicol
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Subordinate legislation
7. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017

30th Meeting

14 November

29th Meeting

07 November

1. Subordinate legislation (in private)
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private)
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Posy Musgrave
  Team Leader – Early Years and Funeral Support
  Scottish Government
• Barbara Hughes
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
6. Subordinate legislation
7. Correspondence

28th Meeting

31 October

1. Declaration of interests
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Owen Allen
  Team Leader, Winter Benefits & Welfare Fund
  Scottish Government
• Julie McKinney
  Head of Social Security Strategy, Welfare Fund and Winter Benefits
  Scottish Government
• Stephanie Virlogeux
  Lawyer, Scottish Government Legal Department
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private)

27th Meeting

10 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Show witnesses
• Erica Judge
  Director of Funds
  Inspiring Scotland
• Neil Ritch
  Scotland Director
  The National Lottery Community Fund
• Karin Earl
  Funding Manager
  The Robertson Trust
• Professor Tobias Jung
  Professor of Management
  University of St Andrews
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private)
5. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (in private)
6. Scottish Government Review of National Outcomes (in private)
7. Correspondence

26th Meeting

03 October

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Post-legislative scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

25th Meeting

26 September

1. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
2. Work programme (in private)

24th Meeting

19 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
3. Work programme (in private)

23rd Meeting

12 September

1. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Show witnesses
• Ran Majumder
  Trustee
  Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council
• David Wood
  Chief Executive Officer
  Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire
• Hayley Mearns
  Chief Executive Officer
  Voluntary Action Angus
• Lynn Tulloch
  Executive Officer & Company Secretary
  Voluntary Action Shetland
and then from:
• Allan Faulds
  Senior Policy Officer
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
• Rachel Cackett
  Chief Executive Officer
  Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)
• Euan Leitch
  Chief Executive
  SURF - Scotland's Regeneration Forum
• Dr Judith Turbyne
  Chief Executive
  Children In Scotland
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private)
5. Work programme

22nd Meeting

05 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Housing (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Paul McLennan
  Minister for Housing
  Scottish Government
• Catriona MacKean
  Deputy Director of Better Homes
  Scottish Government
• Laura McMahon
  Solicitor, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Matt Howarth
  Policy Officer, Homelessness Prevention Team
  Scottish Government
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26
Show witnesses
• Sheghley Ogilvie
  Public Affairs Officer
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
• Sarah Latto
  Senior Policy Officer
  Volunteer Scotland
• Douglas Westwater
  Chair
  Social Enterprise Scotland
• Tim Frew
  Chief Executive
  YouthLink Scotland
• Ian Bruce
  Third Sector Interface Network Scotland
4. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26

21st Meeting

27 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Housing (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Paul McLennan
  Minister for Housing
  Scottish Government
• Catriona MacKean
  Deputy Director of Better Homes
  Scottish Government
• Pamela McBride
  Homelessness Prevention Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Naeem Bhatti
  Head of Fuel Poverty and Housing Standards Unit
  Scottish Government
• Craig McGuffie
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Scottish Child Payment

20th Meeting

20 June

1. Document subject to parliamentary control (in private)
2. Correspondence (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)
4. Housing (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Susie Fitton
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
• Valerie Arbuckle
  National Partnership Development Manager
  Police Scotland
• Pat Togher
  Chief Officer
  Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
• Mike Callaghan
  Policy Manager
  COSLA
and then from:
• Suzie McIlloney
  Change Lead
  All in for Change
• Heather McCluskey
  Implementation Lead
  Centre for Homelessness Impact
• Sarah Rogers
  Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer
  Families Outside
• Shea Moran
  Senior Representative
  Aff the Streets
5. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)

19th Meeting

13 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Housing (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick
  Director of Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE)
  Heriot-Watt University
• Maeve McGoldrick
  Head of Policy and Communications in Scotland
  Crisis
• John Mills
  Co-Chair and Head of Housing at Fife Council
  Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO)
• Annika Joy
  Programme Director - Ending Destitution
  Simon Community Scotland
and then from:
• Jules Oldham
  Head of Policy
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Gordon MacRae
  Assistant Director (Communications & Advocacy)
  Shelter Scotland
• Maggie Brunjes
  Chief Executive
  Homeless Network Scotland
3. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
4. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private)
5. Correspondence

18th Meeting

06 June

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
Show witnesses
• Marieke Dwarshuis
  Board Chair
  Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
• Martin Tyson
  Head of Regulation and Improvement
  The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
4. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• David Wallace
  Chief Executive
  Social Security Scotland
• Kyle Murray
  Procedural and International Policy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
5. Subordinate legislation
6. The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
7. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private)
8. Subordinate legislation (in private)
9. Correspondence

17th Meeting

30 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Child Payment
Show witnesses
• Jack Evans
  Senior Policy Advisor (Scotland)
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Stephen Sinclair
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
• Ruth Boyle
  Policy and Campaigns Manager
  The Poverty Alliance
• Erica Young
  Policy Officer (Social Justice)
  Citizens Advice Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Jane Sterry
  Policy Lead for Carer Support Payment
  Scottish Government
• Ross Grimley
  Lawyer, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Scottish Child Payment
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26

16th Meeting

23 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Child Payment
Show witnesses
• Professor Danny Dorling
  Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography
  University of Oxford
• Tom Wernham
  Research Economist
  Institute for Fiscal Studies
• Dr Juliet Stone
  Research Fellow, Centre for Research in Social Policy
  Loughborough University
• Professor Ruth Patrick
  Professor in Social Policy
  University of York
• Professor Emma Tominey
  Professor in Economics
  University of York
3. Scottish Child Payment
4. Work programme
5. Annual report
6. Subordinate legislation (in private)

15th Meeting

16 May

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Peter Bell
  Policy Manager, Pension Age Disability Payment
  Scottish Government
• Helen Speirs
  Senior Policy Officer, Case Transfer
  Scottish Government
• Daniel Blaikie
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation

14th Meeting

09 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pension Age Disability Payment
Show witnesses
• Marilyn Howard
  Member
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
• Adam Stachura
  Associate Director for Policy, Communications and External Affairs
  Age Scotland
• Debbie Horne
  Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Independent Age
3. Pension Age Disability Payment
4. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

13th Meeting

01 May

12th Meeting

25 April

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Client experience of Social Security Scotland’s redetermination and appeals process
Show witnesses
• Tim Barraclough
  Executive Director, Tribunals and Office of the Public Guardian 
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Lesley Black
  Director Tribunals
  Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• Gayle Devlin
  Deputy Director of Health and Social Care
  Social Security Scotland
3. Client experience of Social Security Scotland’s redetermination and appeals process
4. Poverty and Inequality Commission Appointments (in private)
5. Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

11th Meeting

18 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Poverty and Inequality Commission Appointments
3. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Iain Hunter
  Bill Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Kayleigh Blair
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Housing (Scotland) Bill
6. Work programme

10th Meeting

28 March

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Lynne Macfarlane
  Solicitor Advocate
  Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL)
• Alastair Ross
  Assistant Director, Head of Public Policy (Scotland, Wales & NI)
  Association of British Insurers
• Alan Rogerson
  Member
  Forum of Scottish Claims Managers
3. Client experience of Social Security Scotland’s redetermination and appeals process
Show witnesses
• Erica Young
  Policy Officer (Social Justice)
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Richard Gass
  Chair
  Rights Advice Scotland
• Kirsty McKechnie
  Early Warning System Project Manager (Scotland)
  Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
4. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
5. Client experience of Social Security Scotland’s redetermination and appeals process
6. Work programme
7. Extra Costs of Disability Research

9th Meeting

21 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Fiona Collie
  Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland & Northern Ireland
  Carers Scotland
• Vicki Cahill
  Policy and Public Affairs Lead
  Alzheimer Scotland
4. Extra Costs of Disability Research
Show witnesses
• Chirsty McFadyen
  Knowledge Exchange Associate
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Dr Laura Robertson
  Senior Research Officer
  The Poverty Alliance
5. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
6. Extra Costs of Disability Research

8th Meeting

14 March

1. Decisions on taking business in private
2. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Kirstie Henderson
  Policy Officer (Scotland)
  Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
• Claire Andrews
  Legal Rights Officer, Legal Rights Service
  Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
• Craig Smith
  Senior Policy and Research Officer
  Scottish Action for Mental Health
• Allan Faulds
  Senior Policy Officer
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
3. Consideration of evidence
4. Work programme
5. Correspondence

7th Meeting

07 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Erica Young
  Policy Officer (Social Justice)
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Jon Shaw
  Welfare Rights Worker
  Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
• Richard Gass
  Chair
  Rights Advice Scotland
• Michael Clancy OBE
  Director of Law Reform
  Law Society of Scotland
• Diane Connock
  Advice Services and Welfare Reform Team Leader
  Stirling Council
3. Consideration of evidence
4. Work programme

6th Meeting

29 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Housing and Refugees
Show witnesses
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Phil Arnold
  Head of Refugee Support – Scotland, Wales and N Ireland
  British Red Cross
3. Review of Poverty and Inequality Commission Resignation Review Report (in private)
Show witnesses
• John Somers
  Deputy Director Police Division (the Reviewer)
  Scottish Government
4. Consideration of evidence
5. Social Security Scotland

5th Meeting

22 February

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Kyle Murray
  Procedural and International Policy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Dominic Mellan
  Economic Advisor
  Scottish Government
• Katie Joshi
  Scottish Government Legal Department
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation

4th Meeting

08 February

1. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
2. Scottish Government’s Report on the Review of Poverty and Inequality Commission Resignations (in private)
3. Addressing Child Poverty Through Parental Employment (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

3rd Meeting

01 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Homelessness and temporary accommodation
Show witnesses
• Nicky Brown
  Head of Homelessness and Household Support
  City of Edinburgh Council
• Michael Cameron
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Housing Regulator
• Gordon MacRae
  Assistant Director (Communications & Advocacy)
  Shelter Scotland
• Jim McBride
  Head of Homelessness and Complex Needs
  Glasgow City Council
• Gavin Smith
  Service Manager for Housing Access at Fife Council
  Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO)
3. Social Security Scotland
Show witnesses
• Ally MacPhail
  Deputy Director for Strategy, Change, Data and Engagement
  Social Security Scotland
• Gayle Devlin
  Deputy Director of Health and Social Care
  Social Security Scotland
• James Wallace
  Deputy Director for Finance and Corporate Services
  Social Security Scotland
4. Consideration of evidence

2nd Meeting

25 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Sean Neill
  Director for Local Government and Communities
  Scottish Government
• Stephen Kerr
  Director, Social Security
  Scottish Government
• Shirley Laing
  Director for Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice
  Scottish Government
4. Consideration of evidence

1st Meeting

11 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Show witnesses
• Professor Graeme Roy
  Chair
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Michael Davidson
  Head of Social Security and Devolved Taxes
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor David Ulph
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Consideration of evidence

This is all meetings of Social Justice and Social Security Committee held in 2023. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

33rd Meeting

21 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Statutory review of the Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill (in private)

32nd Meeting

07 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• Mark Griffin MSP
  Member in Charge
• Neil Stewart
  Senior Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
• Ailidh Callander
  Senior Solicitor, Legal Services Office
  Scottish Parliament
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Kelly Donohoe
  Cross Cutting Benefits Policy Official
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Consideration of evidence

31st Meeting

30 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Risga Summers
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
3. Delivering Scottish Social Security
Show witnesses
• Dr Sally Witcher OBE FRSA
  Founder and Director
  Inclusive New Normal
4. Consideration of evidence

30th Meeting

23 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• John McKenzie
  Regional Secretary
  Fire Brigade Union (Scotland)
• Mike Corbett
  National Official (Scotland)
  NASUWT
• Norman Provan
  RCN Scotland’s Associate Director, Employment Relations
  Royal College of Nursing
• Linda Somerville
  Deputy General Secretary
  Scottish Trades Union Congress
• Lorna Glen
  Unite Regional Officer, Scotland
  Unite the Union
and then from:
• Anna Ritchie Allan
  Executive Director
  Close the Gap
• Ian Tasker
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Hazards
• Tony Higgins
  President
  PFA Scotland
• Professor Andrew Watterson
  Occupational and Environmental Health Researcher
  University of Stirling
3. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill

29th Meeting

16 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• Lucy Kenyon
  Non-executive Director and Past-President
  iOH, The Association of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Professionals
• Professor Ewan Macdonald
  Chair of the Academic Forum for work and health
  which the Society of Occupational Medicine hosts
3. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
4. Poverty and Inequality Commission Appointment Process
5. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

28th Meeting

09 November

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Kinship Care
Show witnesses
• Natalie Don
  Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
  Scottish Government
• Dawn Abell
  Unit Head: Caregivers
  Scottish Government
• Louisa Brown
  Family Care Team Leader, Improving Lives for People with Care Experience
  Scottish Government
5. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• Dr Lesley Rushton
  Chair
  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
• Dr Mark Simpson
  Interim Co-Chair
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
6. Consideration of evidence
7. Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

27th Meeting

02 November

26th Meeting

02 November

1. Pre-Budget Scrutiny (in private)

25th Meeting

26 October

1. Declaration of interests
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Oliver Wain
  Policy Manager, Disability Benefits Policy, Social Security Directorate
  Scottish Government
• Madeleine Macphail
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25 (in private)

24th Meeting

05 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Show witnesses
• Bill Scott
  Director of Policy
  Inclusion Scotland
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Gordon MacRae
  Assistant Director (Communications & Advocacy)
  Shelter Scotland
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
4. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
5. Correspondence

23rd Meeting

28 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Jane Sterry
  Policy Lead for Carer Support Payment
  Scottish Government
• Euan Geddes
  Policy Official, Carer’s Allowance Case Transfer
  Scottish Government
• Ross Grimley
  Lawyer, Legal Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Show witnesses
• Paul Bradley
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
• Alison Davis
  Business Manager
  Saheliya
6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
7. Work programme (in private)

22nd Meeting

26 September

21st Meeting

21 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Maggie Chiwanza
  CEO
  MECOPP
• Fiona Collie
  Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland & Northern Ireland
  Carers Scotland
•  Judith Paterson
  Interim Co-Chair
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
• Paul Traynor
  Head of Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance
  Carers Trust Scotland
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25
Show witnesses
• Chris Birt
  Deputy Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Emma Congreve
  Deputy Director, Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• Dr Alison Hosie
  Researcher
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Bill Scott
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
4. Consideration of evidence
5. Poverty and Inequality Commission Appointment Process
6. Work programme

20th Meeting

14 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Natalie Don
  Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
  Scottish Government
• Graeme Dey
  Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans
  Scottish Government
• Jane Duffy
  Unit Head, Post School Qualifications
  Scottish Government
• Matthew Farrell
  Head of Strategy, Finance and Performance
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty and Financial Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
• Ann McKenzie
  Unit Head, Tackling Child Poverty Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
and then from:
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Neil Gray
  Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
  Scottish Government
• Aidan Grisewood
  Interim Director, Economic Strategy
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty and Financial Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
• Ann McKenzie
  Unit Head, Tackling Child Poverty Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
3. Social Justice Priorities
Show witnesses
• Shirley-Anne Somerville
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty and Financial Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
• Ann McKenzie
  Unit Head, Tackling Child Poverty Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Aidan Grisewood
  Interim Director, Economic Strategy
  Scottish Government
4. Consideration of evidence
5. Correspondence

19th Meeting

07 September

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Deputy Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Paul Finch
  Strategy Manager, Nestrans and Vice Chair for Transportation
  Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS)
• Mick Hogg
  Regional Organiser
  National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
• Paul White
  Director
  Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland
5. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
6. Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

18th Meeting

29 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Helen Herd
  Head of Human Resources
  Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Rachel Hunter
  Director of Enterprise Support
  Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Heather Melville-Hume
  Senior HR Manager
  Independent Living Fund Scotland
• Harvey Tilley
  Chief Operating Officer
  Independent Living Fund Scotland
• Andy Wood
  People Services Lead
  The Wheatley Group
3. Social Security Scotland disability benefit processing times
Show witnesses
• David Wallace
  Chief Executive
  Social Security Scotland
• Ally MacPhail
  Deputy Director for Strategy, Change, Data and Engagement
  Social Security Scotland
• Sue Scotland
  Deputy Director, Social Security Programme Management and Delivery Division, Social Security Directorate
  Scottish Government
4. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
5. Social Security Scotland disability benefit processing times
6. Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

17th Meeting

22 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Jack Evans
  Senior Policy Advisor (Scotland)
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Lynn Houmdi
  Co-Creator and Programme Manager, Making Work Work, The Challenges Group Founder
  Flexible Working Scotland
• Nikki Slowey
  Director and Co-Founder
  Flexibility Works
• Jane van Zyl
  Chief Executive Officer
  Working Families
• Marek Zemanik
   Senior Public Policy Advisor
  Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
and then from:
• Andrea Bradley
  General Secretary, Educational Institute of Scotland
  Scottish Trades Union Congress
• Karen Hedge
  Deputy Chief Executive
  Scottish Care
• Louisa Macdonell
  Scotland Director
  Business in the Community
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
4. Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council (Scotland) Bill
5. Correspondence

16th Meeting

15 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Kenny Anderson
  Director
  Scottish Wider Access Programme
• Jackie Galbraith
  Principal and Chief Executive Officer of West Lothian College
  Colleges Scotland
• Sharon McIntyre
  Head of Career Information Advice and Guidance Operations
  Skills Development Scotland
• Keith Robson
  Senior Public Affairs Manager, The Open University
  Universities Scotland
and then from:
• Marion Davis
  Director of Policy, Communication and Strategy
  One Parent Families Scotland
• Sarah McCulley
  Falkirk Council Representative
  Scottish Local Authorities' Economic Development (SLAED)
• David Stewart
  Regional Development Manager
  Fedcap Scotland
• Philip Whyte
  Director
  Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

15th Meeting

08 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Beverley Isdale
  Chief Executive
  First 4 Kids
• Susan McGhee
  Chief Executive
  Flexible Childcare Services Scotland
• Rami Okasha
  Chief Executive Officer
  Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
• Kirsty Ramage
  Project Leader
  Bellsbank Project
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
4. Work programme

14th Meeting

01 June

1. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill

13th Meeting

25 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
Show witnesses
• Irene Audain
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Out of School Care Network
• Jonathan Broadbery
  Director of Policy and Communications
  National Day Nurseries Association
• Graeme McAlister
  Chief Executive
  Scottish Childminding Association
• Matthew Sweeney
  Policy Manager, Children and Young People
  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
4. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
5. Annual report
6. Additional costs for disabled people
7. Work programme

12th Meeting

11 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Scrutinising Social Justice
4. Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill
5. Impact of the cost of the living crisis
6. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill

11th Meeting

04 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Cost of Living: Lone Parents
Show witnesses
• Martin Canavan
  Head of Policy & Participation
  Aberlour Children's Charity
• James Dunbar
  Chief Executive
  New Start Highland
• Morag Hannah
  Chief Executive Officer
  Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau
• Cara Hilton
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Scotland)
  Trussel Trust
• Fiona King
  Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Save the Children
• Kirsty McKechnie
  Early Warning System Project Manager (Scotland)
  Child Poverty Action Group Scotland
• Laura Millar
  Strategic Manager
  Fife Gingerbread
• Satwat Rehman
  Chief Executive Officer
  One Parent Families Scotland
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry (in private)
4. Appointments and Reappointments to the Poverty and Inequality Commission
5. Work programme

10th Meeting

27 April

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Convener
3. Choice of Deputy Convener
4. Decision on taking business in private
5. Cost of living: disabled people and unpaid carers
Show witnesses
• Ruth Boyle
  Policy and Campaigns Manager
  The Poverty Alliance
• Becky Duff
  Director for Scotland
  Carers Trust
• Allan Faulds
  Policy and Information Officer
  Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)
• Heather Fisken
  Head of Policy and Research
  Inclusion Scotland
• Steven McAvoy
  Senior Welfare Rights Advisor
  ENABLE Scotland
• Richard Meade
  Director
  Carers Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Stephanie Millar
  Policy Manager
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Suzanne Munday
  Gypsy / Traveller Service Lead
  MECOPP
• Frazer Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Energy Action Scotland
• Morna Simpkins
  Scotland Director
  MS Society Scotland
• Adam Stachura
  Head of Policy and Communications
  Age Scotland
• Ellie Wagstaff
  Senior Policy Manager
  Marie Curie Scotland
• Susan Webster
  Head of Policy and Campaigns
  MND Scotland
6. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
7. Correspondence

9th Meeting

23 March

1. Work programme (in private)

8th Meeting

22 March

7th Meeting

16 March

1. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison MSP
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Caroline Monk
  Head of Charity Law
  Scottish Government
• Melissa Smith
  Charity Law Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Rebecca Reid
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Megan Stefaniak
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
2. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

6th Meeting

09 March

1. Subordinate legislation
2. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Martin Tyson
  Head of Regulation and Improvement
  Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
• Alan Eccles
  Solicitor member - Charity Law Sub-Committee
  Law Society of Scotland
• John Maton
  Assistant Director - Legal Services
  Charity Commission for England and Wales
and then from:
• Dr John Picton
  Senior Lecturer (Charity Law and Policy Unit)
  University of Liverpool
• Nick Holroyd
  Member
  Faculty of Advocates
• Gavin McEwan
  Committee Member
  Charity Law Association
• Keith Macpherson
  Member
  ICAS Charities Panel
3. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

5th Meeting

02 March

1. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Jason Henderson
  Policy and Public Affairs Officer
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
• David Gibson
  the Methodist Church’s representative on the Scottish Churches’ Committee
  Methodist Church in Scotland
• Steven Inglis
  Team Leader
  Aberdeen City Council
• Madelaine Sproule
  Solicitor
  Church of Scotland
• Sarah Latto
  Policy Officer
  Volunteer Scotland
and then from:
• Vicki Cahill
  Policy Officer
  Alzheimer Scotland
• Mridul Wadhwa
  Chief Executive Officer
  Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
• Rami Okasha
  Chief Executive Officer
  Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
• Shona NicIIIinnein
  Chief Executive Officer
  Bòrd na Gàidhlig
2. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry (in private)
4. Work programme (in private)

4th Meeting

23 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Dominic Mellan
  Economic Adviser - Social Security Analysis, Forecasting and Evaluation Branch
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Susan Soutar
  Reserved Benefits Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Kayleigh Blair
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
6. Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

3rd Meeting

09 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Commission on Social Security
Show witnesses
• Marilyn Howard
  Member
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
3. Scottish Commission on Social Security
4. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)

2nd Meeting

02 February

1. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry (in private)
2. Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill (in private)
3. Work programme (in private)

1st Meeting

19 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison MSP
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Shirley Laing
  Director for Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Stevens
  Head of Strategic and Programme Finance
  Scottish Government
3. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry
4. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

This is all meetings of Social Justice and Social Security Committee held in 2022. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

36th Meeting

22 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Show witnesses
• Professor Graeme Roy
  Chair
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor David Ulph
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Michael Davidson
  Head of Social Security and Public Funding
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Social Security Scotland
Show witnesses
• David Wallace
  Chief Executive
  Social Security Scotland
• James Wallace
  Deputy Director for Finance and Corporate Services
  Social Security Scotland
• Janet Richardson
  Deputy Director, Client Services Delivery
  Social Security Scotland
4. Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
5. Social Security Scotland

35th Meeting

15 December

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Owen Allen
  Winter Heating Benefits Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Daniel Blaikie
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Angela Keane
  Service Manager, Winter Benefits
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation

34th Meeting

08 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Frazer Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Energy Action Scotland
• Dr Mark Simpson
  Acting Co-Chair
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Correspondence (in private)

33rd Meeting

01 December

1. Work programme (in private)

32nd Meeting

24 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy
Show witnesses
• Jonathan Senker
  Chief Executive
  VoiceAbility
• Susan Douglas-Scott
  Chair of Trustees
  VoiceAbility
• Emily Johnston
  Operations Manager
  VoiceAbility
4. Scottish Benefits Independent Advocacy

31st Meeting

24 November

30th Meeting

17 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Frank McKillop
  Head of Policy and Research
  ENABLE Scotland
• Rachel Cackett
  Chief Executive Officer
  Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)
• Beth Reid
  Senior Policy Officer
  Crisis
• Sheena Arthur
  Partnership Manager (Health and Social Care)
  Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS)
• Chris Gehrke
  Community Leader/Director
  L'Arche Highland
• Andrew Ewen
  Chief of Staff
  Leonard Cheshire
and then from:
• Kevin Stewart
  Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care
  Scottish Government
• Ian Turner
  Deputy Director, Adult Social Care Workforce and Fair Work
  Scottish Government
• Anna Kynaston
  Deputy Director of National Care Service (NCS) Programme Design, Engagement and Legislation
  Scottish Government
3. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill

29th Meeting

10 November

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Convener
3. Decision on taking business in private
4. Subordinate legislation
5. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Adam Stachura
  Head of Policy and Communications
  Age Scotland
• Dr Pauline Nolan
  Head of Leadership and Civic Participation
  Inclusion Scotland
• Suzanne Munday
  Gypsy / Traveller Service Lead
  MECOPP - Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project
• Paul Traynor
  Head of External Affairs (Scotland)
  Carers Trust Scotland
and then from:
• Cara Stevenson
  Organiser for the Women’s Campaign Unit
  GMB Scotland
• Sarah Latto
  Policy Officer
  Volunteer Scotland
• Sara Cowan
  Coordinator
  Scottish Women's Budget Group
• Alison White
  Convenor
  Social Work Scotland
6. National Care Service (Scotland) Bill
7. Child Poverty and Parental Employment Inquiry

28th Meeting

03 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Karen Grieve
  Legislation and Programme Strategy Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Louise Thompson
  Homelessness Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Micheila West
  Solicitor, Housing Branch
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Work programme
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-2024 (in private)

27th Meeting

27 October

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Nicola Birrell
  Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Karen Clyde
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Janet Richardson
  Deputy Director, Client Services Delivery
  Social Security Scotland
• Merlin Kemp
  Scottish Child Payment Team Leader
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24 (in private)

26th Meeting

06 October

1. Work programme (in private)

25th Meeting

03 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Social Security Programme: Audit Scotland report
Show witnesses
• Stephen Boyle
  Auditor General for Scotland
• Kirsty Ridd
  Audit Manager
  Audit Scotland
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Social Security Programme: Audit Scotland report

24th Meeting

29 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget savings and reductions 2022-23
Show witnesses
• John Swinney
  Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for COVID Recovery
  Scottish Government
• Michael Walker
  Senior Finance Business Partner
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty & Financial Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Danny Boyle
  Senior Parliamentary and Policy Officer
  BEMIS
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
and then from:
• Gordon MacRae
  Assistant Director
  Shelter Scotland
• Frank McKillop
  Head of Policy and Research
  ENABLE Scotland
4. Budget savings and reductions 2022-23
5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

23rd Meeting

22 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Pre-Budget Scrutiny
Show witnesses
• Dr Alison Hosie
  Research Officer
  Scottish Human Rights Commission
• Sara Cowan
  Coordinator
  Scottish Women's Budget Group
and then from:
• Ed Pybus
  Policy and Parliamentary Officer
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
• Morag Treanor
  Deputy Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
• Paul Bradley
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny

22nd Meeting

08 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Kinship Care
3. Work programme

21st Meeting

30 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
3. Work programme

20th Meeting

23 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Resource Spending Review
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Kate Forbes
  Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy
  Scottish Government
• Julie Humphreys
  Deputy Director, Tackling Child Poverty & Financial Wellbeing
  Scottish Government
• Sarah O'Donnell
  Strategic Lead for Finance and Governance
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Stevens
  Head of Strategic and Programme Finance
  Scottish Government
• Gemma Dalton
  Public Spending Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Nuala Gormley
  Interim Deputy Director Public Spending
  Scottish Government
• Joanne Farrow
  Deputy Director - Employability
  Scottish Government
3. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Tom Arthur
  Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth
  Scottish Government
• Elaine Moir
  Head of Financial Wellbeing Unit
  Scottish Government
• Robin Haynes
  Head of Council Tax & Alternative local tax policy
  Scottish Government
• Alex Reid
  Head of Policy Development
  Accountant in Bankruptcy
4. Resource Spending Review
5. Inquiry into low income and debt problems

19th Meeting

16 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Correspondence

18th Meeting

09 June

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Medium-term Financial Strategy and Resource Spending Review Framework
Show witnesses
• Dame Susan Rice DBE
  Chair
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor David Ulph
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Claire Murdoch
  Head of Social Security and Public Funding
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Kate Thomson-McDermott
  Head of the Carer Benefits and Case Transfer Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Kayleigh Blair
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Darren Kelly
  Head of Operations Dundee
  Social Security Scotland
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Medium-term Financial Strategy and Resource Spending Review Framework
7. Work programme

17th Meeting

26 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
Show witnesses
• Richard Dennis
  The Accountant in Bankruptcy and Chief Executive
  Accountant in Bankruptcy
3. Scottish Commission on Social Security
Show witnesses
• Dr Sally Witcher
  Chair
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
• Dr Mark Simpson
  Member
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
4. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
5. Scottish Commission on Social Security
6. Annual report

16th Meeting

19 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
Show witnesses
• Paul Ferguson
  Member
  IRRV Scotland Association Executive
• Gordon MacRae
  Assistant Director for Communications and Advocacy
  Shelter Scotland
• Betty Stone
  Chair
  Edinburgh Tenants Federation
• Karen Carrick
  Evaluation Manager
  Improvement Service
• Kirsty McKechnie
  Early Warning System Project Manager (Scotland)
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
• Martin Canavan
  Head of Policy & Participation
  Aberlour
3. Inquiry into low income and debt problems

15th Meeting

12 May

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
Show witnesses
• Peter Kelly
  Director
  The Poverty Alliance
• Sarah-Jayne Dunn
  Policy Manager for Financial Health
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Emma Jackson
  National Director Scotland
  Christians Against Poverty
• Anne Baldock
  Financial Inclusion Team Leader
  One Parent Families Scotland
and then from:
• Zahra Hussain
  Mental Health and Money Advice Senior Adviser
  Mental Health UK
• Hannah Brisbane
  Public Affairs Assistant
  Scottish Association for Mental Health
• Rebecca Stacey
  Senior Research Officer
  Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
• Wendy McAuslan
  Development Coordinator - VOX (Voices of Experience)
  VOX Mental Health Foundation Scotland
3. Inquiry into low income and debt problems

14th Meeting

28 April

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Inquiry into low income and debt problems
Show witnesses
• Alan McIntosh
  Approved Money Adviser
  Advice Talks Ltd
• Charlene Kane
  Armed Services Advice Project Regional Support Officer
  Denny & Dunipace Citizens Advice Bureau
• Matthew Irvine
  Money Adviser
  Advice Direct Scotland
• Jim McPake
  Debt Advisor
  North Lanarkshire Council
and then from:
• Lawrie Morgan-Klein
  Public Affairs Officer
  StepChange
• Heather O'Rourke
  Digital Transformation Lead
  Money Advice Scotland
• David McNeill
  Director of Development
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
• Conor Forbes
  Head of Business Development and Policy
  Advice Direct Scotland
• Susie Fitton
  Policy Manager
  Inclusion Scotland
3. Inquiry into low income and debt problems

13th Meeting

21 April

1. Declaration of interests
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Scottish Government's Child poverty delivery plan 2022-2026
Show witnesses
• Marion Davies
  Director Policy, Communication & Strategy
  One Parent Families Scotland
• Peter Kelly
  Director
  The Poverty Alliance
• Claire Telfer
  Head of Scotland
  Save the Children
• Alison Watson
  Director
  Shelter Scotland
• Bill Scott
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
and then from:
• Jack Evans
  Scotland Policy and Partnerships Manager (Work)
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Philip Whyte
  Director
  IPPR Scotland
• Emma Congreve
  Knowledge Exchange Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
4. Scottish Government's Child poverty delivery plan 2022-2026

12th Meeting

31 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Dominic Mellan
  Economic Adviser - Social Security Analysis
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Case Transfer
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Kate Thomson-McDermott
  Unit Head, Carer Benefits and Case Transfer Policy
  Scottish Government
• David Hilber
  Team Leader, Case Transfer Policy
  Scottish Government
• Kayleigh Blair
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Jane Goodier
  Senior Lead for Disability and Carers Benefits
  Social Security Scotland
5. Kinship Care
Show witnesses
• Clare Haughey
  Minister for Children and Young People
  Scottish Government
• Gwen Davidson
  Unit Head, Improving Lives for People with Care Experience
  Scottish Government
• Louisa Brown
  Family Care Team Leader, Improving Lives for People with Care Experience
  Scottish Government
6. Case Transfer
7. Kinship Care
8. Work programme

11th Meeting

17 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Framework for Resource Spending Review
Show witnesses
• Emma Congreve
  Knowledge Exchange Fellow
  Fraser of Allander Institute
• David Phillips
  Associate Director
  Institute for Fiscal Studies
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Simon Coote
  Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Dominic Mellan
  Economic Adviser - Social Security Analysis
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Framework for Resource Spending Review

10th Meeting

10 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. DWP role in devolved Social Security
Show witnesses
• Chloe Smith
  Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work
  UK Government
• Andrew Latto
  Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits and Carers Allowance Policy
  Department for Work and Pensions
• Margarita Morrison
  Area Director Work and Health Services Scotland
  Department for Work and Pensions
3. Subordinate legislation
4. DWP role in devolved Social Security
5. Work programme

9th Meeting

03 March

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Domestic Violence and Violence against women and girls
Show witnesses
• Dr Marsha Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Scottish Women's Aid
• Eilidh Dickson
  Policy and Parliamentary Manager
  Engender
• Davy Thompson
  Campaign Director
  White Ribbon Scotland
• Laura Tomson
  Co-Director
  Zero Tolerance
and then from:
• Carolyn Fox McKay
  Head of Operations
  Girlguiding Scotland
• Mariam Ahmed
  Chief Executive Officer
  Amina - the Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Alison Davis
  Chief Executive Officer
  Sahelyia
• Tumay Forster
  Outreach Service Team Leader
  Shakti Women's Aid
3. Domestic Violence and Violence against women and girls

8th Meeting

24 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Kinship Care
Show witnesses
• Kirsty Doull
  Permanence Lead
  CELCIS
• Laura Caven
  Chief Officer, Children and Young People Team
  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Vivien Thomson
  Children and Families Policy and Practice Lead
  Social Work Scotland
• Linda Richards
  Service Manager Looked After Services
  Perth & Kinross Council
and then from:
• Micheleine Kane
  Chair
  Scottish Kinship Care Alliance
• Gill Westwood
  Manager
  Peebles & District Citizens Advice Bureau
• Alison Gillies
  Welfare Rights Worker
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
3. Kinship Care
4. Correspondence

7th Meeting

10 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Show witnesses
• Graham O'Neill
  Policy Manager
  Scottish Refugee Council
• Andy Sirel
  Legal Director & Partner
  JustRight Scotland
• Lidia Dancu
  JustCitizens Member
  JustRight Scotland
• Robina Qureshi
  Chief Executive Officer
  Positive Action in Housing
and then from:
• Hassan Darasi
  Challenging Violence Against Women project manager
  Community Infosource
• Phil Arnold
  Head of Refugee Services – Scotland, Wales and N Ireland
  British Red Cross
• Maggie Lennon
  Director
  Bridges Programmes
• Pinar Aksu
  Human Rights and Advocacy Coordinator
  Maryhill Integration Network
3. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
4. Nationality and Borders Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
5. Work programme

6th Meeting

03 February

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Show witnesses
• Andrew Morrison
  Chief Officer
  COSLA Migration, Population & Diversity
• Maggie Brünjes
  Chief Executive
  Homeless Network Scotland
• Pat Togher
  Assistant Chief Officer, Public Protection Complex Needs
  Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
• Alistair Dinnie
  Refugee and Migration Programme Manager
  City of Edinburgh Council
• Calum Maciver
  Director for Communities
  Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar)
• Councillor Jennifer Layden
  City Convener for Community Empowerment, Equalities and Human Rights
  Glasgow City Council
3. Refugees and Asylum Seekers
4. Work programme

5th Meeting

02 February

4th Meeting

01 February

3rd Meeting

27 January

1. Declaration of interests
2. Choice of Convener
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Janet Richardson
  Deputy Director, Client Services Delivery
  Social Security Scotland
• Kayleigh Blair
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• David Hilber
  Team Leader, Case Transfer Policy
  Scottish Government
• Nathan Gale
  Team Leader, Disability Benefits Policy
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Subordinate legislation
6. Subordinate legislation

2nd Meeting

20 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Niall Wilson
  Disability Benefits Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre
  Principal Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Correspondence

1st Meeting

13 January

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Shona Robison
  Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Shirley Laing
  Director for Housing and Social Justice
  Scottish Government
• Kevin Stevens
  Head of Strategic and Programme Finance
  Scottish Government
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

This is all meetings of Social Justice and Social Security Committee held in 2021. On meeting pages you can find agendas, meeting papers, minutes, and links to Official Reports and Scottish Parliament TV.

15th Meeting

23 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Dame Susan Rice DBE
  Chair
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor Alasdair Smith
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Claire Murdoch
  Head of Social Security and Public Funding
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
and then from:
• Sara Cowan
  Coordinator
  Scottish Women's Budget Group
3. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
4. Work programme

14th Meeting

16 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Adult Disability Payment
Show witnesses
• Ed Pybus
  Policy and Parliamentary Officer
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
• Richard Gass
  Welfare Rights and Money Advice Manager
  Rights Advice Scotland
• Judith Paterson
  Member
  Scottish Commission on Social Security
and then from:
• Craig Smith
  Senior Policy and Research Officer
  Scottish Association for Mental Health
• Frank McKillop
  Head of Policy and Research
  ENABLE Scotland
• Keith Park
  Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager
  MS Society Scotland
• Trisha Hatt
  Macmillan Strategic Partnership Manager
  Macmillan Cancer Support
• Bill Scott
  Senior Policy Advisor
  Inclusion Scotland
3. Adult Disability Payment
4. Work programme
5. Correspondence

13th Meeting

09 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Third Sector Recovery
Show witnesses
• Paul Bradley
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
• Martin Tyson
  Head of Regulation and Improvement
  Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
• Kaja Czuchnicka
  Senior Development Officer
  TSI Scotland Network
• Duncan Thorp
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Social Enterprise Scotland
and then from:
• Ian Bruce
  Chief Executive
  Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS)
• Eoin MacNeil
  Chief Officer, Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay
  Partner in the Third Sector Interface Western Isles
• Glenn Liddall
  Chief Executive
  People Know How
• Suzie Burt
  Trustee
  Letham4all
• Myles Fitt
  Strategic Lead - Financial Health
  Citizens Advice Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
4. Third Sector Recovery
5. Correspondence
6. Correspondence

12th Meeting

02 December

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Social Security Scotland
Show witnesses
• David Wallace
  Chief Executive
  Social Security Scotland
• James Wallace
  Deputy Director for Finance and Corporate Services
  Social Security Scotland
• Miriam Craven
  Deputy Director for Strategy, Change, Data & Engagement
  Social Security Scotland
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Pauline Torley
  Scottish Child Payment Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Karen Clyde
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
• Camilo Arredondo
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Social Security Scotland

11th Meeting

25 November

1. Scottish Government Proposed Fuel Poverty Strategy
Show witnesses
• Alastair Wilcox
  Senior Policy Officer
  Citizens Advice Scotland
• Robert Leslie
  Manager
  THAW Orkney
• Elizabeth Leighton
  Director
  Existing Homes Alliance Scotland
• Frazer Scott
  Chief Executive Officer
  Energy Action Scotland

10th Meeting

11 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Scottish Government Benefit Take-up strategy
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Dr Ruari Sutherland
  Supporting Access to Social Security Team Leader
  Scottish Government
• Vana Anastasiadou
  Economic Adviser
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Sweeney
  Strategic Communications and Marketing Lead
  Social Security Scotland
3. Scottish Government Benefit Take-up strategy

9th Meeting

04 November

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Proposed Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Show witnesses
• Mark Griffin
  MSP
  Scottish Parliament
• Mary Dinsdale
  Senior Assistant Clerk, Non-Government Bills Unit
  Scottish Parliament
3. Session 6 priorities for homelessness and rough sleeping
Show witnesses
• Maggie Brünjes
  Chief Executive
  Homeless Network Scotland
• Lorna Campbell
  Financial Wellbeing and Revenues Manager
  Dumfries and Galloway Council
• Lorraine McGrath
  Chief Executive
  Simon Community Scotland
• Dr Beth Watts
  Senior Research Fellow
  Heriot-Watt University
• Gordon McRae
  Assistant Director
  Shelter Scotland
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Session 6 priorities for homelessness and rough sleeping
6. Work programme

8th Meeting

28 October

1. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Jennifer Sinclair
  Social Security Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• David Hilber
  Team Leader - Case Transfer Policy
  Scottish Government
• Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre
  Principal Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Subordinate legislation
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Jana Eyssel
  Disability Benefits Policy Manager
  Scottish Government
• Natalie Barton
  Lawyer
  Scottish Government
• Stephanie Virlogeux
  Senior Principal Legal Officer
  Scottish Government
4. Subordinate legislation
5. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23 (in private)

7th Meeting

07 October

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Eilidh Dickson
  Policy and Parliamentary Manager
  Engender
• Satwat Rehman
  Director
  One Parent Families Scotland
• Jon Sparkes
  Chief Executive
  Crisis
• Lawrie Morgan-Klein
  Public Affairs Officer
  StepChange
and then from:
• Claire Murdoch
  Head of Social Security and Public Funding
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor Alasdair Smith
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
• Professor David Ulph
  Commissioner
  Scottish Fiscal Commission
3. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
4. Work programme

6th Meeting

30 September

5th Meeting

23 September

4th Meeting

16 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Decision on taking business in private
3. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Show witnesses
• Bill Scott
  Chair
  Poverty and Inequality Commission
• Chris Birt
  Associate Director for Scotland
  Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• John Dickie
  Director
  Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
4. Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)
Show witnesses
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Matthew Duff
  Social Security Policy Advisor
  Scottish Government
5. Budget Scrutiny 2022-23
6. Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill (UK Parliament legislation)

3rd Meeting

09 September

1. Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill (in private)

2nd Meeting

02 September

1. Decision on taking business in private
2. Subordinate legislation
3. Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
Show witnesses
• Salena Begley
  Partner Engagement Manager
  Family Fund
• Fiona Collie
  Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  Carers Scotland (representing the National Carer Organisations)
• Colin Toal
  Unpaid Carer
  Lanarkshire Carers
and then from:
• Ben Macpherson
  Minister for Social Security and Local Government
  Scottish Government
• Andrew Strong
  Carer Benefits Policy, Senior Policy Officer
  Scottish Government
• Kate Thomson-McDermott
  Head of Case Transfer and Carer Benefits Unit
  Scottish Government
• Stephanie Virlogeux
  Solicitor
  Scottish Government
4. Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
5. Work programme
6. Decision on taking business in private
7. Declaration of interests

1st Meeting 2021

23 June