Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting Minutes
11th Meeting, 2024
- Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
- Session: 6
- Location: T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:45
- Meeting closed at: 11:25
- Published: Friday, April 19, 2024 09:33am
Committee Members Attendees
- Collette Stevenson (Convener)
- Bob Doris (Deputy Convener)
- Jeremy Balfour (Member)
- Katy Clark (Member)
- John Mason (Member)
- Roz McCall (Member)
- Marie McNair (Member)
- Paul O'Kane (Member)
1 Decisions on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take items 5 and 6 in private.
2 Poverty and Inequality Commission Appointments:
The Committee agreed to recommend to the Parliament the Scottish Government's nominees as chair and members of the Poverty and Inequality Commission. The Committee also agreed to consider a draft report, in private at a later meeting.
3 Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill:
The Committee took evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Iain Hunter, Bill Team Leader, and Kayleigh Blair, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
4 Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill (In Private):
The Committee considered the evidence heard under item 3.
5 Housing (Scotland) Bill (In Private):
The Committee considered and agreed an initial approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1. The Committee also agreed—
- to issue a joint call for views with the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, and questions on homelessness and fuel poverty to be included,
- witnesses to invite, and to engage with a lived experience panel,
- to consider, in private at future meetings, any further approach to consideration of the Bill, evidence received and draft reports and draft letters, and
- under Rule 12.4.3, to delegate to the Convener responsibility for arranging to pay any expenses under the witness expenses scheme.
6 Work programme (In Private):
The Committee considered its approach to scrutiny of the Pension Age Disability Payment, agreed to hold an evidence session with stakeholders and agreed witnesses to invite.