Social Justice and Social Security Committee
23rd Meeting, 2025
The Committee agreed to take items 7 and 8 in private.
The Committee took evidence on the Winter Heating Assistance (Pension Age) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] from—
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Owen Allen, Team Leader, Winter Benefits & Welfare Fund, Pamela Forsyth, Service Manager, Carers Support Payment and Common Components, and Daniel Blaikie, Solicitor, Scottish Government.
Shirley-Anne Somerville (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) moved—
S6M-17854—That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Winter Heating Assistance (Pension Age) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to. The Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener finalisation of a report on the instruments.
The Committee took evidence on the Social Security (Cross-border Provision, Case Transfer and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] from—
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Simon Coote, Head of Cross Cutting Policy Unit, and Thomas Nicol, Lawyer, Scottish Government.
Shirley-Anne Somerville (Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) moved—
S6M-18126—That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Social Security (Cross-border Provision, Case Transfer and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
The motion was agreed to. The Committee agreed to delegate to the Convener finalisation of a report on the instruments.
The Committee took evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from—
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);
Leah Duncan-Karrim, Policy and Influencing Lead, One Parent Families Scotland.
Jeremy Balfour declared an interest as a recipient of Adult Disability Payment.
The Committee considered the evidence heard under item 6.
The Committee considered its work programme. Subject to there being time available in the remainder of the session, the Committee agreed to: hold an evidence session on the budget with Social Security Scotland, the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice; take evidence from the organisation that is awarded the Social Security Independent Advocacy Service contract; hold an evidence session to consider Audit Scotland’s review of Adult Disability Payment and the findings of the Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment; hold an evidence session on the Minimum Income Guarantee report; and take evidence on the UK Child Poverty Strategy once it is published. The Committee also agreed to continue consideration of its work programme at its next meeting.