Under agenda item 2, we are considering one instrument, on which issues have been raised.
Carer’s Assistance (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments, Revocation, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [Draft]
The main purpose of the instrument is to amend the Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 to make provision for the introduction of carer support, consisting of the carer support payment, the carer additional person payment and the Scottish carer supplement. The instrument also makes some other changes related to carers.
In correspondence, which has been published alongside the papers for this meeting, the committee asked the Scottish Government three questions about the instrument. First, we asked about an apparently missing year in a date that is given in the instrument. The Scottish Government clarified that the correct year should be 2026 and has committed to amend that by correction slip or amending instrument to ensure that it is sufficiently clear.
Does the committee wish to report the instrument on the general reporting ground, in that there is a missing year in the date that is referenced in regulation 17(1)(b)?
Members indicated agreement.
The committee also asked the Scottish Government about references in regulation 17(3) to paragraph (3). The Scottish Government responded that those are typographical errors and that the references should be to paragraph (2) of regulation 17. Again, the Scottish Government committed to address that, either by correction slip or by an amending instrument, to ensure that the regulation is sufficiently clear.
Does the committee wish to report the instrument on the general reporting ground, in that there are erroneous references in regulation 17(3) to paragraph (3)?
Members indicated agreement.
Finally, the committee asked the Scottish Government about a date—15 March 2025—that is given in schedule 2 of the instrument. The Scottish Government agreed that that was an error and that the date should be 15 March 2026. Again, the Scottish Government committed to address that by correction slip or amending instrument.
Does the committee wish to report the instrument on the general reporting ground, in that there is an erroneous reference to 15 March 2025 in schedule 2, paragraph 1(4)(a)(iii)?
Members indicated agreement.
In relation to all of the reported errors that are noted above, does the committee wish to welcome that the Scottish Government has committed to correcting the errors?
Members indicated agreement.