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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 3 May 2025
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Displaying 313 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Scotland

Meeting date: 28 March 2024

Roz McCall

I just want to make sure that I have this right. If additional information has come forward in the cases in which there is a positive redetermination, the argument would be that we should look for that proper information up front. Is that what you are saying—that we should really look at how we front load the process to ensure that we have the information right the first time, as was alluded to earlier?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Roz McCall

That is very helpful. I was going to ask for a couple of suggestions about what Fiona Collie meant by “balance”, but you have just given some. Thank you very much indeed.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Roz McCall

Good morning. I thank the witnesses for coming along. On that theme, the balance has to be right, and the evidence that we have received shows that that involves very fine movements.

I will focus on what happens following a bereavement. It is possible that the deceased’s benefits might be overpaid. Do you have any comments on the ability to recover benefit overpayments from the estate of an individual who has died? Obviously, that is a very specific example, but I am intrigued to know what you think about it.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

I appreciate that. I think that a lot of people will take a position of authority over a loved one in a legal sense without really understanding the full ramifications of what that means. For example, power of attorney can very easily be taken by a person who is helping somebody and wants to care for them without their knowing what the ramifications of that are. That is a very important point.

What is Kirstie Henderson’s opinion on whether that will prevent people in that position from putting themselves forward? Will they understand that they might not know what they are putting themselves forward for?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

That is helpful. Thank you.

Will the provisions help to tackle instances of financial abuse? That has been touched on, but I would like a bit more information about that, if that is possible. I will go back to Claire Andrews.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

That is very helpful. Thank you.

I will move on to authorising appointees, which is a slightly different issue. This question is very much for Craig Smith. SAMH was instrumental in shaping the Social Security Scotland provisions for authorising appointees. Can you explain the problems with the DWP process and how the Scottish process differs from it?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

Thank you very much for a very open and honest answer. I appreciate that. Maybe Allan Faulds could come in on that question.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

Does anybody else want to come in on that question? I do not think so. People are shaking their heads.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 14 March 2024

Roz McCall

Craig Smith has already alluded to this issue, so I am going to put my question to others. Will making representatives liable for overpayments and the misuse of money in that way affect people’s willingness to become a representative? Craig Smith has already highlighted that concern.

I will get the women to come in and see whether we get a different view. What does Claire Andrews think about that? Do you think that that will prevent people from putting themselves forward to represent?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 7 March 2024

Roz McCall

Thank you, Mr Shaw. By my reckoning, that is about seven priorities, but thank you very much.