SP Paper 946 (Web)
Contents
Report
Purpose of the report
Committee Establishment
Session five
Overall
Joint Working
‘Your Say’ Initiative
Research
Annexe: Reactions of ‘Your Say’ participants
Remit and membership
Remit:
To monitor the implementation of the UK Welfare Reform Act 2012 and other social security legislation as it affects provision in Scotland and to consider relevant Scottish legislation and other consequential arrangements.
Membership:
Hugh Henry (Convener)
Clare Adamson(Deputy Convener)
Neil Findlay
John Lamont
Joan McAlpine
Christina McKelvie
Kevin Stewart
Welfare Reform Committee Legacy Paper: Session 4
Purpose of the report
1. This report is intended for the Parliament and any successor committee in session five dealing with the issue of social security. It covers the unique circumstances around the establishment and role of the Welfare Reform Committee. It also outlines the issues and topics which the Committee believes will be important in the next session.
Committee Establishment
2. The Welfare Reform Committee is unique:
- it was a new committee, created after the start of session four
- its origins lie externally to the Parliament – the move to create it was initiated by stakeholder pressure
- it was the first subject committee in a reserved area
- it undertook an innovative initiative to hear evidence directly from those affected by welfare reform - 'Your Say'
3. Its role has changed substantially over time as circumstances have changed. In 2013 the Scottish Parliament had virtually no responsibility for social security; the Scotland Bill passes responsibility for around a third of non-pensions social security to the Parliament, including scope for new benefits.
4. The Committee’s role has therefore moved from solely scrutinising Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits to considering the design of Scottish social security benefits as well.
5. The establishment of the Welfare Reform Committee was a good idea:
- It has created a forum for what has been a key political issue over the past three years
- It has generated an expertise in Parliament on social security prior to the devolution of social security powers
6. The Welfare Reform Committee was the first to operate in an area where the Scottish Parliament had virtually no powers. It has been possible for a committee to successfully operate in a reserved area, although it has had a different role to other subject committees – principally scrutinising the operation of the reserved social security system in Scotland.
7. The Committee has scrutinised the operation of the reserved social security system in Scotland through inquiries into: the 'bedroom tax', food banks, sanctions, and women and social security. With the exception of the 'bedroom tax' these all remain live issues. It has also focused on early Scottish social security legislation – the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill, the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill and the Scottish Welfare Fund and latterly the future delivery of social security in Scotland.
Session five
Overall
8. The Scottish Parliament will require a Welfare Reform Committee in session five, but it should be called the Social Security Committee.
9. The role of the Committee will continue to change with an increased emphasis on scrutinising the legislative basis of the new Scottish social security system.
10. The Committee may have an important role in ensuring that the new Scottish Social Security system is built on cross-party support where possible in order to create a sustainable structure.
11. Welfare reform has a very differential impact on many disadvantaged groups (for example women, single parents, ethnic minorities, those with poor literacy skills or mental health issues). There is a need to keep this in mind in all future work and it may be an issue that a future Equal Opportunities Committee wishes to examine
12. There is also a need to keep in mind that social security is likely to have linkages with several other committee remits, in the areas of housing, health, poverty etc.
Joint Working
13. Good inter-government working will be crucial to the establishment of a joint social security system in Scotland. Current inter-government working is very poor, as the Smith Commission report indicated. This cannot continue with establishment of a joint social security system in Scotland over the next five years.
14. The DWP also needs to dramatically improve its engagement with the Scottish Parliament. A DWP Ministerial refusal to appear before Scottish Parliament Committees in Session five will not be tenable. The DWP needs to recognise the difference between the Scottish Government and the Parliament. In particular there is a need for clearly understood, consistent protocols between the DWP (and other Westminster Departments) and MSPs on, for instance, raising constituent’s issues.
15. There is a role for a successor committee in closely monitoring inter-government working on social security. In particular there is a role in monitoring the effectiveness of the Scottish / UK Ministerial Group. There may be scope for joint working with the Scottish Affairs Committee on this issue.
16. The Committee has developed a useful working relationship with the Social Security Advisory Committee and this could be profitably pursued in session five.
‘Your Say’ Initiative
17. The 'Your Say' initiative has shown that it is possible to get evidence from seldom heard witnesses (social security claimants) if they are motivated (angry) enough and are handled empathetically. The Committee commends the bravery of those 'Your Say' witnesses who have appeared before it and told their personal stories. Attached is an annexe which sets out their reactions to appearing.
18. The Welfare Reform Committee’s successor should continue its role in bringing to light the impact of welfare reform on the ground, via 'Your Say' or similar initiatives, as this can reveal stark differences between policy intent and the reality on the ground.
19. There are a range of options for undertaking this including formal, informal and private evidence sessions as well as the use of advocates for vulnerable witnesses etc. The Committee has also experienced witnesses who are scared to reveal their identity to the DWP, so allowing witnesses to give evidence anonymously should also be explored.
20. A successor Social Security Committee should experiment with a range of options to fit witnesses’ circumstances as well as the 'Your Say' format.
Research
21. The results of research commissioned by the Committee have been very valuable in both practical terms (providing concrete figures for what is actually happening on the ground) and presentational ones (in that that have helped develop a strong media profile for the Committee).
22. There is scope to update the Committee’s research on the impact of welfare reform on Scotland taking into account the significant impacts of the 2015 Emergency Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review on tax credits etc. We recommend that the successor Committee undertake this at its earliest opportunity.
Annexe: Reactions of ‘Your Say’ participants
Example 1
Proud and humbled to have given evidence yesterday @sp_welfareref alongside truly remarkable people.
Example 2
I just wanted to email to say thank you for the support and respectful understanding of all politicians and support staff involved in the ‘your say’ events.
Before my accident i was a confident successful person, running my own physiotherapy clinic and a busy household. Now I suffer from such high levels of anxiety and confusion that I was extremely nervous on both occasions when invited to the events. I was made to feel comfortable by everyone at the parliament.
Since my accident it has been difficult for me to talk to people and to have people understand my problems and frustrations. I had found the whole process of he PIP humiliating and degrading. I was pleasantly surprised by the gentle respect shown to all participants by the politicians. It felt good to be able to talk and be involved in discussions with people who had been through similar struggles as my own with the benefits system. It made me feel less of a fraud to know that the problems were not my fault. Following the workshops on Monday I felt I had been useful for the first time in a long time. It was very empowering (and that's not exaggeration). I just hope that the committee can now move forward with the changes we suggested with the end result of a less stressful process when claiming benefits that are crucial to our lives.
Example 3
I too would like to thank you and everyone else involved in arranging this event for the "you say" witnesses. It means so much to be given the opportunity to be involved and have a say. I enjoyed the event immensely and learned so much from others too.
I applaud all that were involved and would like to say a huge thank you to you and everyone else who helped make the day such a huge success. A massive thanks to Suzanne for ensuring I got the material in the right format and for getting me to the event.
Best wishes for future events and I hope to get the chance to work with you all again.
Example 4
Could I begin by thanking you and your staff for the kindness and consideration shown to my daughter prior to; during and after the committee meeting. Initially she was quite apprehensive about taking part but my reassurances over what to expect settled her and I am glad to say these reassurances were fulfilled.
Could I thank the committee for setting a tone and rapport prior to and at the start of the proceedings. This helped to empower her to take part and voice her own views which were much more meaningful than my interpreting them for you. Sitting beside her I could sense her tensions evaporating as the meeting progressed and in discussion afterwards she was full of praise for the way all the submissions were presented first thereby allowing her time to get the feel of the other witnesses’ evidence and realize her position was no different from theirs. She felt the substance of the questions and the way they were presented was non-threatening to her. She particularly liked the way committee members spoke informally to the witnesses at the end. It was a much less daunting occasion than she had anticipated, she appreciated the way members had clearly prepared for the meeting; listened during it and presented their questions in a sympathetic manner.
For my part I was aware of small changes in procedures from my last witness session which enhanced the experience of being a "Your Say" witness. More importantly I was very pleased to find the same rapport and conviction in the work the committee is doing in the area of welfare reform despite only two of the previous committee members still serving. No doubt Mr McMahon as convener has much to do with that , It also indicates that the issues being tackled are not politically motivated but stem from a parliamentary consensus on the need to amend a welfare system which is fair to those in need and flexible enough to meet these needs whilst being less susceptible to misuse.
Thank you all once again for your contributions which helped her present her case and gain more satisfaction than I expected from the day.
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