Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Welfare policy in Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 14 Oct 2020 Closed: 17 Feb 2022 37 recommendations 111 conclusions 1 report

The inquiry will examine the effect of welfare policies on the lives of claimants and poverty and inequality levels more broadly in Scotland. It will: assess the effectiveness of Scottish Choices which provide a unique degree of flexibility for those on Universal Credit in Scotland explore the consequences of Universal Credit policies specific to Scotland, … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotland HC 55 23 Jun 2021 148 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
2 Recommendation Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl… Accepted in Part

We recommend that DWP and Social Security Scotland work together to promote benefit up-take across...

We recommend that DWP and Social Security Scotland work together to promote benefit up-take across all benefits in Scotland. Jobcentre staff in Scotland should be aware of the principles of both the DWP customer charter and the Scottish Social Security Charter to provide information, signposting and advice on how to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation for promoting benefit uptake and inter-agency signposting by detailing existing initiatives, but rejects discussing it at the Joint Ministerial Working Group, stating its role is non-operational.
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Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 Jun 2021 Bless Kuri · Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Claire Mack · Scottish Renewables, Lucy Whitford · RES, Matthieu Hue · EDF Renewables, Steven McMahon · Ofgem View ↗
18 Mar 2021 Andrew Latto · Department for Work & Pensions, Justin Tomlinson · Department for Work & Pensions, Margarita Morrison · Department for Work & Pensions, Will Quince · Department for Work & Pensions View ↗
11 Mar 2021 Callum Smith · Scottish Government, Catherine Reeves · Scottish Government, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP · Scottish Government View ↗
11 Feb 2021 Councillor Richard Bell · Glasgow City Council, Polly Jones · The Trussell Trust, Suzanne Lavelle · Southside Housing Association View ↗
21 Jan 2021 Kirsty McKechnie · Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, Marion Davis · One Parent Families Scotland, Nina Ballantyne · Citizens Advice Scotland View ↗
16 Dec 2020 Chris Birt · Joseph Rowntree Foundation, David Eiser · Fraser of Allander Institute, Neil Cowan · The Poverty Alliance, Professor Gráinne McKeever · Ulster University, Professor John McKendrick · Glasgow Caledonian University, Professor Paul Spicker · Robert Gordon University View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Latto · Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits a… Department for Work & Pensions 1
Bless Kuri · Head of System Planning Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks 1
Callum Smith · Reserved and Working Age Benefits Team Leader Scottish Government 1
Catherine Reeves · Social Security Programme Management Office Scottish Government 1
Chris Birt · Associate Director Scotland Joseph Rowntree Foundation 1
Claire Mack · Chief Executive Scottish Renewables 1
Councillor Richard Bell · Treasurer Glasgow City Council 1
David Eiser · Knowledge Exchange Fellow Fraser of Allander Institute 1
Justin Tomlinson · Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Department for Work & Pensions 1
Kirsty McKechnie · Welfare Rights Worker Child Poverty Action Group Scotland 1
Lucy Whitford · Managing Director for UK & Ireland RES 1
Margarita Morrison · Director Work and Health Services Department for Work & Pensions 1
Marion Davis · Head of Policy and Strategy One Parent Families Scotland 1
Matthieu Hue · Chief Executive Officer EDF Renewables 1
Neil Cowan · Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer The Poverty Alliance 1
Nina Ballantyne · Policy Manager Citizens Advice Scotland 1
Polly Jones · Head of Scotland The Trussell Trust 1
Professor Gráinne McKeever · Professor of Law and Social Justice Ulster University 1
Professor John McKendrick · Professor in Social Justice Glasgow Caledonian University 1
Professor Paul Spicker · Emeritus Professor of Public Policy Robert Gordon University 1
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP · Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older P… Scottish Government 1
Steven McMahon · Deputy Director, Electricity Distribution and Cro… Ofgem 1
Suzanne Lavelle · Advice Team Leader Southside Housing Association 1
Will Quince · Minister for Welfare Delivery Department for Work & Pensions 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Feb 2022 Correspondence with Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Wo…
13 May 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson…
13 May 2021 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Department for Work and Pensions Ministers, Will Q…
25 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security …
25 Mar 2021 To cttee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and …

Meetings & visits

3 items
DateTypeDetail
21 Apr 2021 Formal meeting (private meeting) · Virtual meeting
21 Jan 2021 Informal meeting · Virtual meeting
2 Dec 2020 Formal meeting (private meeting) · Virtual meeting