Recommendation 37

Oral evidence we received from the Scottish Government highlighted an unequal relationship between it and the DWP in relation to sharing existing data. The Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People highlighted that it must make individual and formal data requests to the DWP, and if they ‘make a request for data and the DWP decides not to do it, that is the end of the matter.’95 The Cabinet Secretary did note that disputes can be escalated through the framework that is in place via the memorandum of understanding between Scottish Ministers and the DWP on social security and employment services in Scotland96 but ultimately the sharing of data with the Scottish Government is ‘a decision finally for the DWP.’97