Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 45
45
They went on to explain that the UK Government ‘do not offer maternity grant in...
Conclusion
They went on to explain that the UK Government ‘do not offer maternity grant in the case of older children’113 and so the data required ‘does not necessarily exist’114 for a direct data transfer to the Scottish Government in the same process as was done for Scottish Child Payment for younger children. A reason offered by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work for this situation arising was that he would ‘question whether officials, who probably know that this [rolling out the Scottish Child Payment to older children] is more challenging than perhaps the political people would want to hear, are empowered enough’115 to push back on timelines for policy delivery if the technical aspects are not yet in place.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
DWP considers fully and responds to all data sharing requests from the Scottish Government. It has established a dedicated Scottish Devolution Data Sharing Board, which brings together DWP experts to fully consider any requests and ensure that responses are managed consistently and efficiently. This Board considers any legal constraints and how these could be mitigated, ensuring there is protection of claimants’ rights, clarity of purpose, proportionality of data shared, and a consideration of whether DWP is the most appropriate source for the highest quality, most up-to- date data available. DWP is already working with the Scottish Government to ensure a clearer understanding of data processes. To do this, the Chief Data Officers of DWP and the Scottish Government have previously established a regular forum to address all aspects of sharing data across the two organisations. DWP’s Data Sharing Policy Statement has been shared with the Scottish Government to enable clear understanding between both organisations, and to ensure consistency. Each data sharing request must be examined, and the data decisions must be made and discharged by DWP, as the relevant Data Controller, in line with its legal accountabilities.