Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Department deems national in-housing too risky, but will learn from Social Security Scotland.
Conclusion
The Department recognised that Social Security Scotland is changing how it operates compared to the Department. For example, Social Security Scotland has brought the functional health assessments process in-house, something the Department says would be challenging to successfully do nationally.38 The Department told us that it reviewed its delivery options regularly using the Cabinet Office’s delivery model assessment tool, which helped it work through its delivery options in a structured way. It explained that the assessment has concluded “that the risks were too great for [the Department] to try to do this in-house and to manage this alongside everything else”. However, the Department recognised that there were valuable opportunities to learn, should Social Security Scotland’s in-housing of assessments prove successful.39 33 C&AG’s Report, para 3.7–3.8, Figure 15 34 Q 31; C&AG’s Report, para 3.8 35 Qq 3, 27; C&AG’s Report, para 18; Cabinet Office, The Sourcing Playbook, June 2023, page 15, para 4 36 C&AG’s Report, para 1.11 37 Qq 3, 36 38 Qq 27, 36–37, 43 39 Qq 36–37 Revising health assessments for disability benefits 15 2 Improving trust and transparency Working with stakeholders and publicising the Programme
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating it has been engaging with Social Security Scotland to share best practice and will closely scrutinise outcomes. It confirms the programme will continue to explore approaches by devolved administrations, and future delivery model assessments will consider direct delivery of health assessment service elements.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.7 The department has been engaging with Scotland to share best practice to help inform Programme plans and will closely scrutinise the outcomes from the move to Adult Disability Payment, as well as any evaluation produced. The Programme will continue to actively explore the approach taken by devolved administrations and other and other international comparators where appropriate. 4.8 The delivery model assessment as part of the future health commercial strategy referred to above will also consider whether any elements of the transformed health assessment service would best be delivered directly by the department at the appropriate time. To inform the strategy, the Programme will be seeking to learn from similar experience across government, including the devolved administrations.