This Member’s Bill seeks to establish a new body, the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council (SEIAC) to provide expertise about support for people who can no longer work because of workplace injury or disease.
This is a Member's bill
The Bill fell on 18 April 2024 at Stage 1
This Bill fell at Stage 1 of the process to decide if it should become an Act.
This Member’s Bill has been introduced by Mark Griffin MSP. It establishes a Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council (SEIAC). SEIAC would be an independent body, separate from the Scottish Government.
SEIAC would be able to commission research and come up with recommendations on the support available to people who can no longer work because of workplace injury or disease.
The Bill proposes that employers and employees will be represented on SEIAC. SEIAC members would be expected to have experience or knowledge of workplace injury, the law on these matters, relevant medical practice, and the effect of disability on daily life.
The Scottish Parliament got new social security powers in 2016. It now has the power to develop new policies on various benefits, including benefits for people who have been injured at work.
SEIAC would be a Scottish equivalent to the UK Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC). The IIAC gives advice to the UK Government on the link between particular occupations and diseases. However, the IIAC will have no role in Scotland now that these social security powers are devolved.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill as Introduced (1MB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (184KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (324KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (408KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (184KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (118KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (246KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (526KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (408KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (346KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (171KB, pdf) posted 08 June 2023
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
The Bill was introduced on 8 June 2023
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.
The call for views closed on 11 September 2023.
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, 22 January 2024
Letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice regarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit to Employment Injury Assistance, 18 January 2024
Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice following evidence session on 30 November 2023
Letter from the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work
Written Submission, 27 November 2023
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The lead committee published its report on 11 January 2024.
Stage 1 Report on the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
The committee received the following response to its report on 22 January 2024:
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 30 November 2023.
Letter from the Mark Griffin MSP to the Convener, 15 November 2023
Letter from the Convener to Mark Griffin MSP, 8 November 2023
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote Vote Defeated
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 18 April 2024
The Bill fell at Stage 1 on 18 April 2024.
If MSPs do not agree with what a Bill is trying to do, they can vote against it at the end of Stage 1 or at Stage 3. If a majority of MSPs vote against a Bill then it will not pass and it ‘falls’.
Bills can also fall if they have not completed Stage 3 by the end of a Parliamentary session. These Bills can be reintroduced in the next session and the process would begin again from the start.