The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 903 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 September 2023
Marie McNair
Thanks for that. Does Alison Davis have anything to add to that?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 September 2023
Marie McNair
I believe in a human rights-based approach to social security and I am concerned that there is no right to appeal in relation to overpayment decisions. When will the Scottish Government change that, and will you accept that appeals are an important part of our social security system?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 September 2023
Marie McNair
Do you have any comments about the progress that the Scottish Government is making towards implementing its commitment to fair funding principles and to investing in the voluntary sector or about its progress towards meeting its multiyear funding commitments? I put that question to Paul Bradley first.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 September 2023
Marie McNair
Finally, you have charged the minimum income guarantee expert group with considering how the policy could assist unpaid carers. How do you envisage that rolling out?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 28 September 2023
Marie McNair
I am really sorry that you are experiencing those issues. The committee will certainly feed that back to the Scottish Government.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Marie McNair
Good morning. Most of the comments that I was going to make on workforce planning have been covered. The pandemic has just been touched on. It brought significant changes for the workforce, including a shift to remote and hybrid working, and significantly increased demands on local government services. How has that impacted on staff wellbeing? Are there any groups that may have been impacted disproportionately?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 26 September 2023
Marie McNair
I bring members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I was a West Dunbartonshire Council councillor until May 2022.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 September 2023
Marie McNair
Thanks, Bill.
In the interests of time, I will move on to my next question. Chris Birt, in your written submission, in relation to disability benefit, you say that it
“will clearly have a significant impact on the Scottish Government’s budget if the UK Government fail to commit to a real terms uplift in these payments.”
Will you expand on how that impact will be significant?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 September 2023
Marie McNair
Thanks, Chris.
Finally, in “Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership—A fresh start”, the First Minister stated that the Scottish Government would have to
“target every pound we spend and invest in order to get the maximum value, ensuring it reaches those that need it the most.”
How should the Scottish Government determine who needs it most? I will put that question to Chris Birt.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 21 September 2023
Marie McNair
I certainly wish that there was, Chris. Does anyone else want to come in before I hand back to the convener? [Interruption.]