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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 26 November 2024
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Displaying 971 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Programme

Meeting date: 3 October 2022

Paul McLennan

Thank you.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Programme

Meeting date: 3 October 2022

Paul McLennan

I have a supplementary on that, as I would like to get a bit more detail. We do not want to find, when we get to the next audit, that there are still issues with a data gap. What work will be done on that between now and the next audit? We know from what the Scottish Fiscal Commission said that it has had an issue with that, and we do not want it to be raised again at the next audit. How will you continue to monitor progress, especially on the data gap? The data informs the budget, and it is a particularly difficult time to track demand.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Programme

Meeting date: 3 October 2022

Paul McLennan

Are there any comments on whether that indicative budget is enough?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Programme

Meeting date: 3 October 2022

Paul McLennan

I have two questions, one of which is general and one of which is kind of specific. I will start with the specific one. In the light of what remains to be done in the programme, do you have any comments on the social security administration indicative budget that is set out in the spending review?

On the more general point, what are the key risks in developing the remaining aspects of the programme?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security Programme

Meeting date: 3 October 2022

Paul McLennan

The focus has been on systems that matter most to the client. What is the state of functionality in systems that have not been prioritised?

Following on from that, about a month ago, the Scottish Fiscal Commission spoke to us about data gaps. Do you share the concerns about that? Do you think that the systems have been designed in a way that takes account of various elements? The key thing that came out of our meeting with the Fiscal Commission was the need to produce data from the budget. How accurate was that data?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Budget Savings and Reductions 2022-23

Meeting date: 29 September 2022

Paul McLennan

What difference would additional borrowing make to you in terms of this particular budget? As I said, many services are led by demand. I am aware that devolved Governments outwith the UK have such borrowing powers. What difference would additional borrowing powers make to you in dealing with issues that we have talked about?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Budget Savings and Reductions 2022-23

Meeting date: 29 September 2022

Paul McLennan

So, the full amount is £2.4 billion.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Budget Savings and Reductions 2022-23

Meeting date: 29 September 2022

Paul McLennan

Deputy First Minister, at the start you mentioned the fiscal limitations. I know that I have asked you this question before, but this is for the sake of the committee. On the discussions that you are having with the UK Government about the fiscal framework, you mentioned the budget being inflation proofed. What discussions have you had about that? You mentioned that the budget is worth £1.7 billion less.

Many social security services are demand led. What difference would additional borrowing powers make—in particular, with regard to the social security budget, rather than to others?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny

Meeting date: 29 September 2022

Paul McLennan

Gordon MacRae, I will touch on what you said about changing the approach to affordable housing and building more social housing. What level of discussions have you had with COSLA on its view on that? It is a key partner, along with individual local authorities. There might be capacity issues with how it develops that scheme.

The programme for government announced an increase to discretionary housing payments and an extension of the eligibility for the tenant grant fund. What impact will that have on tenants? Could any other measures be taken to address the cost of living for tenants?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Budget Savings and Reductions 2022-23

Meeting date: 29 September 2022

Paul McLennan

You mentioned that the impact of inflation on the budget was worth £1.7 billion. The public sector pay increase that you mentioned is £700 million because of the impact of inflation. Are you talking about the £1.7 billion plus the £700 million?