Seòmar agus comataidhean

I want to double check that there are no further questions from colleagues.

I wanted to seek some further clarity on the right to advocacy. SCOSS had said in its evidence that it believed that there was not a right. However, I take what has been said by Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre in answer to previous questions. Perhaps this is something to follow up in writing in order to get absolute clarity, but my reading of what has been said is that, if there is a question or dubiety over entitlement, somebody has a right to advocacy. Could that be confirmed, please?

That would be helpful, in particular on the point around compensation or whatever arrangements might be in place for medical professionals providing supporting information for people’s claims. That was a point of interest when we met Social Security Scotland and it was the thrust of Mr Briggs’s question, so that would be incredibly helpful.

I believe that that covers Natalie Don’s questions. I will bring in Pam Duncan-Glancy next.

Before I bring in Emma Roddick, are there any further questions from you, Mr Balfour?

That would be very helpful. I think that the points the minister and you have just made there have provided clarity, but anything that you can follow up in writing with about the points and junctures would be most helpful. Thank you for that.

I believe that that takes us to the conclusion of our questions. Unless anybody else is looking to come in at this stage, we will move to item 3, which is the formal debate on the motion. I remind the committee that only members and the minister may take part in the formal debate. I invite the minister to move motion S6M-02786.

Motion moved,

That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Scottish Child Payment Regulations 2020 and the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.—[Ben Macpherson]

Motion agreed to.

Thank you very much for that helpful introduction. We now move to questions from colleagues.

As there are no further questions, I thank the cabinet secretary and her colleagues Kevin Stevens and Shirley Laing for their time this morning. It is greatly appreciated. We have covered a significant amount of ground across what is a very wide portfolio. We very much appreciate your time. We will no doubt hear from you shortly, given the commitments that you have made to follow up in writing on some questions. We look forward to hearing from you on those issues.

Under our third agenda item, we will consider a negative Scottish statutory instrument. Colleagues will be aware that the background to the regulations is outlined in paper 3.

Does any member have any comment on the regulations?

I cannot see that anyone wishes to speak. Is the committee content to note the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. We appreciate that introduction. I hope that colleagues who have not already indicated that they would like to ask a question will do so by typing R in the chat function as usual, or by sending me a message if they would like to ask a supplementary question.

Before I turn to colleagues, I have a few questions. Obviously, we very much welcome the doubling of the Scottish child payment. The committee called for that in its pre-budget work and it will go a long way towards reaching our child poverty targets. Stakeholders also very much welcomed the doubling and that it will happen when the Scottish child payment is fully rolled out to children aged up to 16 in December. However, in minutes from a joint ministerial working group meeting, United Kingdom ministers appear to suggest that they may not be able to meet the timetable for that delivery. That is of great concern. Can you confirm whether the roll-out and the doubling are still deliverable by December?

Marie McNair was looking at a range of social security areas that are part of the anti-poverty work that the Scottish Government is endeavouring on. As a committee, we have been very keen to ensure that there is a commitment across the Government to tackling poverty and that poverty is looked at in all areas of the Government. How is the Scottish Government poverty proofing other areas of the budget alongside social security? What involvement have you had in those discussions?