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Welcome back. Our next item of business is consideration of the draft Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024, which is an affirmative statutory instrument. As the instrument is laid under the affirmative procedure, Parliament must approve it before it comes into force.

I welcome to the meeting Shirley-Anne Somerville, who is the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, and her officials from the Scottish Government. Jane Sterry is the team leader for the carer support payment policy and Ross Grimley is a lawyer for the Scottish Government. I thank you all for joining us today. Following this evidence session, the committee will be invited to consider a motion to approve the instrument.

I remind everyone that Scottish Government officials can speak under this item but not in the debate that will follow. I invite the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.

A draft report will be prepared by the clerks. Are members content to consider that report in private at next week’s meeting?

Members indicated agreement.

Ruth Boyle and Jack Evans, does either of you have any comments to make on that?

We move on to theme 3, which is about extending eligibility.

Citizens Advice Scotland suggests that a greater range of evidence should be accepted as showing that someone has responsibility for a child. What would be the implications of that?

That is lovely—thank you.

We will move on to theme 5, on cost and value for money.

We will move on to theme 2, which is on the impact on individual families.

I have a quick question on the back of Jeremy Balfour’s question about where the money goes. Witnesses are probably aware that the Trussell Trust carried out some modelling on whether the Scottish child payment has had an impact in reducing the number of food parcels required. One thing that came out of that work was that a lot of families were using the Scottish child payment to pay off debt. Have you heard of that happening?

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. Our questions will be directed to you, but you are welcome to invite any official to respond, should you wish to do so.

First, I am delighted to hear that carers allowance in North and South Lanarkshire will shortly benefit from the Scottish Government’s carer support payment, particularly as my constituency of East Kilbride is in South Lanarkshire. As the roll-out widens, my constituents will warmly welcome that new support. What work has been going on to raise awareness of that payment in the new pilot areas?

Good morning, and welcome to the 17th meeting in 2024 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. We have received no apologies today.

Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take agenda items 5 and 6 in private. Are we agreed to do so?

Members indicated agreement.