Seòmar agus comataidhean

We move on to theme 2—the issue of challenging decisions, which is dealt with in part 3 of the bill.

Our next item is consideration of a Scottish statutory instrument that is subject to the negative procedure, the purpose of which is to bring the discretionary housing payments scheme under the control of the Scottish ministers and to allow them to issue Scotland-specific statutory guidance. Do members have any comments to make on the instrument?

In the absence of any comments, I invite the committee to agree that it does not wish to make any further recommendations in relation to the instrument. Are members content simply to note it?

Members indicated agreement.

Our final theme is on social security principles. I invite Jeremy Balfour to lead on that.

Dr Robertson, would you like to comment on that?

Before we move on, I will bring in Jeremy Balfour, who has a supplementary question.

We move on to theme 4, which is on appointees, who are dealt with in part 5 of the bill.

Our next agenda item is a presentation on the additional costs of disability in Scotland. The committee commissioned a piece of research on the topic in March last year to inform its scrutiny work, and, following a call for bids, the research was awarded to a joint bid from the University of Strathclyde and the Poverty Alliance.

I welcome to the meeting two of the authors, Christy McFadyen, knowledge exchange associate, economics, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde; and Dr Laura Robertson, senior research officer, the Poverty Alliance. Thank you both for joining us today.

I believe that, first of all, you are going to take us through a presentation of your work and findings.

I remind the witnesses who are here in person that they do not have to work their console. It will come on automatically when we invite them in.

I believe that Michael Clancy would like to come in.

Jeremy, do you want to come in with a supplementary?

Thank you, Jeremy, for making us aware of that.

We will move to theme 3, which is on challenging decisions.