Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you, Jeremy.

Our next agenda item is consideration of a statutory instrument that has been laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that the Parliament must approve it before it comes into force.

I welcome to the meeting Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice. I also welcome her officials: Oliver Wain, policy manager, disability benefits policy, directorate of social security; and Madeleine Macphail, solicitor. Both are from the Scottish Government. I thank you all for joining us.

I want to mention a few things about the format of the meeting before we get started. First, I believe that James Dornan is online. If you want to come in, Mr Dornan, please give our broadcasting colleagues a few seconds to turn your microphone on before you start speaking. I also remind everyone to keep questions and answers as concise as possible.

Following this evidence session, the committee will be invited in upcoming agenda items 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 follows.

I now invite the cabinet secretary to make a short opening statement.

That concludes our questions.

We move to agenda item 4, which is formal consideration of motion S6M-010409. I invite the cabinet secretary to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Disability Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Shirley-Anne Somerville]

Motion agreed to.

I thank the cabinet secretary and her officials.

That concludes our public business today. We now move into private session to consider the remaining items on our agenda.

Good morning, and welcome to the 25th meeting in 2023 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. We have received apologies from Marie McNair. We welcome to the meeting Stephanie Callaghan, who is attending as her substitute. Our first item of business is to invite Stephanie to declare any relevant interests.

Thank you, cabinet secretary. We now move to questions. Our questions will be directed to you, but you are, of course, welcome to invite any official to respond should you wish to do so.

I start with a general question. Could you highlight the fundamental differences between the DWP and Social Security Scotland? I know that surveys have been carried out on the benefits that are devolved to Scotland. What have their findings been?

We are still looking at dates for us to head up to Dundee for a visit.

Katy, do you want to come back in, or are you—

Our second item of business is consideration of Scottish statutory instrument 2023/258, which is subject to the negative procedure. Its purpose is to make consequential and miscellaneous amendments and transitional provision in connection with the introduction of carer support payment, which will replace carers allowance in Scotland.

Do members have any comments on the instrument?

As no member wishes to comment, I invite the committee to agree that it does not wish to make any further recommendations in relation to the instrument. Are members content to note the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

Before we move on, I will suspend proceedings until we have the cabinet secretary with us for the next agenda item.

Thank you very much. That is really helpful.