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Displaying 1566 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
My questions are about the effects of the flat-cash allocation to local authorities. In addition to the effects that you have already covered, what will the impact be of things such as the employability cuts? I appreciate the point about employability and the intersections with the people you represent, but I am keen to find out whether you think that there will be any implications in that regard. I am also keen to know what you would like the Government to do to engage your organisation. I am not asking about actions that you want the Government to take; I want to know how you would like the Government to work with you in future budgeting processes.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Graham, do you have anything to add?
10:00Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you. I have no further questions on that area.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
In the interest of brevity, I will resist the temptation to discuss the constitutional settlement, which we have just touched on. We have spent considerable time on that.
One thing that I have taken from this morning’s evidence session, and which is really important, is that you have said that decisions should be fiscally responsible, but I take the view that cuts to employability for disabled people and others is not fiscally responsible, because it will have an impact on their fiscal status.
09:00Can you reassure us—I have not been reassured so far—that you will involve organisations such as the Women’s Budget Group in in-year decisions as well as in longer-term budgeting processes? Will you make a commitment today that you will do that, so that they can help you and provide expertise, so that you can make fiscally responsible decisions that do not further entrench inequality?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you very much, Frank. As someone who uses social care, I cannot imagine what it must be like for people not to be able to rely on it. That is tragic.
The Scottish Government has said that it is doing everything that it can for disabled people to help them through the cost of living crisis. Do you agree with that? Is there anything more that it could be doing?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you for that really clear answer.
Gordon MacRae, I am hoping to hear a bit about the impacts of the cost of living crisis on your members, and also your thoughts on the impact of the rent freeze and what difference you think that it will make to people in Scotland.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 29 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
I agree. I, too, would like to know more about the detail. I hope that that will become a bit clearer next week.
I have no other questions at this point.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 22 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you for that. I have no further questions in this area.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 22 September 2022
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Thank you. That has come across in what you have said and in the Audit Scotland report.
What engagement did you have with the Government on the spending review in June and with the DFM on the Government’s announcements two weeks ago?