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Yes, convener. I have to say, though, that I am slightly concerned by that last answer to Mr Briggs, minister, because I did not hear any guarantee from you or your official that the payments will be made in February. We have seen slippage in other payments by Social Security Scotland. From what has been said, you do not seem to have engaged with the DWP at ministerial level on this; however, you have said that officers and officials have had a good relationship with the DWP. Why are we waiting until the end of January for the information? Why are we not getting it now or even at the beginning of January, so that we can guarantee that the payments will be made in February? Why are we waiting until the end of the month?

I again thank the minister for his answers today.

Clearly, there are mixed views about the benefit and about how it has been handled and implemented. Although the minister has given some helpful answers, I am not sure that he has grasped the disappointment among many people about how the new benefit has been implemented. Clearly, it is the only thing on the table, so I will not vote against the motion, but I will not support it either. I will abstain because I think that the Scottish Government could have done a lot better. We need to say to the Government that we understand that payments will be made—we hope—in February but that, going forward, we need to see new regulations that address some of the issues that we have asked about today.

As the minister has pointed out, it is a new system, with the new benefit being created using the Scottish Parliament’s powers. I find it slightly strange that a system has been designed that fails on one of the policy objectives that the Scottish Government had put down in writing, namely that “No-one will lose out”. However the minister wants to argue it—as a fine lawyer, he has argued it well—the fact is that, with the new system, people will lose out, particularly in Braemar and surrounding areas of the Highlands.

I do not know what discussions took place in the Scottish Government, and I appreciate that the minister was not involved in those—his predecessors were—but going from a system that was not working particularly well to another system that will not work particularly well seems a rather odd situation. Why were we not able to sit down and come up with a scheme that includes more people and, at the same time, protects those who are most vulnerable to cold temperatures in Scotland? There will be people in other parts of the United Kingdom who, in the next couple of weeks, will get money from the DWP while residents in Braemar are hoping that they might get £50 in February. That does not seem to be treating people with dignity and respect.

I have a couple of questions that build on what we have discussed. They are about eligibility criteria—in particular, around those who have a disability. Some people are on disability payments but not on other benefits. Are you concerned that they will miss out, and would you like the criteria to be extended to all adults who are on the new disability living allowance?

Thank you.

Mark, I will rephrase the question slightly for you because, in recommendation 9 of your report, you picked up the point that those who are on the new adult disability payment but who receive in-work benefits will not get the payment. Is that a concern for you? Would you like the Scottish Government to reconsider that? If so, why?

I have a quick question for Dr Simpson. The Scottish Government argues that most people will gain under the proposals, but it recognises that some will not. Have you done any analysis of who will gain and—perhaps more important—who will lose out under the regulations? Is that simply a geographical question, or is it an issue to do with disability as well?

Thank you. Convener, you will be glad to hear that it is my last question and I will be brief.

I will go back to Frazer Scott’s earlier comment that February is not the right month for people to get the payment. I understand why you think that, but can you suggest which month would be appropriate for that payment?

I ask the same question of Mark Simpson. Do you or the commission have a view on that?

Good morning, panel. I want to go back to Frazer Scott with a question that follows on from my colleagues’ questions.

Next week, all that we can do is vote yes or no for the regulations, and I suspect that we will all vote yes. Looking ahead, however, if you could have another year to help to redesign the regulations—you would have six to nine months—what would you say to the committee and to the Scottish Government about how to improve them? Could we do that through the payment, or would it be better if the Government indicated that it would create a new benefit, which it has the power to do? Should the regulations be amended or should a new benefit be created?

I was interested in your opening remark that this is not the time to do it—or that the capacity is not there to do it at the moment. I am sorry if I have misquoted you. Why do you think that that is the case? Is it because there is too much happening in Social Security Scotland for it to take that on as well? Where is the capacity issue as far as you are concerned?

If I am honest, I am surprised about the number of people who are working for you. I just did a quick search on Google and there are eight tribunals sitting today, so one sitting per region would mean that half of your staff would be at tribunals. I am therefore wondering about recruitment. I looked at your website yesterday and you are not recruiting any advocates at the moment, but you are recruiting one policy officer. When will the scale-up happen? What is your timescale for recruitment?