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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 16 November 2024
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Displaying 1054 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

We are still in the early days, so there will not have been many First-tier Tribunal hearings yet, but my understanding is that almost all of them now take place either online or by telephone. Is that a disadvantage for the people whom you work for? Would a face-to-face meeting be easier on some occasions? Should that be the norm rather than the exception?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Extra Costs of Disability

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

It is helpful to read this report in the light of the other report that the Fraser of Allander Institute did recently on disability and employment. The reports go quite well together, and I will raise questions about that. I would like to ask a number of questions, but, given the time, I will ask one long question.

The deputy convener will always tell me that we have political choices to make about how we spend our money, and he is absolutely right. However, may I put that to you and ask whether, if you had another £20 million to spend, you would create a universal benefit for disabled people? Would you increase the disability payment, or would you target that money in some way?

I think that Dr Robertson said that there is not one need—disabled people have different needs—so, if we had that money, how would we target it? Would you create a universal benefit or is there a more nuanced way to do that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

Do you think that the bill aligns with the social security principles? That would be a good exam question.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Extra Costs of Disability

Meeting date: 21 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

The Fraser of Allander Institute. [Laughter.]

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

Not too late a date.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

There is a political argument that you could hold the consultation before the bill is introduced and still have the flexibility. Like my colleague Mr Mundell, I think that, purely on a philosophical level, there is a tension; I do not think that it is a political one. I have the same concerns about what sometimes happens at Westminster. You could hold the consultation before the bill comes to Parliament, so that Parliament still gets the final say.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

Thank you.

Moving on, has the Scottish Government reflected on some of the concerns that have been raised in relation to delegated powers? You have heard—from not just this committee but others—that bills are moving quite far with a lot of delegated powers. Is that a concern to you? Is it discussed in the Scottish Government?

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

Let us move on to something that I am sure we can all agree on. The committee was contacted by the Lord President during its consideration of the delegated powers in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill. He had misgivings about some of its proposals to delegate powers to his office. What procedures are followed when a bill is being drafted and a decision is made to delegate power, particularly when a power is being delegated to a body that is not within the Scottish Government?

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

That would be helpful. It is not often that the Lord President, the Law Society and the Faculty of Advocates seem almost to be taken by surprise by what is in a bill. Two out of those three came to the committee to give evidence on it. It would be helpful if you would come back to us on that one.

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Minister for Parliamentary Business

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Jeremy Balfour

Good morning, minister. I think that you were just about to say that there is a template that people follow. Before a minister signs off the document, does someone in your team, whether that is Steven MacGregor or Rachel Rayner, cast an eye over it to make sure that it follows the template, or is it left to each ministerial department?