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I presume that, as the Government gradually uses or chooses to use more social security powers, it will need to carry out similar forecasting exercises before taking decisions on how to do things differently from how the United Kingdom Government does them. What discussions have you had with the Government on forecasting further changes to social security? Have any particular areas of potential spend for new benefits been identified?

The papers that were provided in advance of the meeting, including your submission, were really helpful. I hope that I have enough grasp of a complex paper on what is a complex area to get hold of to ask useful questions.

My first question is about forecasting in the fiscal context. How much advance notice of policy implementation or policy intention do you normally get or would you expect in order to be able to forecast?

Thanks very much for joining us and for the submissions that you have sent in, which have been very helpful.

At the beginning of this week, as you will know, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reported on poverty as part of challenge poverty week. It highlighted the importance of lifting people in the six target groups in Scotland out of poverty. Could the panel say something about what would be needed in employment support to do that for lone parents, for women and for disabled people? What role does social security have in that context?

Thank you very much—that is really helpful. If you have not yet forecast for the doubling of the Scottish child payment, is it unlikely that that payment will be doubled in this budget?

Good morning to you all. Thank you for coming and speaking with us.

We heard from Councillor Evison from COSLA and from the SCVO about two areas on which I will ask questions.

A number of social care services are being pulled due to pressures that are a result of the pandemic, but it is fair to say that some of those pressures existed long before the pandemic. Will you outline what percentage increase in investment in social care would be needed not just to reach the minimum core of human rights of disabled people but to progressively realise those rights and, in doing so, address some of the inequalities that women face?

On your budget line, is the Scottish Government doing all that it can with the powers that it holds to lift disabled people, unpaid carers and women out of poverty? When do you intend to take full control of devolved benefits to ensure that those groups are not left behind at the hands of the Department for Work and Pensions?

I recognise that there is a lot in there but, being short of time, I wanted to get it all in.

Thank you.

Good morning. Thanks for joining us. I will ask a question about the rights of three groups of people in two spending areas. It is quite specific and is probably directed at Councillor Evison and Paul Bradley.

First, we have seen in recent weeks extreme shortages of social care staff, which have resulted in some services having to be stopped, some people not getting the services they need and some unpaid carers having to pick up the slack. At the very basic level, it has meant that a large number of people in Scotland today have not had the minimum core of their basic human rights. I just want to understand, particularly from Councillor Evison, the impact of the local government funding settlement and the funding for social care on the recruitment crisis; the impact of increasing wages in the sector to address that, particularly the £15 an hour minimum wage proposal; and the impact on the equalities and human rights of disabled people and women.

Secondly, I wonder whether Paul Bradley can tell us about the ways in which the third sector has had to step in at times not just over the past year but over many years to provide essential services. What is your assessment of the funding settlement? What could we be doing not only to improve the human rights of the people whom I have mentioned but to ensure not only that these people get not just the minimum core of basic human rights but that we progress things and realise their right to an adequate standard of living and an independent life?

Good morning, Rhoda. The statement of reasons highlights the extensive consultation that was carried out in the previous session—both the official consultation and the Co-operative Party’s email campaign—with 93 per cent of respondents in favour of the proposal. Do you think that that majority support still reflects public opinion? If there has been a change, what do you think that it is? What would be the effect of a delay?

The disability benefits will be key. You will be aware of the report on the experience of poverty in Scotland that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published yesterday. It tells us that 100,000 of the families that are living in poverty have a disabled person in them. Therefore, there is a more pressing need than ever to assess the adequacy of disability assistance, as well as eligibility. Is there any scope to move that forward, particularly given the number of staff who were added to Social Security Scotland last week? Have you considered introducing a supplement for the Scottish child payment to lift those the families out of poverty?

I am satisfied that the consultation was comprehensive and did not ask organisations that were consulted previously, which would have put more pressure on them by asking them to comment again. I am satisfied with the statement of reasons and vote yes.

We heard earlier this morning from a representative of the SCVO. You will be aware that in its evidence to the committee, the SCVO said that it had asked our predecessor committee in 2019 for there to be significant changes to decision making and the way that the Government funds organisations, including giving much more notice and certainty. The SCVO said that, so far, the response from the Government has been “underwhelming” and there have been “insignificant advances”. Can you provide an update on the consideration that you have given those requests from 2019?

Also, I was quite surprised to hear that a sector with more than 100,000 staff and a £6 billion turnover does not feature in the Scottish Government’s economic strategy. Can you undertake to make a representation to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy to address that?