The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1054 contributions
Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 10 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
Thank you, convener.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 10 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
I should also say for the record that I am a trustee of a charity that is receiving funding from the Robertson Trust, so thank you for that.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 10 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
My next question, which is on forward planning, is for any of the three funding organisations. Do you know what your budget will be in year 2 and year 3 from here, or are you working with variabilities, too? Presumably, it all depends on how many people buy lottery tickets, Neil.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 10 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
I have a couple of quick questions. Going back to the start of the process, there seem to be about 101 different application forms. Is there any possibility that the process could be standardised with all the organisations like yours getting round the table and designing one application form, rather than the third sector having to obtain slightly different information for every application that is made?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 10 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
One comment that we hear a lot from the third sector is that funders always want something new, so they have to redesign what they do and, rather than just carrying on, they slightly change the name or something else. There is a perception that they will not keep getting funding unless what they do is a wee bit new, or another organisation will be brought in but it has to start again, when the first organisation could still be doing it well.
Is that fair, Karin, or was the third sector just moaning? It is a leading question.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: 1 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
Good morning, minister, and good morning to your team. Your officials helpfully provide the committee and subject committees with weekly updates of the instruments that are expected to be laid in the following two weeks. I wonder whether you can provide an indication of the anticipated volume of any SSIs that are likely to be laid between now and Christmas, and the lead committees that they are expected to go to.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: 1 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
Given that some SSIs are much longer and more complex than others, it is particularly useful for this committee, as well as the subject committees, to be given as much advance notice as possible when there will be instruments that are large and complex. Do you know whether any such instruments or sets of instruments are in the pipeline? If not, will you commit to keeping the subject committees and our committee up to date on the progress of any such instruments?
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: 1 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
Following on from that, minister, what updates can you provide on the discussions that your Government has had with the UK Government on proposals to grant UK ministers delegated powers in devolved areas and the use of consent requirements for such powers? Have those discussions taken into account our position in relation to the scrutiny of powers within devolved competence?
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: 1 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
How are discussions regarding that going with the UK Government? I know that we try to rise above party politics when dealing with those issues, but I am wondering what discussions you have had with the new UK Government and how those are going.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Meeting date: 1 October 2024
Jeremy Balfour
I will push you slightly, minister. Are those likely to come to this committee or to go to other committees?