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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 4 July 2025
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Displaying 1306 contributions

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Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

I appreciate that it does not come under the minister’s portfolio, but could she get the appropriate minister to write to the committee so that we can get the date of when the review is likely to be complete, and get the outcome of the review?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

I appreciate that.

We will come on to universal credit in a moment, but I will first ask about split payments, which you mentioned in your statement. The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 would enable the introduction of split payments for benefits administered by Social Security Scotland. I appreciate that it is not in your portfolio, but do you have an update on how the process for split payments, particularly for those in domestic abuse situations, is going in relation to benefits that fall under the remit of Social Security Scotland?

09:30  

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

I appreciate that the matter is not in the minister’s portfolio, but it has been 10 months since the letter was written. The cabinet secretary has met her counterpart at Westminster. I am not expecting an answer to this today, but can we have an update on how the discussions went and the timescales that we looking at for making progress on that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

Again, I appreciate that this issue does not fall directly under the minister’s portfolio, but perhaps she could get one of her colleagues to write to us. One of the issues that we have not discussed, but which came up quite a lot in evidence, is child maintenance and pursuing it in an appropriate way. Is the Scottish Government—in any way or form—looking at how child maintenance is working in practice? Obviously, particularly in domestic abuse cases, we might not want to give out postal addresses or as much information as we do in other cases. Could the minister write to the committee with an update on that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

Good morning. Before we move off the subject of council tax, I am a wee bit confused. I appreciate that a consultation is being undertaken, but what is the Government’s position with regard to someone who is leaving a domestic abuse situation? Should a local authority go after them for council tax arrears or not? I appreciate that local authority makes the decision, but what is the Scottish Government’s view? Should a local authority do that?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

So, the Scottish Government does not have a view on domestic abuse and council tax.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

Under the 2018 act, there is a duty on the Scottish Government to split payments. Are you saying that that will never happen with the Scottish child payment—it will always be paid to one person?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

That would be helpful.

Moving on to universal credit, which the minister mentioned in her opening statement, what response has the Scottish Government had from the DWP to its policy design specification for universal credit split payments?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

Thank you. My final question is on the Scottish welfare fund. Does the Scottish Government have a view on whether the fund can provide help with rent in advance and on the five-week wait for universal credit for survivors of domestic abuse?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee [Draft]

Financial Considerations When Leaving an Abusive Relationship

Meeting date: 22 May 2025

Jeremy Balfour

I am asking what the Scottish Government’s view is on what a local authority should do in that situation. I appreciate that it is ultimately for local authorities to make the decision, but does the Scottish Government have a view on whether local authorities should pursue those who are fleeing from domestic abuse?