Committee
Welfare Reform Committee 08 March 2016
08 Mar 2016 · S4 · Welfare Reform Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/81)
Just before we go into private session, I want to say that this is our last meeting of this parliamentary session and my last committee meeting as a convener. I was convener of the European Committee and was then interrupted by a stint as a minister. I have twice been convener of Public Audit Committee and latterly of the Welfare Reform Committee. I have enjoyed my time as a convener; I think that the committees of this Parliament are important and were regarded, for a while at least, as being at the cutting edge. I hope that in the new session of Parliament, whatever its composition, the committees will be robust in holding the Government of the day to account, because that is the least that the public expects of us: it is an important facet of parliamentary democracy. To members who will be attempting to come back—I will not quite wish everyone good luck, because I have my political prejudices—I say that I am sure that you will enjoy the next few weeks. Although I will be engaged in campaigning, I can certainly say that there is slightly less pressure in not being a candidate, which is quite a nice feeling. I thank committee members for the work that they have done on welfare reform—I know that Kevin Stewart has been here from the beginning. Although this is a relatively new committee, it has made its mark. With the impending changes, there will be exciting opportunities to influence the political agenda. There will also be challenges—there is no doubt about that. Whichever committee handles welfare reform—whether it is this committee or another, if Parliament decides to restructure its committees—I am sure that there will be some fascinating and interesting discussions. I thank Mr Haynes and wish good luck to the new committees in the next session of Parliament. 10:37 Meeting continued in private until 10:38.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
For item 2 on our agenda, we have with us Robin Haynes, who is head of the council tax unit in the Scottish Government. We will take evidence on an instrumen...
Robin Haynes (Scottish Government)
Good morning and thank you. Myself or one of my colleagues have put in an annual appearance at the committee at a similar time since the council tax reductio...
The Convener
Lab
You mentioned that in the period concerned, CPI was negative, so there is no change. What period was that?
Robin Haynes
September.
The Convener
Lab
Do you mean the year until September?
Robin Haynes
I think so; I will have to get clarification, but my notes say that September CPI was negative: it was -0.1 per cent.
The Convener
Lab
Right. Is that still the case? For this year, therefore, any changes would be in September.
Robin Haynes
The reference period would be to September, but the scheme from week 17 onwards will be a matter for an incoming Scottish Government.
The Convener
Lab
Does that include the uprating method that is used? Could the Government decide not to apply CPI and to revert to what was used before?
Robin Haynes
A new Government could change just about anything in the scheme, if it so desired. The scheme is enabled under powers in the Local Government Finance Act 199...
The Convener
Lab
The power to determine what method of uprating to apply lies with the Scottish Government. If, for example, it was felt that CPI was inappropriate, unfair or...
Robin Haynes
Yes it could, absolutely.
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much for that. No members have questions. Item 3 is to ask whether the committee has any comments on the subordinate legislation. Are members...
The Convener
Lab
Just before we go into private session, I want to say that this is our last meeting of this parliamentary session and my last committee meeting as a convener...