Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 29 June 2022
Let me start with the substance of the motion and the impact on people. This is about people’s lives and terminal illness—it is possibly the time when we need our Governments to be the most sensitive and responsive. For that reason, the Labour Party welcomes the move to extend the period in which a person who is terminally ill can qualify for special rules for terminal illness exceptions.
I agree with the minister that these matters are to do with legislation over which this Parliament has competence. In fact, as has been said, Social Security Scotland has its own special rules for terminal illness under which there is no qualifying period. I commend the Scottish Government for having a policy that is designed to ensure that people are provided with the support that they need when they need it, and for its diversion from UK Government policy in that regard.
However, I am again a little disappointed, because the people of Scotland are not yet feeling the full benefits of devolved social security. That is not because we need more power in that area, but because the Scottish Government is still letting people down by failing to manage the powers that it already has.
The Parliament passed social security legislation in 2018, yet, more than four years later, only a handful of local authorities have opened applications for the benefits; new applications will not be available to everyone in Scotland until at least 29 August; full transfer of those currently on PIP over to ADP is not expected until 2025; and 313,620 people on PIP have been left at the hands of the DWP, facing delay after delay as a result.