Hansard

I am grateful to Pam Duncan-Glancy for securing the debate. It is only right that we recognise in our Parliament the international day of persons with disabilities.

I will focus on social security, as it has the power to foster an inclusive society, or to marginalise and exclude. The devolution of powers over disability benefits promised one of the most important developments in the rights of disabled people in the history of the Parliament. After years of cuts and austerity, years of successive UK Governments stigmatising disabled people who require support, and years of policies being forced through despite disabled people’s concerns, the Parliament finally had the opportunity to do things differently and to show compassion, care and respect to disabled people.

Respect is especially important—it is part of Social Security’s Scotland strapline, “dignity, fairness and respect”. However, three years into the new system, I am not sure that we are fully delivering on that promise. After a promising start, we have seen huge falls in the success rates of those applying for adult disability payment. A total of 54 per cent—more than half—of those who have applied for ADP have been rejected, with the figure for the most recent financial year rising to 63 per cent. The rejection rate is now worse than it was for the personal independence payment. That is not just my analysis—the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the independent review of ADP all say the same.

What about the ambition to get decisions right first time? In ADP’s short history, almost 60,000 people have asked for a second opinion on their decision. It is positive that, in about half of those cases, Social Security Scotland has admitted that it was wrong and has changed the decision—that is a higher rate of changes than elsewhere. However, some people have to go to court to get what they are owed. More than half of all claimants who go through the stress of appealing to the tribunal win their cases, having already gone through an internal review and been rejected for a second time. Too often, Social Security Scotland is not getting it right the first time or the second time. Instead, it is being forced by the courts to do the right thing and pay up. That is not dignified for disabled people, nor is it fair or respectful.

Looking across the statistics, almost every measure is going in the wrong direction. There are more rejections, more appeals and fewer people getting the highest rates. What is going on? If there has been a deliberate shift in assessment practice, we need to know, and the Scottish Government must be held accountable. I ask the minister to address those concerns in closing, if she can.

The independent review of ADP has now reported, making a range of helpful recommendations, such as scrapping the 20m rule that it inherited from PIP, which deliberately makes it harder for people with mobility needs to get support. The review also suggested a more automated system, in which people with particular conditions can access benefits without making a full application. Having a social care package, receiving money from the independent living fund or having a blue badge could all confer automatic eligibility. That approach is not just theoretical. After a trial by Transport Scotland, blue badges are now subject to a streamlined process for those with motor neurone disease, using a sign-off from an MND nurse, so it can be done.

Data also shows that ADP uptake among black and minority ethnic communities is lower than average. Why is that, and what do we need to do to change it to make the system genuinely fair for everyone?

When the Scottish Government responds to the review, I hope that it grasps the opportunity to right the wrongs that are faced by too many disabled people in this country. I hope that next year, when we again recognise this important day, we will have a better story to tell.