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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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415
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2,354,908
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1999–2026
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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
20 Jan 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I will not be the only person who is already getting casework from people with active disability living allowance claims who are confused about whether they should be applying for CDP and are hoping to end their DLA claim as soon as possible. How does the minister plan to comm...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
20 Jan 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I thank the minister for all the detail in that response. What criteria are being used to prioritise moves from DLA to CDP? Is there anything that people can do to speed up the process themselves?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
20 Jan 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Which DLA claimants are being moved first?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
20 Jan 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Yes.
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
31 Mar 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning, minister. You touched on the need for increases to disability and carers benefits to be linked to the UK rate. Do you believe that the UK Government should be uprating those benefits, which would, in turn, allow the Scottish Government to do the same?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Jun 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Hello, minister. I realise that the hope is that people understand that they might be better off on ADP than they are on DLA and opt to transfer when they can. What challenges will be presented with regard to managed migration if a lot of cases end up not transferring through ...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Jun 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Sorry, convener, can you give me a moment?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Jun 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I am aware that SCOSS was concerned about the proposal to backdate to the start of the ADP claim rather than to when a change of circumstance is reported. As the natural case transfer by definition applies to those who are coming forward with a change of circumstances, what di...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
27 Oct 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning, minister. As you mentioned, the regulations increase the Scottish child payment to £25 per week per child. I understand that the payment and other measures are unique in the UK. How much money is provided when the five family benefits are taken together? How does...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
27 Oct 2022
Subordinate Legislation
The UK Government has recently made some decisions that have impacted on social security in Scotland. What impact have its actions—or inactions—had on our mission to tackle child poverty? Could we go further if the ambition shown in Scotland were matched by the rest of the UK?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
27 Oct 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Finally, has the Scottish Government done any analysis of the impact of these welfare reforms? For example, do you have any figures that quantify the impact on people in Scotland if key UK welfare reforms were to be reversed?
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
03 Nov 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Cabinet secretary, in your opening statement, you touched on the fact that some local authorities with very specific housing issues have raised concerns about how they might cope with aspirational applications and homelessness presentations. For example, the Highlands and Isla...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
03 Nov 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I thank the cabinet secretary for her detailed answer. I am glad to hear that there has been engagement with folk who have lived experience, particularly in the islands. Could she expand a little on the wider engagement with those groups?
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
08 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
My first question is for Frazer Scott. In the map that has been provided to us in the written evidence, six of the seven areas with the highest levels of fuel poverty are in the Highlands and Islands. I am also aware that many of those areas have not triggered a cold weather p...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
08 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
That is really clear. We need to recognise that -1°C will feel like -1°C in a lot of places but that, in many island and rural communities, it will feel like -5°C and there is no protection from wind. Will the winter heating payment be easier to build on than the cold weather ...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
08 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I want to pick up on a few things that Frazer Scott said. He mentioned the fabric of houses a few times, and there are obviously a lot of other factors that contribute to fuel poverty. However, in an ideal world, if we could tackle the issue from every angle, how big a role sh...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
08 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Does the lack of specific policy in other areas mean that, out of necessity, social security is playing a larger role than it ideally should?
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Since last week’s meeting, we have had some helpful information from the Scottish Parliament information centre about which weather stations have triggered cold weather payments in the past, and how many times. Six of the seven areas with the highest level of fuel poverty are ...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
On the point about reliability, Aviemore might have triggered only one cold weather payment—or maybe none—this winter, but, in other years, it could be looking at three or four. Is extra help available to people in such places if there is a very bad winter?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Thanks, minister.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I want to go back to the timeline issue, because the minister touched on the data. Could he outline, first, what preparations are taking place at Social Security Scotland in order to be ready to make the payments in February and say how reliance on the DWP for that data adds c...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Finally, we heard last week that those with the greatest need for help in paying energy bills are affected by other issues such as needing energy efficiency measures in their home and improvements in the wider context of UK energy policy. How is the minister working with other...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
A few colleagues have talked about the coldest parts of Scotland but have often missed out my region, the Highlands and Islands. We must be clear: cold weather payments are not going to the coldest places in Scotland. They are certainly not going to the coldest homes in Scotla...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
I thought you were going to ask that. It is exactly what I am about to address. Is it going to go far? No. We must be clear, however, that energy does not need to cost that much. I would much prefer that the UK Government took some action on energy companies instead of allowin...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
Yes, I support a stronger windfall tax than what has been proposed.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 Dec 2022
Subordinate Legislation
That would be the ideal scenario. Pam Duncan-Glancy mentioned a “finger in a dam”, but we need at least to ask why there is a flood. More money will be spent on the scheme than was spent on cold weather payments. More of my constituents are going to benefit from it, as will m...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
23 Feb 2023
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning, minister and officials. As the minister has mentioned, uprating has been extended beyond the benefits where uprating had to happen. We have forecasts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission that £776 million more will be spent on social security than what is received...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
23 Feb 2023
Subordinate Legislation
I want to ask about the cost of living crisis and the fact that we have a 10.1 per cent increase in the CPI, which is significant. Of course, the context is the economic mismanagement—it is difficult to describe it as anything other than that—that has led us to that level of i...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
23 Feb 2023
Subordinate Legislation
That is helpful. I have just one more question. Thinking about the difference between the block grant and what is being spent, should there be increased funding from the UK Government, particularly given the cost of living crisis and rate of inflation? Also, should the Scotti...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning, minister. What was the justification for not including transfers in the original order?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
No—sorry, convener.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Picking up on the point about local authorities and the process, I note that councils have raised concerns about the complexity of the different kinds of licence, as well as about inconsistency in comparison with other licensing schemes. Other licences administered by local au...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
But local authorities could not choose not to implement a transfer scheme; that is something that they will have to provide.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
The transfer process does not provide the opportunity for public comment in the same way that a new licence application would. Could that create a loophole whereby operators that have not been able to successfully obtain a licence could more easily access one through the trans...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
I just have one question for the minister. One local issue that has been raised with me and on which I have corresponded with the minister is the loophole with regard to premises licensed to sell alcohol not requiring a short-term let licence. I highlighted the fact that a num...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Are you looking at whether further action is needed around the use of alcohol licensing as a loophole for accessing a short-term let licence?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Jun 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Okay. Thanks, minister.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
I just want to dig into that a little more. The regulations, in effect, freeze the way in which everything operates at the moment. Is the minister saying that, between the introduction of the SSI and 2030, he will be open to making changes to the scheme? After all, we have hea...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
What would be the timescales for consultation and for giving us an opportunity to scrutinise such changes?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
It feels as though we are taking a lot on faith if we agree right now to freeze things up until 2030, when LFASS is already based on historical data. We have all been contacted by people who are concerned about that. Although I appreciate the need to avoid a cliff edge, we nee...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Would it be possible for us to get a bit more information and to consider the SSI at a future meeting instead?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
I am talking about the cliff edge and decisions needing to be made by a certain point. If the committee wants a bit more information, will that cause an issue with payments?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Okay. I can probably say no more than I did in my previous question with regard to our needing to be able to scrutinise what is going on and what the options are. From the Government’s point of view, does a decision on the SSI require to be made today?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
I think that I have asked everything that I can ask.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Surely the fact that this SSI describes the 2030 payment means that there is not really a rush to consider anything in the meantime, and that it will not be a priority for Government to change something if there is certainty up to 2030. As it is written, does the SSI not risk ...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Was there a discussion about how many years to include in this SSI, and why was the number that is in it reached?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Four years would also be quite a bit of flexibility, would it not?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
So, why is it six years?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
25 Sep 2024
Subordinate Legislation
So, there were not particular discussion points when choosing that date.
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
09 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Minister, can you be very specific about the impact if the SSI is not passed today?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
And is it right that there is no room within the 40 days?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
09 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
I make it clear that I am disappointed in the approach that has been taken. I feel that we have not had clarity on the reason for the SSI lasting until 2030, which is a point that many witnesses raised with us. It would probably have been easier for committee members to consid...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP Committee
29 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning, minister. Under what circumstances would you expect to use the power to amend an adopted national planning framework?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
29 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Okay. Why have you chosen the issues of combating rural depopulation, protecting disused rail infrastructure and preserving peatland as worthy of special consideration in the drafting of amendments?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
29 Oct 2024
Subordinate Legislation
Finally, it is important to highlight that decisions around frameworks, development plans and similar things can be a great way for local people to have an active input into what their area does or does not need, without it being about a specific application. Folk often wait t...
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
14 May 2025
Subordinate Legislation
Elspeth, you have touched on the fact that your sector has to work within the wider regulatory framework. How do the proposals align with the wider considerations?
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
14 May 2025
Subordinate Legislation
Does the industry need a wider view to be taken in marine planning? Presumably, marine planning could be very helpful for fisheries if it is done in the right way and with a broader view rather than in a way that, as you say, squeezes fisheries.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
14 May 2025
Subordinate Legislation
That is helpful.
Emma Roddick SNP Committee
15 May 2025
Committee Effectiveness Inquiry
Do you have numbers for how much subordinate legislation has been handed to committees in the different sessions?
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Committee

Social Justice and Social Security Committee 20 January 2022

20 Jan 2022 · S6 · Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Scottish Child Payment Regulations 2020 and the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 [Draft]
Roddick, Emma SNP Highlands and Islands Watch on SPTV
I will not be the only person who is already getting casework from people with active disability living allowance claims who are confused about whether they should be applying for CDP and are hoping to end their DLA claim as soon as possible. How does the minister plan to communicate to current DLA claimants the potential dangers around stopping a current claim to move to the CDP faster? Do you have any guidance on how long people can expect to wait to be moved across?

In the same item of business

The Convener SNP
Under item 2, the committee will take evidence on the draft Scottish Child Payment Regulations 2020 and the Disability Assistance for Children and Young Peop...
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson) SNP
Thank you, convener, and good morning, members. As this is the first committee meeting that I have attended in 2022, I wish you all a happy new year, and—Ina...
The Convener SNP
Thank you very much for that helpful introduction. We now move to questions from colleagues.
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP
Good morning, minister. The introduction of the suspension option is a welcome move away from the DWP’s position, as you have said. The DWP’s approach often ...
Ben Macpherson SNP
There has been significant consideration of that issue as the regulations have been developed and in response to the Scottish Commission on Social Security’s...
Marie McNair SNP
What efforts will be made by Social Security Scotland to make support networks aware of the suspension provision and what to look out for when supporting peo...
Ben Macpherson SNP
We are engaged with the relevant stakeholders on that matter; on-going consideration is being given to it. Guidance will be made public, and the advocacy ser...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con
Good morning. I thank the minister and his officials for joining us. What are the Government’s plans on overpayments, which could build up as a result of con...
Ben Macpherson SNP
That is an important area, and it relates to why we are introducing the regulations. We want to avoid overpayments as much as possible and to ensure that the...
Miles Briggs Con
I have two further questions. If someone fails to engage with a review of their disability benefit, at what point in the new system would the failure to prov...
Ben Macpherson SNP
There are a number of variables in how an individual responds to the request for information. If they respond within 28 days stating that assistance being su...
Miles Briggs Con
Will the minister update the committee on the workforce, which we have discussed at length as a committee and, during a visit, with Social Security Scotland?...
Ben Macpherson SNP
Those are two important questions, which I will touch on briefly just now. It might also be helpful for Mr Briggs if I get a response from Social Security Sc...
The Convener SNP
That would be helpful, in particular on the point around compensation or whatever arrangements might be in place for medical professionals providing supporti...
Natalie Don (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) SNP
If we get to the point at which an applicant’s payment is suspended, I believe that, legally, they would have to complete the review within 31 days. That is ...
Ben Macpherson SNP
I will bring in Niall Wilson in a moment. The intention is to obtain the information as quickly as possible from the individual in order to assist them. Of c...
Niall Wilson (Scottish Government)
Yes. The information would be requested because it is material to carrying out the review, so the review would be carried out once we had the information. On...
Natalie Don SNP
I have one further question, which has sort of been raised already. When will the guidance around the suspension and ending of benefits be publicly available...
Ben Macpherson SNP
I fully sympathise with that—those are important points. We have a wider commitment to external communications being inclusive and easy to understand for the...
The Convener SNP
I believe that that covers Natalie Don’s questions. I will bring in Pam Duncan-Glancy next.
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
I thank the minister and other panel members for joining us. I have a few questions on benefit suspension. My first question is slightly less to do with the ...
Ben Macpherson SNP
Since I last updated the committee on this, work has been on-going and we have continued our engagement with SCOSS. I cannot say enough how grateful we are f...
Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab
I would very much appreciate follow-up information, including on what the resource will be, when it is expected to be in place and how many more additional s...
Ben Macpherson SNP
I will bring in Niall Wilson in a moment, but first I will reemphasise what I have laid out this morning in my opening statement and onwards. The period of 2...
Niall Wilson
It is in the interest of the client and Social Security Scotland to have the determination resolved as soon as possible, but we must build in a reasonable am...
Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab
That is helpful. The point about it being a minimum period is useful. I know that people will appreciate that, so thank you for setting that out. My next qu...
Ben Macpherson SNP
I want to reassure the committee that advocacy will be available to all clients who self-certify as having a disability, including individuals who are applyi...
Kirsten Simonnet-Lefevre (Scottish Government)
The right to advocacy is enshrined in the 2018 act and is in connection with the determination on the individual’s entitlement to assistance. That means any ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab
Thank you both for your answers. I am still not 100 per cent clear—forgive me—whether a person would be able to access advocacy at that point. I take the poi...
Ben Macpherson SNP
Kirsten—are you able to give some clarity from a legal position, please?