The Bill provides for an increase in the amount of the carer’s allowance supplement for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Anyone who qualifies for this supplement will get the increased amount.
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 15 November 2021
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The Bill provides for an increase in the amount of the carer’s allowance supplement for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Anyone who qualifies for this supplement will get the increased amount.
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 set the initial amount that carers would receive for this period. The Bill will increase this amount by £231.40. It will also give the Scottish Government the ability to increase the amount of a carer’s allowance supplement going forward.
The Covid-19 outbreak has had a serious impact on unpaid carers in Scotland. The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 provided a financial top-up to support carers from 1 April to 30 September 2020.
This Bill was created to allow additional support to be provided to these carers.
Separately to this Bill, the Scottish Government plans to introduce a new benefit to support carers in the future that will replace carer’s allowance and this supplement.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill as introduced (194KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Explanatory Notes (114KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Policy Memorandum (159KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Financial Memorandum (159KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (100KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021
Statements on legislative competence (88KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Explanatory Notes (238KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Policy Memorandum (233KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Financial Memorandum (223KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
Delegated Powers Memorandum (188KB, pdf) posted 23 June 2021
Statements on legislative competence (175KB, pdf) posted 22 June 2021
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research briefing on the Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 22 June 2021
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Letter from the Minister for Social Security and Local Government, 22 September 2021
Letter from the Minister for Social Security and Local Government of 16 June 2021
The Social Justice and Social Security Committee published its Stage 1 report on 13 September 2021
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
Read the Official Report of the meeting
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 8 September 2021.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 23 September 2021 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 23 September 2021
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 30 September 2021:
Marshalled list of amendments for Stage 2 (121KB, pdf) posted 28 September 2021
Revised Groupings of amendments for Stage 2 (133KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2021
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Letter from Minister for Social Security and Local Government, 6 October 2021
There is no Bill as amended at Stage 2 because no amendments were agreed to at Stage 2.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 30 September 2021
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 October 2021:
Marshalled list of amendments at Stage 3 (124KB, pdf) posted 05 October 2021
Groupings of amendments at Stage 3 (133KB, pdf) posted 05 October 2021
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
There were no amendments at Stage 3. The Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill as introduced is the final version of the Bill.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 118 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 7 October 2021
The Bill was passed on 7 October 2021 and became an Act on 15 November 2021.