Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Letter to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on upcoming priorities
Letter to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 8 July 2021
The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Via email only
8 July 2021
Dear Thérèse,
Following the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections and the establishment of committees, I am writing to you as Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. The Committee is looking forward to scrutinising the important issues within its remit over the next session.
As you will be aware, the Session 5 Social Security Committee recommended in its legacy report that the “successor committee will wish to continue to scrutinise intergovernmental working on social security and continue efforts to secure the attendance of UK Ministers to give evidence, from time to time”.
In the interests of establishing effective communications and a good working relationship for the forthcoming session, the Committee agreed at its first meeting to write to you to seek an early indication of your upcoming priorities and delivery timescales for any planned work.
Despite continuing roll-out of the Scottish Government’s social security programme over the next five years, there continues to be a strong overlap of devolved and reserved issues within the Committee’s brief and we would welcome your cooperation and engagement with the Committee.
I look forward to hearing from you and would welcome a response by 1 August 2021.
Yours sincerely
Neil Gray MSP
Convener, Social Justice and Social Security Committee