Chamber and committees

Would you like to direct that question to any particular members of the panel, Marie?

Lovely. Ed Pybus, Richard Gass and Judith Paterson, I appreciate your time. Your input has been invaluable as we go through the process of scrutinising the implementation of ADP. It is greatly appreciated. No doubt we will be back in touch again but, in the meantime, I wish you all a merry Christmas.

I suspend briefly to change over the panel of witnesses.

Welcome to the 14th meeting in 2021 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. Apologies have been received from Natalie Don, and I am pleased to say that Evelyn Tweed is attending as her substitute.

Our first item of business today is a decision on whether to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

I can see that Bill Scott concurs with that.

Craig Smith, Frank McKillop, Keith Park, Trisha Hatt and Bill Scott, I thank you all for your time. Yours was insightful evidence that is helpful to our work on ADP. I wish you all a very merry Christmas.

That concludes the public part of this morning’s meeting. Next week, the committee will take evidence on the budget. I invite members to join the private session via the link provided.

Is that addressed to any panel member in particular?

I will bring in Bill Scott followed by Craig Smith. I am conscious that we have not heard from Trisha Hatt yet. If Trisha has anything to add, I will be happy to bring her in after that.

I am very conscious of time. We have about half an hour left and quite a few colleagues to get through, so I ask that we be quick with questions and answers. It would be helpful if the witnesses could come in when they have something new to add, rather than reiterating points that have already been made.

I have one final very brief question, which is predominantly to Keith Park. Do you believe that issues of eligibility, such as the 20m rule, will require reassessment on transfer? Could you give a reason for your thoughts on that, please?

That is extremely helpful.

Are there any colleagues in the virtual room with any information or input on that question?