Chamber and committees

We will now do the formal part. The question is, that motion S6M-05966, in the name of Ben Macpherson, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Social Justice and Social Security Committee recommends that the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendment and Transitional Provision) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.

I have a couple of questions about changes to the linking period. Did issues arise about how it was working in practice that made those changes necessary? In what circumstances would there be a long delay between a client losing entitlement and Social Security Scotland deciding to stop the Scottish child payment?

Thank you, minister. We will move on to questions from Emma Roddick, to be followed by Pam Duncan-Glancy.

Any further information that the committee could get on that would be appreciated, minister.

Do members want to make any contributions?

Absolutely.

Good morning, and welcome to the 27th meeting in 2022 of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

Our main item of business is consideration of a draft statutory instrument. The Scottish Government advises that the draft regulations will make changes to the best start foods regulations, best start grant regulations and Scottish child payment regulations, which set out the rules and eligibility criteria for best start foods, the best start grant and the Scottish child payment.

I welcome Ben Macpherson MSP, the Minister for Social Security and Local Government, who joins us remotely, and his officials, who also join us remotely. We have Nicola Birrell, who is best start grant and best start foods policy manager with the Scottish Government; Karen Clyde, who is a solicitor with the Scottish Government; Janet Richardson, who is deputy director for client services delivery with Social Security Scotland; and Merlin Kemp, who is the Scottish child payment team leader at the Scottish Government.

The instrument has been laid under affirmative procedure, which means that Parliament must approve it before it comes into force. Following this evidence session, under the next agenda item the committee will be invited to consider a motion to approve the instrument. I remind everyone that the officials can speak during this agenda item but not in the debate that follows.

I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

Thank you very much for your statement, minister. We will move to questions. As always, we will direct our questions to you, but you can bring in your officials when you want to.

The first questions are from my colleague Jeremy Balfour.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions with the United Kingdom Government, in light of the concerns raised with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regarding the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. (S6O-01447)

I know that the cabinet secretary agrees that, with the sunsetting of retained European Union law by 31 December this year, we risk removing restrictions that currently protect holiday pay, safe limits for working hours and parental leave, which will become subject to amendment by a UK Government with an open ambition of deregulation.

The bill represents a significant undermining of devolution by allowing a minister of the UK Government of the day to act on policy areas that are devolved—importantly, without the consent of Scottish ministers or this Parliament. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the democratic deficit that Scotland faces is not a new phenomenon and that it is yet more stark evidence that, right now, Scotland’s people need the right to choose the people who they trust to navigate us out of this Brexit chaos?