Chamber and committees

Modelling shows that the same amount of money will be more effective in bringing down child poverty if it is paid through the Scottish child payment rather than universal credit. Are you concerned that, if the Scottish child payment is doubled at around the same time as the uplift to universal credit is removed, it will be less effective, because it will be closing the gap that has been created rather than driving down poverty?

Thank you.

I am hearing from you that even doubling the Scottish child payment will not be enough, so my question is, what would be enough? What would you see as an adequate amount to be paid through the Scottish child payment as an end goal?

I echo members’ thanks to everyone who is giving evidence today; all the other committee members and I have found it very valuable.

I note that the theme of eligibility keeps cropping up. The Scottish Government has said that, in the early stages of carers assistance, there will be limitations on how much eligibility can be changed, and improvements to the application process and the administration will be able to come in earlier. Do the witnesses feel that those changes, including greater visibility and providing various options for communication, will make a big difference to carers in their experience of claiming the benefit?

Do you think that the changes to the administration and application process for carers assistance early on will make a big difference to carers’ experience of claiming the assistance?

No, convener—my questions have been covered.

In your letter to the committee of 10 August, you stated that changes to eligibility for Scottish carers assistance could not be made until after the end of case transfer. When do you expect carers assistance to be introduced? How quickly do you expect case transfer to be completed?

I appreciate the concern around ensuring that carers will not be worse off as a result of getting this benefit. You said that you were having discussions with the DWP. Do you expect to be successful in the discussions on different options for the treatment of carers assistance in relation to reserved benefits?

I, too, worked on the Social Justice and Fairness Commission and I am a councillor on the Highland Council.