Chamber and committees

Can I ask for some clarification? Sorry, minister—I probably was not as clear in my original question as I should have been. It was more about the green paper that proposes changes to disability benefits at the UK level, which might have an impact on people in Scotland. I was asking what engagement you have with the Scottish Government on that particular process.

On the SSI on council tax reduction, it would be helpful to know whether the Government has any plans to gather data on the numbers of people who access council tax reduction and who they are. Also, do we know how many people, if any, have missed out as a result of the error that is noted in the papers and will their payment be given back? Will that be backdated? I do not know whether the committee will wish to write to the Government about that. I intend to vote for the SSI, but it would be worth asking those questions.

Good morning, minister and officials. It is good to meet you. I want to start on disability benefit reform, but with a word of caution about the workplace statistics that you shared. Those statistics may hide some inequalities in the workforce and in the workplace, and they also may be people getting into work that is not secure in the long term or that does not guarantee more than a few hours—in some cases, zero hours. I ask that some of that data also be considered, so that we make sure that the whole economy and everyone in it is doing better, not just some of us.

On disability benefit reform, I am keen to ask about access to work and where that sits. Does the minister believe that some of the changes that were made during the pandemic around the electronic submission of claims and so on, which were quite useful in ensuring that a number of disabled people were able to access work, could be made permanent?

I have two further questions, but they are short.

Have you at any point insisted on adult disability payment eligibility criteria and descriptors remaining unchanged from those that are used in PIP?

Thank you.

Unsurprisingly, I also have a point on the SSI on uprating carers allowance. Although any increase is welcome, I am still disappointed that it is only £4 and that the Government has not looked at the adequacy of carers allowance any sooner than it has. I want to put on record that £4 is welcome, because it is an increase, but it is absolutely nowhere near enough. I hope that the Scottish Government moves as quickly as possible to address the rate of carers allowance and eligibility for it. I will of course vote for the SSI.

Thank you.

Of course. Has the Scottish Government raised with you changing the 20m rule in the eligibility criteria for the mobility component of ADP as a priority?

Has the Scottish Government raised with the Department for Work and Pensions changing the 20m rule in the eligibility criteria for the mobility component as a priority?

That was very helpful. I am keen to hear whether the minister has a view and whether the answer that has just been given, which is helpful, is true for carers allowance as well.

Also, at any point, have you threatened to label adult disability payment not comparable to PIP, based on proposed changes to eligibility criteria that the Scottish Government may wish to make?