Chamber and committees

Are any of those 12 areas controversial or is there a general feeling that they are the 12 areas that we should be looking at? I know that you are not involved in the political side of things, but I presume that, at some point, both Governments will have to make a judgment call. Is it fairly clear so far that both Governments agree on the 12 areas that you have identified?

Good morning, minister, and good morning to your team, too.

I have two questions. First, I want to follow up the deputy convener’s second question to try to get into my head and understand what advice people will be given on whether they should transfer or not. Clearly the ultimate decision will be made by Social Security Scotland when it reviews all the papers.

This is an issue that you will appreciate from your legal days, minister. If I phone up and ask, “Should I transfer across?” and the adviser takes me through the process, is that not just the adviser’s decision? It is not the decision of Social Security Scotland. Will it be made very clear to the individual concerned that what has been advised will not definitely happen and that it is only the adviser’s opinion?

That would be very helpful. Thank you, minister.

Sorry, my computer has just gone quiet. I will let Miles go first.

I would just make a point of clarification for the minister: I do not think that anyone from Social Security Scotland works for him. It is a totally independent body away from Scottish Government. I say that merely so there is no misunderstanding on that.

I have a quick question, minister. There seems to be a difference in the treatment and the extent of backdating that is available to people transferring from DLA compared to people transferring from PIP. Did you look at any mitigation measures around that?

That was very helpful.

As a quick follow-up, if there is any divergence between the UK and Scottish Governments on, say, ADP, what information do you need from both to do your forecasts? Do you take a view on whether the divergence is significant and whether it has to be paid for by the Scottish Government or can be mopped up within the UK budget?

I thank both witnesses for the evidence that they have given so far. I remind the committee that I am in receipt of PIP and will be transferred at some point. I have a quick question about the backdating of awards, which you have commented on. Could you give us a bit more information on the reduced ability to backdate awards and the financial effect that that will have on some claimants?

That is helpful. Is one of the issues that creditors are trying to secure the debt against other debts and so are almost going forward with legal action to secure that? Is there any other way that we can prevent people from having to go to bankruptcy while protecting creditors and having the debt repaid at some point, or is bankruptcy the only way around that?

My final question will just push that a bit further. With public debts to local authorities, is there any other way that local authorities could act without having to put people into bankruptcy?

Most of my questions have been covered, but there is one area that I wanted to pursue briefly. From the evidence that we have taken over the past number of weeks, many people are in a crisis situation that might get worse into the autumn and early next year. However, a lot of what you have been talking about—primary legislation, more reviews and recommendations and so on—is longer term. If there were the political will, what things could be done quickly and immediately to make people’s lives easier? In your opinion, is there nothing that can be done in the short term about bankruptcy to make things easier?