Annual Report for year ended 2025-26

In the first half of 2026-27, we expect fewer draft regulations to be referred to us for scrutiny due to the Scottish Parliament election.  Accordingly, we intend to use this period to strengthen our engagement with stakeholders and review the impact of our scrutiny work over the course of the parliamentary session.  We look forward to working with the new Scottish Government and Parliament as the devolved social security system moves beyond the ‘safe and secure transfer’ of benefits.

We will publish two external research reports in 2026, undertaken by Between the Lines, which are shaping the future direction of our Charter scrutiny work in the new financial year.  We intend to engage with stakeholders in developing that future scrutiny work.

In order to augment the knowledge and expertise which can be brought to bear in our scrutiny of draft regulations, we intend to establish an external expert panel of advisers.  The panel will provide advice principally on the issues of human rights and welfare rights in relation to our scrutiny.

In January 2027, Judith Paterson and Mark Simpson will come to the end of their second term as Commissioners and will leave the Commission.  Judith and Mark have been members of the Commission since the establishment of SCoSS in 2019 and have made an enormous contribution to embedding the Commission as a key part of the devolved social security landscape.  We will be looking to recruit two new Board members in 2026-27.