Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 2023-24

5.1 Introduction

This statement of accounts reports the results of the Scottish Commission on Social Security for the year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It has been prepared in accordance with the Accounts Direction given by the Scottish Ministers under section 19(4) of the Public Finance and Accountability Scotland Act 2000. These financial statements were authorised for issue by Ian Davidson as the Accountable Officer, on 30 August 2024.

5.2 Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2024

No activities were discontinued during the year.

5.3 Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2024

Ian Davidson
Accountable Officer (Deputy Director, Social Security Policy)

30 August 2024

5.4 Statement of Cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2024

5.5 Statement of Changes in Taxpayer’s Equity for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

5.6 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Statement of accounting policies

In line with Schedule 1, Chapter 4 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, and in accordance with the accounts direction issued by the Scottish Ministers under section 19(4) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, these financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) 2023-24 issued by HM Treasury.

The accounting policies contained in the FReM apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adapted or interpreted for the public sector context. Where the FReM permits a choice of accounting policy, the accounting policy which is judged to be the most appropriate to the particular circumstance for the purpose of giving a true and fair view has been selected. The particular policies adopted by SCoSS are described below. They have been applied consistently in dealing with items that are considered material to the accounts.

In accordance with the FReM these accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis, which provides that the organisation will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

(a) Accounting convention
The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention modified to account for the revaluation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to fair value as determined by the relevant accounting standard.

(b) Value added tax
SCoSS is registered for VAT as part of the Scottish Government VAT group registration which is responsible for recovering VAT on behalf of the Commission. Irrecoverable tax is charged to the relevant expenditure category.

(c) Receivables
The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis and all material amounts due as at 31 March 2024 have been brought into the account irrespective of when actual payments were received. These can be found below in Note 4.

(d) Payables
The accounts are prepared on an accruals basis and all material amounts outstanding as at 31 March 2024 should be brought into account irrespective of when actual payments were made. These can be found below in Note 5.

(e) Pensions
Pension benefits are provided through the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and the Civil Service and Other Pension Scheme (CSOPS). These are unfunded multiemployer defined benefit schemes in which SCoSS is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme. Therefore, SCoSS has accounted for the contributions to the scheme as if it was a defined contribution scheme. This is in accordance with FReM requirements.

(f) Short Term Employee Benefits
A liability and an expense are recognised for holiday pay and other short term benefits when employees render their service thereby increasing their entitlement to these benefits. Accruals are recognised for material amounts in respect of these benefits earned but not taken or paid at the date of the Statement of Financial Position.

(g) Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis, which provides that the organisation will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. SCoSS has no reason to believe that Scottish Ministers intend to withdraw support to the organisation, and funding for 2024-25 has been confirmed in the Budget Act. It is therefore considered appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. An operating budget will be set annually as part of the SG’s normal budget process.

(h) Disclosure of new accounting standards

SCoSS has considered the impact of new accounting standards issued but not yet in effect. There is no expected impact on SCoSS.

2. Staff costs

Staff costs in 2023-24 amounted to £387,861 (2022-23 – £320,597). Staff costs include directly-employed staff, interim managers & staff related expenditure. A breakdown of these costs is given in the Remuneration and Staff Report.

3. Purchase of Other Goods & Services

4. Trade Receivables & Other Current Assets

£30,034 (2022-23 – £23,359) other receivables is for cash from Scottish Government Funding that will be used to cover the 2023-24 accruals balance when paid next year.

5. Current Liabilities

6. Depreciation & Impairment Charges

SCoSS does not have any assets and there have been no impairments.

7. Other Operating Expenditure

SCoSS does not have any Other Operating Expenditure.

8. Property, Plant and Equipment

SCoSS did not have any assets or IFRS 16 leases, as at 31 March 2024.

9. Related Party Transactions

SCoSS is an advisory non-departmental public body and it considers that the Scottish Government is a related party within this context. During the year the Commission has had a number of material financial transactions with the Scottish Government including—

• All permanent staff are Scottish Government employees;
• SCoSS uses Scottish Government estates, HR & Financial systems and relies on a number of other Scottish Government services;
• SCoSS ledger is part of the wider SG Core accounts hierarchy;
• All financial transactions are set up, processed and paid via Scottish Government financial systems; and
• Neither the Board Members nor any key managerial staff have undertaken
  any material transactions with SCoSS during the year.

10. Capital Commitments and contingent liabilities

There are no capital commitments or contingent liabilities.

11. Third Party Assets

SCoSS has no third party assets to report.

12. Events after the reporting period date

There have been no further events after the end of the reporting period to report or
which would have a material effect on the accounts.