Date: 27 March 2025

Time: 13:30

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Present—

• Ed Pybus (Chair)
• Dr Mark Simpson (Member)
• Judith Paterson (Member)
• Dr Marilyn Howard (Member)
• Adam Bennett (Member)

Apologies: None

In attendance (SCoSS Secretariat)—

• Stephen Herbert, Secretary
• Andrew Strong, Head of Policy and Scrutiny
• Christopher Galloway, Analysis and Participation Support Officer
• Lisa Kinnear, Governance and Engagement Officer

The Chair, Ed Pybus, welcomed the Commissioners to the third meeting of the Board in 2025.  The Chair also noted that the Board held on ad-hoc meeting on 11 March where the draft regulations being considered at this Board meeting were scrutinised.

Marilyn Howard declared that she is a former recipient of the DWP Winter Fuel Payment.

The draft Minutes of the February Board meeting were amended and agreed.

The Board considered a response to the draft regulations.  It was agreed that final amendments to the response would be agreed by correspondence prior to the report being laid in Parliament on 3 April.

The Board considered and agreed the Social Security (Cross-border Provision, Case Transfer and Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 report.  It was noted that the report would be laid in Parliament on 28 March.

The Board considered and agreed a response to the Carer’s Assistance regulations.  It was noted that the report would be laid in Parliament on 28 March.

The Board noted the Scottish Government’s response to the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) 2024 Regulations.

The Chair provided the Board with an update on his recent meetings since the last Board meeting and that he would be meeting with the Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland, David Wallace, on 3 April.

Andrew Strong provided an update on publication of the charter report.

Andrew also provided an update on the recruitment of a new Analysis and Participation Officer.

Meeting closed at 16:30

Date of next meeting: Thursday 24 April