SCoSS Charter Sub-Committee Meeting

Date: 09 September 2025
Time: 10:00
Location: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)

Minutes

Present —

  • Dr Marilyn Howard (Chair)
  • Dr Mark Simpson (Chair)
  • Ed Pybus (Member)

Apologies: None

In attendance —

  • Andrew Strong (Head of Policy and Scrutiny, SCoSS Secretariat);
  • Keith Rae (Senior Policy Manager, SCoSS Secretariat);
  • Stephen Herbert (Commission Secretary, SCoSS Secretariat);
  • Lisa Kinnear (Governance Officer, SCoSS Secretariat);

Apologies: None

1. Welcome and declaration of interests

The Chair, Marilyn Howard, welcomed the attendees to the ninth meeting of the Charter Sub-Committee in 2025.

There were no apologies and no interests were declared.

2. Matters arising from previous meeting

The draft minutes were amended and agreed.

3. Charter research – Experiences of people for whom English is not their first language

With reference to the relevant research proposal, members of the sub-committee determined the following next steps:

  1. Explore whether access to data from research undertaken by the Independent Review of ADP is possible;
  2. Commission a rapid review of the existing evidence, engaging with Scottish Government and Social Security officials as well as external stakeholders.

4. Charter research – Adult Disability Payment determinations, redeterminations and Short-term Assistance

With reference to the relevant research proposal, members of the sub-committee determined that the SCoSS Secretariat should draft a spec for their consideration.Action: Draft a spec for consideration by members.

5. Communication with the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland

Sub-committee members agreed that engagement with officials at the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland should take place as part of the scoping work for both research proposals.

Action: SCoSS Secretariat to draft a letter to both organisations, at an appropriate date, to get their agreement in principle to explore both research questions further with relevant officials.

6. Any other business

Sub-committee members considered the budget for these two research proposals, to be approved at a future meeting.

Marilyn noted that the next meeting of the Charter sub-committee would be her final as Chair and that Mark would take over chairing responsibilities for the 6-month rotation from 10 October 2025.

Next meeting: 8 October, 9.30am – 11am

Meeting closed at: 11:31

Back to top Skip to content