Thank you very much, convener. Since this is my first appearance and in light of your congratulations on my new appointment, I should say for the record that I have no interests to declare in relation to pensioners’ rights, in case some people might think otherwise.
Thank you for inviting me to come before the committee. Like a number of members who are new to the committee, I am new to the welfare role in my ministerial portfolio. It is an interesting brief, to say the least, and one that is subject to change. I would like to put in context my overall approach. I will try to keep this fairly short, because I want to maximise members’ time to question and debate the issues that we will all face in the months and years ahead.
I acknowledge the valuable work that the committee has done in its short period of existence. In the parliamentary debate in December, I saw how some of the areas have been brought to the public’s attention as a result of the committee’s work, as well as the importance of research, whether that is in relation to sanctions, food banks, the bedroom tax or whatever. Given the austerity measures that the UK Government is bringing forward, your work will continue to be very necessary indeed.
On how you will find working with me, I hope that we can work openly and co-operatively. In the debate before Christmas, I was struck by the willingness of all parties to work with one another. I certainly intend to continue in that vein, and I hope that others will. Although I am sure that you will rightly press me and my colleagues on issues in the future, I know that that comes from a very real desire round the table to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of society.
This morning, I will talk about my vision and what I want to achieve in my new portfolio area, particularly on social justice and communities. As this is my first occasion in front of the committee, and the first occasion that a minister has been in front of the committee since the Smith commission reported, I will also give a broad overview of where we take that process, particularly in relation to welfare.
The pursuit of social justice and strengthening communities is relevant to every aspect of Government, so I am particularly pleased to take on that challenge. Those areas are very much at the heart of what the Government wishes to achieve. It is about helping people and communities to fulfil their potential and recognising the enormous beneficial aspects to our economy that would be released from that. We firmly believe that Scotland’s greatest asset is our people and that, in a country as rich as ours, more should be done to share our wealth.
In my role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, I once said that everybody is a stakeholder in the health service, and I believe that that applies equally in my new portfolio. I strongly believe that we all have a part to play in building a fairer and more prosperous society. Almost all of us are reliant on the state for assistance at some point, which is why I firmly reject the idea of scroungers versus strivers that has become so unfortunately apparent in some of the rhetoric from some members of the United Kingdom Government. It is clear that too many in our society do not feel that they have a stake in it. I hope that we can all agree that we need to address that.
In my previous ministerial post, I was clear that a preventative approach is the best means for challenging inequality. Too often, moneys are focused on dealing with the outcomes and symptoms rather than on tackling the root causes of problems such as poverty and inequality. Important progress has been made on changing our thinking and approach—a good example is the closer integration between health and social care—but much more needs to be done. The reasons for inequalities in our society are many, complex and varied. There are no silver bullets or easy answers to many of the deep-lying problems with which we are faced; nor can any of us be satisfied with the existing system, which condemns so many people to poverty and deprivation.
On the Smith commission, I think that everybody in the Parliament welcomes the additional powers. We will always do what we can with those powers to improve the lives of the people of Scotland and we are pleased that the powers that have been recommended are coming to the Parliament. I hope that they will arrive sooner rather than later. We will work co-operatively in the Parliament and with the UK Government to make the transition as easy and smooth as possible.
In the Scottish Government’s view—a view that is shared by many of our stakeholders—there is no doubt that the Smith commission is a missed opportunity to give the Parliament more meaningful levers to tackle the long-standing problems that our country faces. The committee will be keen to ask me what the Government intends to do with the new powers that are to be transferred. The powers that are coming present some opportunities to do things differently. For example, with powers over disability benefits, we can introduce a system that treats people with dignity and respect. The expert working group on welfare has already suggested areas in which change may be possible on that.
It is worth saying a word of caution, however. A process is involved and powers will not be transferred overnight. We all have a responsibility to recognise that and to work together to ensure that powers are transferred with the full budget that they currently hold. Negotiations on the details are still to be had with the UK Government. We need to understand the full financial and legal implications of the process before we make any detailed commitments. The draft clauses, which are due next week, will be a start to that process.
I am pleased to say that last week I had a very useful meeting with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell. A joint ministerial working group on welfare between the Scottish and UK Governments is being established and its first meeting should take place in week 1 of February. We have agreed a work programme for that with timetables, modus operandi, membership and so on, and I am happy to share that information with the committee if you so wish. I will certainly keep the committee updated, as will David Mundell, who I believe is appearing before you in a few weeks’ time.
In the meantime, it is only right that we consult widely with those who will be affected by the new benefits. We will ensure that we do that and take forward plans for engagement with those with an interest. I am happy to take on board any suggestions that members and the committee as a whole have for doing that.
One final thing that I want to clear up is on the Smith commission and universal credit. Some concerns were expressed that any benefits that we introduce could be offset by a cut in reserved benefits due to paragraph 55 in the Smith report. I am now clear that paragraph 55’s purpose is to provide a guarantee that the benefit of anything that we do in the Scottish Parliament should not be undermined or negated in any way as it affects the individual. That is my interpretation, and I expect the UK Government to honour that in full.
I am happy to answer any questions, convener.