Attendance Allowance: agency agreement

14. Communications

14.1 DWP, Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Ministers have agreed a communications approach ensuring a seamless claimant experience. Communications in relation to Attendance Allowance will be as in the agreed document ‘DWP and Scottish Government Joint Communications Framework’ as referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement. DWP, Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Ministers have agreed the following principles:

• Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Ministers will notify DWP if they are to issue any communication related to this Agreement, and of any related issues, at the earliest possible opportunity prior to publication/issue.
• DWP will notify Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Ministers if they are to issue any communication related to this Agreement, and of any related issues, at the earliest possible opportunity prior to publication/issue.
• DWP will not make any changes to Attendance Allowance communications to distinguish between people resident in Scotland or England and Wales, other than for the purposes of Data Subject rights as noted in section 16 of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt DWP will be operating on the basis of business as usual arrangements with regard to communications for Attendance Allowance.

15.1 Each party is to follow existing processes and obligations for requests to that party and having regard to the ‘MoU on Devolution’ as well as the ‘Concordat between DWP and the Scottish Government’ both as referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.

15.2 Each party will assist and cooperate with each other where appropriate to enable each to meet its obligations.

15.3 This Agreement does not supersede any legal obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoI(S)A).