Employment Injury Assistance (EIA) delivery – next steps: Scottish Government response - easy read

Easy read version of our response to the consultation on Employment Injury Assistance held between 30 April and 25 June 2024.


Overview

We have read all of the responses to the consultation in detail. We have decided that the Scottish Government will not deliver Employment Injury Assistance in the current Parliament.

We will instead work on longer-term changes so we can create a new modern benefit.

Question 1

The first section of the consultation gave a history of the Industrial Injuries Scheme.

It explained that the Scottish Government wants to change this benefit to make it better for people in Scotland.

The Scottish Government wants to improve this benefit in line with our social security principles of ‘dignity, fairness and respect’ and provide value for money.

Question 1: Do you agree or disagree that the Industrial Injuries Scheme should be changed to make it better for people?

Feedback

Most people who answered agreed that the Industrial Injuries Scheme, which was introduced over 70 years ago, is not fit for purpose

Groups said the current benefit does not line up with our social security principles of ‘fairness, dignity and respect’.

Views from individuals were mixed.

Scottish Government Response

We welcome that the majority of people who answered Question 1 agree that the Industrial Injuries Scheme is not fit for purpose and needs to be changed.

As a result of these responses the Scottish Government have decided to prioritise work to change Employment Injury Assistance.

We will protect the payments for people currently receiving an Industrial Injuries Scheme benefit in Scotland.

Question 2

Question 2: Of the two options which do you think the Scottish Government should proceed with?

1. Prioritise like-for-like benefit.

2. Prioritise change to deliver a new benefit.

Feedback

While views from people were mixed, the preferred option was Option 2.

Most people said the Industrial Injuries Scheme was in need of change.

Six organisations did not select an option and told us we need to speak more to people with lived experience.

People were worried about people continuing to get their money if we change Employment Injury Assistance.

They were also unsure about how the Scottish Government would change Employment Injury Assistance.

The Scottish Government has made clear continuing payments is our number one priority.

Scottish Government Response

We know there are different views on Employment Injury Assistance but we were happy that most people agree that we should prioritise change of Employment Injury Assistance.

The Industrial Injuries Scheme is the last benefit to be replaced in Scotland but is one of the more complicated benefits due to its age.

The Industrial Injuries Scheme was first introduced in 1948 and has had little change since.

We will also take the time to think about how Employment Injury Assistance works with other benefits delivered by the UK Government.

We know that the lump-sum payments people receive are important to them.

These payments remain reserved to the UK Government.

We will carefully think about how to make future changes to the eligibility for lump-sum payments and work closely with the UK Government while we decide this.

This consultation is the first step of our policy development for Employment Injury Assistance.

We plan to hold a more detailed consultation in the future which look at the challenges and opportunities of a fully changed modern Employment Injury Assistance.

We will create a new stakeholder advisory group to help assist us with this.

Question 3

The third question asked about proposed timelines for Option 1 and 2.

Feedback

Organisations were concerned about the time it has taken to deliver Employment Injury Assistance so far.

Some organisations were concerned about the timeline for Option 2 and felt it may take longer than we have said it would.

They have asked us to consider the time and resource that will be needed for Employment Injury Assistance.

Scottish Government Response

Employment Injury Assistance has taken longer to deliver because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to deliver our other social security benefits.

We prioritised the delivery of our Scottish Child Payment and Child and Adult Disability Payments.

We said we would pick the option most people asked us to, so we have decided to proceed with Option 2.

This means we will now focus on longer term changes. We will work with the new stakeholder group to do this.

Contact

Email: Daniel.Rennie@gov.scot

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