Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between Scottish Ministers (SM) and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (SSWP) on joint working arrangements

9. Oversight

9.1. Representative officials from SSWP and SM will be available to provide evidence to UK and Scottish Parliamentary Committees, as and when required concerning matters in relation to Social Security, Employability and the implementation of the Scotland Act 2016.

9.2. The Scottish Parliament may invite UK Ministers or officials to attend proceedings to give evidence or to provide documentary evidence. DWP will consider each such invitation on a case-by-case basis. DWP will aim to be as helpful to the Scottish Parliament as possible, subject to considerations of confidentiality and the overriding priority that must be given to matters arising in the UK Parliament. DWP have nominated a central contact point to handle all requests from the Scottish Parliament, and SM have nominated a central contact point who will be kept informed by DWP of any such requests.

9.3. Similarly, the UK Parliament may invite SM or SG officials to attend proceedings to give evidence or provide documentary evidence. SM will consider each such invitation on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the advice set out in the Scottish Ministerial code. SM will aim to be as helpful as possible to the UK Parliament, subject to considerations of confidentiality and the overriding priority that must be given to matters arising in the Scottish Parliament. SM have nominated a central contact point to handle all requests from the UK Parliament and DWP have nominated a central contact point who will be kept informed by SM of any such requests.

9.4. SSWP and SM will co-operate to enable each to meet its obligations to the UK Parliament and Scottish Parliament respectively. SM and SSWP will aim to treat enquiries and requests for information from the other with the same priority as a request from their own legislative body, for example Parliamentary Questions.