Minimum Income Guarantee: Experts by Experience Panel report

Panel one: introductions and initial thoughts

The initial meeting of the panel was structured around three aims designed to set the stage for future discussions and collaborations.

• The first aim was to introduce members and panel staff and the process; establishing a foundation for a positive and productive panel environment.
• Secondly, the meeting was intended to provide members with a basic understanding of the route towards a Minimum Income Guarantee, clarify the roles of those involved, and highlight the significance of incorporating lived experiences into the Minimum Income Guarantee design.
• Thirdly, the session offered members the opportunity to reflect on the information presented and to share their feedback based on their own experiences, discussing how a Minimum Income Guarantee could benefit Scotland and identifying potential challenges and obstacles that need to be addressed to ensure its success.

In order to achieve this, members heard information from:

• Russell Gunson, Head of Programmes and Practice at the Robertson Trust and Chair of the Expert Group, who introduced the role of the Expert Group and how the Experts by Experience Panel will work together with the Expert Group closely as an integral part of the design of a Minimum Income Guarantee.
• Evelyn Bowes, Principal Research Officer, Scottish Government, and Seona Carnegie, Policy Manager from the Minimum Income Guarantee Secretariat who provided information on why the Scottish Government is working on a Minimum Income Guarantee, and what we mean by a Minimum Income Guarantee. This included information on what a Minimum Income Guarantee is not, specifically clarifying that it is not the same as universal basic income.
• Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance and member of the Expert Group, who presented on the challenges in creating a Minimum Income Guarantee and introduced some of the decisions that will need to be made by the Expert Group, and Experts by Experience Panel as they work together.

Outputs from this session included conversation guidelines for how the panel will continue to work together, initial thoughts on what panel members liked and disliked about the idea of a Minimum Income Guarantee, and their reflections on how a Minimum Income Guarantee would be good for Scotland and the challenges that they see in achieving a Minimum Income Guarantee.

Members felt that implementing a Minimum Income Guarantee in Scotland would bring multiple societal and economic benefits. For example, they set out that a population with greater financial security would lead to more people having money to spend within Scotland. Taking a pro-active approach to investment in people through the Minimum Income Guarantee was seen as a route to reduce stress on services in the future who are often responding to needs that arise through poverty. This includes health services, children's services, education, mental health, and crime prevention.

They felt it would create a caring society that values contributions beyond paid work and positions Scotland as a trailblazing, poverty-fighting nation. A Minimum Income Guarantee would enhance community spirit, increase financial security, and boost the economy by ensuring that people have more money to spend. It would also reduce the strain on public services by decreasing poverty-related demands, particularly in health. Furthermore, a Minimum Income Guarantee would lead to happier, more productive workplaces, as people could choose jobs they are passionate about, increasing business efficiency and productivity. Overall, the Minimum Income Guarantee would help eliminate poverty, enhance social mobility, and improve national wellbeing by reducing financial stress and health-related expenditures.

Members acknowledged several challenges in implementing a Minimum Income Guarantee in Scotland, recognising the need for devolved powers and political buy-in across parties as crucial hurdles. Securing employer support and addressing complexities related to employment-based benefits are vital for a Minimum Income Guarantee that aligns with workplace contributions. Furthermore, members felt that gaining broader public support necessitates shifting societal views away from individualism and reframing perceptions of people in receipt of social security benefits.

Setting a fair Minimum Income Guarantee requires defining a decent standard of living, and balancing realistic levels with associated costs. The economic impacts of the Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland, although largely viewed positively, raised concerns about funding sources, potential increased taxes, and possible negative effects on inflation. Complexity of implementing a Minimum Income Guarantee and the need to accommodate diverse individual circumstances were noted as significant barriers. Members stressed the importance of robust evidence to address these challenges effectively and to facilitate the successful implementation of a Minimum Income Guarantee.