Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group: review

Key Messages

1. Both members of the Group and officials in the Government are generally satisfied with the work that DACBEAG has done to date and with mutual relationships that enabled this work.

2. Whilst acknowledging these positive views, this report places a greater focus on the critical observations made by members of the Group and officials. The purpose of this is not to criticise the Group but to identify areas where improvements could be made. It has to be noted that this review is a snapshot and both DACBEAG members and officials noted that there has been a trajectory of improvement.

3. One of the areas where improvements can be made is how the Group works in relation to its purpose and remit. Although survey respondents unequivocally expressed a view that they understood the purpose and remit of the Group, interview data and advice that has been provided by the Group suggests that there may be differences in how these are interpreted. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that several pieces of advice provided by the group albeit linked to the general operations as they affect carers and disabled people were not directly aligned to the remit on Disability and Carer Benefits. This relates to both advice in response to requests by the Government and proactive advice. Responses from within the Government also noted that some requests for advice could have been more aligned with the remit.

4. Four areas related to the nature of the advice that is given by the Group and how it is presented were identified as requiring improvement. These areas pertain to the degree to which the advice provides and conveys challenge, detail, evidence and collective voice of the Group. Making improvements in these areas could enhance the effectiveness and impact of future advice.

5. A number of areas related to how the Group is set up and how it operates were identified as requiring further examination. These included issues of attendance and participation, membership, relationships with the officials, capacity (of members, the Group as a whole and the secretariat), intra-group collaboration and the relationship between the Group and its workstreams (i.e. how the Group feeds into and signs off the outputs of workstreams).

6. These findings were the basis for drawing some recommendations for the Group and the Scottish Government. These are listed below and at the end of the report. References to specific chapters in the report that form the basis of these recommendations are given in parentheses.