Stage one report on the Social Security (Scotland) Bill: Scottish Government response

Introduction

1. The Scottish Government welcomes the Social Security Committee's report on the Social Security Bill and notes that, under " Scottish Government Approach", the Committee has recognised that " stakeholders have been very complimentary about the Scottish Government's overall approach to creating this system".

2. The Scottish Government wishes to make it very clear that the consultation activities that it has undertaken to date, and which are referenced by the Committee Stage 1 report, by no means mark the end of its engagement with stakeholders. The Scottish Government intends to continue listening, with a view to understanding peoples' issues and to take action, where this is required.

3. The Scottish Government is grateful to Committee for sight of its report and is pleased to make its response available ahead of the Stage 1 debate on the Bill, which is scheduled for 19 December. The Scottish Government hopes that its response, which sets out its position on the various matters raised by Committee, will be helpful in further informing peoples' views on the Bill.

4. The Scottish Government's response is structured to reflect the layout of Committee's report. Detailed responses to recommendations made by the Committee are set out beneath the text of each individual recommendation. Some of the headings and sub-headings from the Committee's report are used, to aid readers in navigating the document. For reasons of brevity, the Scottish Government has not provided a response to some sections of the Committee's report where the Committee has set out or commented on evidence but has chosen not to make a specific recommendation.