30.10.2014
What power the Scottish Parliament should have over welfare will be the focus of a meeting of the Welfare Reform Committee in November. Academics will present their views to the Committee in public on Tuesday 11 November ahead of the Smith Commission’s Heads of Agreement publication by 30 November.
Appearing before the Committee, to talk about the potential future of welfare powers of the Parliament in Scotland, will be:
- Dr Jim McCormick, Scotland Advisor - Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Prof Ken Gibb, Housing Economics - Urban Studies, Glasgow University
- Prof Nicola McEwen, Professor of Territorial Politics, Politics and International Relations, Edinburgh University
- Prof Paul Spicker, Chair of Public Policy, Robert Gordon University
- Prof David Bell, Professor of Economics, Stirling University
- Dr David Webster, Honorary Senior Research Fellow (Urban Studies), Glasgow University
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Convener Michael McMahon MSP said:
"In hosting this evidence session, we hope to positively contribute to the deliberations of those involved in agreeing the Smith Commission’s proposals. With so many people in Scotland holding strong views about how we look after some of our most vulnerable members of society, we felt it was important to consider some of the scenarios in public.”
Deputy Convener Jamie Hepburn MSP said:
“It is important that a Parliament working on behalf of the people of Scotland has the powers it needs to tackle the issues the people want it to. This session will help us explore what those powers could be.”
Following this session, the Committee will consider what further action it may take once the Heads of Agreement report has been published by the Smith Commission.
Background
You can follow the Committee on twitter: @sp_welfareref
Committee papers will publish for this meeting on Thursday 6 November, link here:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/46339.aspx
Photographs from the meeting will be made available to media free of charge.