Social Security (Scotland) Bill - Explanatory Notes

Explanatory Notes for the first Social Security (Scotland) Bill.

Social Security (Scotland) Bill

Historic legislation to establish Scotland’s first social security system has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

The Social Security (Scotland) Bill will give the Scottish Government the powers to deliver eleven benefits devolved as part of the Scotland Act 2016.

It also provides powers to top up reserved benefits and provides a mechanism to pay a Carer’s Allowance supplement at the earliest opportunity.

Evidence on Prostitution in Scotland

Under current legislative powers, women who sell sex continue to be punished in far greater numbers than men who purchase it, despite the law admonishing both. For far too long the focus has been on the women who sell sex. The likes of social stigma and a lack of gendered awareness throughout Scotland concerning prostitution contribute significantly to charges being brought against these women.

Most girls and young women do not enter prostitution through choice. These women often have complex needs, such as mental health issues, extreme poverty and drug and alcohol misuse problems. The men who purchase sex are the only ones who make a free choice and at present face little to no repercussions for doing so.

Parliamentary Reform Report

The Commission on Parliamentary Reform was launched by the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament on 26 October 2016. The remit was for the Commission to consider how the Scottish Parliament:
Could increase engagement with wider society and involve the public;
Could clarify its identity, as distinct from the Scottish Government; and
Could be assured that it has the right ‘checks and balances’ to enable effective conduct of parliamentary business.
The SWC submitted a consultation response to the Parliamentary Reform around tackling gender inequality in their procedures.

Draft Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill

Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act was
unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2015. This Act
introduced a single offence for all kinds of trafficking for the first
time, consolidating and strengthening existing law. It raised the
maximum penalty for trafficking to life imprisonment and gave
police and prosecutors a new set of tools to prevent and detect
trafficking and to bring those responsible to justice.

Tackling Prejudice and Building Connected Communities

Child Poverty in Scotland - what we know and what the public’s views are

Sexual Portrayal or sexual representation of under 18s

Following public consultation, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), author of the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (the CAP Code), and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), author of the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (the BCAP Code), are introducing new rules prohibiting the sexual portrayal or sexual representation of under-18s (or those who appear to be under 18) in advertising.

The SWC submitted a consultation response to the CAP.

Thank you letter from Jeane Freeman MSP

Jeane Freeman wrote to the SWC to thank the organisation for its support in achieving the target number of people for the Social Security Experience Panels.

Best Start Maternity Grant

The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland” was published following the review of maternity and neonatal services. The report sets out a vision for the future planning, design and safe delivery of high quality maternity and neonatal services in Scotland.

Proposals for Regulations and Policy Supporting the Private Housing (Tenancies)(Scotland) Act 2016

The Scottish Government has produced a report which presents the findings and analysis of responses and views expressed to the Scottish Government's consultation on; Proposals for Regulations and Policy Supporting the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Best Start: A Five Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland

A Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services in Scotland was announced on 25th February 2015. It's aim was to ensure that every mother and baby continues to get the best possible care from Scotland's Health Service, giving all children the best start in life. The Review examined choice, quality and safety of maternity and neonatal services, in consultation with the workforce, NHS Boards and service users.