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Through the evaluation that we published in December 2020, we have a good understanding of the impact on carers of the carers allowance supplement, and we know that it makes a difference. The questions around what can be financed within this year are also part of the budgetary process. That is the question that differentiates this payment from future budget considerations, where we would be thinking as a Parliament about what we would set in the forthcoming budget, in order to make those payments in the year ahead. We have had to secure that resource within the current budget and we have been able to do that at the rate that we paid previously, which we know, through our evaluation, has made an impact.

Does Andrew Strong want to make any further points?

Absolutely. We will consider it, and I look forward to doing so with the committee.

That is an important question. I highlight the point that I made in my opening remarks that we acknowledge the expedited timetable and appreciate the engagement of all in that. Over the course of the past year, we have engaged with carers organisations on the positive effect of the additional payment in the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No 2) Act 2020. There was wide support for that payment. I engaged with carers organisations during the summer recess on those points, as did my officials.

The need to pass primary legislation to make the payment in early December—we want it to be then because we want people to have it in good time for the festive period—means that we have expedited the process. However, the bill is narrow in scope and is focused on enabling us to make the payment. We would of course normally want to engage in a longer legislative process but, given the timing of the election, the start of the new parliamentary session and the hard deadline of wanting to make the payment in early December, I think that a reasonable course has been taken.

Given that, under the enabling power, the regulations would be limited to increasing the level of the supplement for a specific period or periods, it was considered that the enhanced level of scrutiny that is provided by SCOSS is not necessary. The regulations would have a very narrow scope.

I noted with interest the differing opinions on the first panel on that issue. That is a point of consideration for our future benefit of Scottish carers assistance, but at the moment we need to stay focused on the window for the December payment and the fact that the carers allowance supplement is the only feasible mechanism that we have that does not risk the on-going delivery and consideration of the live benefits that we currently deliver and the roll-out of new benefits.

The issue that Evelyn Tweed raises is a point of consideration, but at the moment we are very focused on delivering the December payment.

We are looking at all that very seriously and analysing what can be delivered, what changes on eligibility we want to make collectively in due course, and when those changes can be made. We will keep the committee and the Parliament updated as appropriate on those considerations, and I look forward to engagement on those important points in the period ahead.

I will bring in Andrew Strong, as he has had specific engagement with the sector on that point in order to ensure that we raise awareness of the benefits of the bill and to encourage applications and uptake, should Parliament pass the bill, which we really hope that it will. As you have highlighted, one of the key considerations around that remains the interactions between the carers allowance and universal credit. That is also a key consideration in developing and analysing options for Scottish carers assistance.

Does Andrew Strong want to talk about his recent engagement with the sector?

Mr Briggs raises some important points. Of course, the introduction of the young carer grant was an initiative that the Scottish Government has delivered. It represents a change, utilising the powers that we have.

You may or may not be aware of this, but just last week we received an interim evaluation of the young carer grant. We will consider that evaluation and the points made by Mr Briggs, and we will continue to consider—as we do on a regular basis with all that we deliver—how stakeholders and clients are responding to and receiving the benefits that we provide and whether improvements can and should be made. We will consider the evaluation and we will keep the committee updated as appropriate.

I will bring in Andrew Strong in a minute, but you will know that we worked closely and quickly with the DWP to put in place breaks-in-care easements for carers at the start of the pandemic and to extend them for as long as we and stakeholders felt they were needed.

Andrew, you have engaged significantly with carers organisations on those points, and I would be grateful if you could answer in more detail for Mr Briggs.

As always, it is about how we utilise Government mechanisms, the statutory services and interactions with voluntary organisations and representative groups to raise awareness in their networks proactively and within communal space and other means by which people interact or gather together, using proactive communications through social media and other mechanisms, and giving a strong emphasis to the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland using our channels and trying to get others to amplify through their networks to do all that we can to encourage benefit take-up in Scotland and ensure that people get what they are entitled to, because we want them to have that, and we want to support them.