A 2022 round up from the policy team

Over 2022, the Policy team have impactfully been involved in shaping numerous strands of government policy and strategy.

In response to the UK Government’s proposals to weaken the Human Rights Act, the Policy team submitted a response to the consultation and commissioned a series of Opinions from members on the importance of human rights and the Act. We signed a joint consultation response, as well as three joint letters on retaining the Act, and raising concerns about the accessibility of the consultation, that saw the process paused.

We are also preparing for the forthcoming Scottish Human Rights incorporation Bill including several meetings with the Bill team, and a well-received event at the ALLIANCE annual conference.

We planned and commissioned a research project on human rights based approaches in health and social care, with a report to be published in February 2023. Further activity to promote the advancement of human rights includes giving written and oral evidence on human rights budgeting to the Scottish Parliament Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

During the second half of 2022, a significant focus was developing urgent activity to respond to the growing cost of living crisis including a public statement calling for the rise in the energy price cap to be reversed. We published a report identifying specific mechanisms for delivering support through emergency social security payments and possible long term solutions to the crisis, based on a joint event with Disability Equality Scotland to hear from people with lived experience. This led to a meeting with the Deputy First Minister and Social Security Minister to discuss the proposals ahead of the Scottish Government’s Budget.

Our work to help shape the remit of the independent inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a meeting with the then inquiry chair, and a letter to the Deputy First Minister calling for social care to be fully considered in the independent inquiry, and equality and human rights to be prioritised. This resulted in amendments being made to the inquiry’s terms of reference to expressly include social care and a human rights based approach. We continue to engage with the new chair, as well as providing input to the inquiry on their lived experience engagement.

As a result of written and oral evidence we gave on public health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Parliament COVID Recovery Committee wrote to the Minister. The Policy team also met with the Scottish Government team working on COVID-19 public health communications to share the concerns of people at highest risk and suggestions for improvement. We hosted an event as part of the Carers Parliament focusing on lived experiences of the continued impact of COVID-19. The feedback will be used to inform a report and the development of policy recommendations to be published in early 2023.

Our work on Long Covid included participation in a roundtable discussion on Long Covid with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Public Health Minister followed by writing to Ministers regarding the need to include social care and social security in strategic planning for Long Covid, highlighting the findings of our commissioned research project, leading to improved resource sharing on Long Covid for social workers.

The Policy team submitted a comprehensive response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Scottish Carers Assistance to replace the current Carers Allowance, informed by two focus groups with unpaid carers with sensory loss, and with learning disabilities. We continued to develop our relationship with Social Security Scotland with the aim of ensuring that feedback from members and people with lived experience can shape improvements to the service they receive. This includes active participation in their Operational Reference Group, External Equalities Network, and regular meetings with their Chief Executive and National Engagement Team.

End of document.

End of page.