Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People | |
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Style |
Cabinet Secretary Social Security Secretary |
Appointer | First Minister |
Formation | June 2018 |
Website |
www |
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People is a position in the Scottish Government Cabinet. The Cabinet Secretary has overall responsibility for social security, equality and human rights. The Cabinet Secretary is assisted by a junior Minister, the Minister for Older People and Equalities. The current Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People is Shirley-Anne Somerville, who was appointed in June 2018.[1]
Overview
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People include:[1]
- Welfare policy
- Social security
- Measures against poverty (with CSCLG)
- Best Start Grant (replacing the UK Government’s Sure Start Maternity Grant)
- Funeral Expense Assistance (replacing the UK Government’s Funeral Payment)
- Carers Allowance (at which point we will stop paying Carers Allowance Supplement)
- Young Carers Grant
- Personal Independence Payments
- Disability Living Allowance
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Attendance Allowance
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Cold Weather Payments
- Winter Fuel Payments
- Equalities
- The protection and development of social and human rights
- Older people
- Disabilities
- Cross Government co-ordination of policies in support of women and gender equality
Public bodies
The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People:
History
The position was first created as a junior ministerial role, the Minister for Social Security in May 2016, to reflect the increased powers of the Scottish Government over Social Security as a result of the Scotland Act 2016. The Minister for Social Security did not attend cabinet meetings, instead being represented by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance MSP. In June 2018 the position was raised to Cabinet Secretary level.[1]
List of office holders
Jeane Freeman | ![]() |
18 May 2016 | 26 June 2018 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | ||
Shirley-Anne Somerville | ![]() |
26 June 2018 | incumbent | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | ||
References
- 1 2 3 "New Cabinet appointed". Scottish Government. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
External links
- Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People on the Scottish Government website