Ben Macpherson – Page 2 – The NEN

Adult Disability Payment launch dates announced

The Scottish Government’s next benefit, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), will open for new applications in pilot areas from 21 March 2022.

This new payment, to be administered by Social Security Scotland, will replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which are currently delivered by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Adults of working age with a disability or health condition, who are not already in receipt of PIP or DLA, and living in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles local authority areas, will be the first to be able to apply from this date.

Further council areas will be introduced in phases until Adult Disability Payment rolls out nationwide from August 2022.

Individuals with ongoing awards of PIP or DLA do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment. Their awards will be transferred automatically to the new Scottish system from August 2022, with no break in entitlement or payment.

Legislation to introduce the new benefit was laid before the Scottish Parliament on Friday.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “Adult Disability Payment will be the twelfth Scottish benefit to be delivered by the Scottish Government, since we gained limited powers over social security and created Social Security Scotland in 2018.

“ADP will also be the most complex and largescale Scottish benefit yet, reaching up to a forecasted 339,000 people once the entitlements of all Scottish PIP and DLA recipients are transferred from the DWP.

“We know people have found applying for DWP disability benefits stressful in the past. That is why we have listened to their experiences as we have designed our new system, and we are committed to doing things differently.

“We are introducing an improved application process and, in contrast to the DWP system, we are removing the burden from individuals to provide supporting information, so that the onus will instead be on Social Security Scotland to collect the information we require. Our new, person-centred decision making process will ensure everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

“Importantly, we have abolished assessments in the form currently undertaken by the DWP. Instead, and only where required, we will hold person-centred consultations between the person and a Social Security Scotland health or social care practitioner, starting from a position of trust. Our consultations will not involve functional examinations.

“Another key difference in our new system will be around the definition of terminal illness. We will follow the judgement of clinicians instead of being tied to fixed periods of life expectancy, and anyone with a terminal illness will be fast tracked.

“From the outset, the eligibility criteria for ADP applicants will remain mostly the same as existing DWP disability benefits, as will payment values for awards, so that we do not create a two-tier system with varying rules whilst Scottish PIP and DLA recipients are transferred to Social Security Scotland.

“We are committed to undertaking an independent review of ADP within a year of its full introduction, to consider the eligibility criteria, gather feedback from people who’ve applied and collect data to inform any proposed changes.

“We have also worked with people with lived experience and relevant organisations to develop all aspects of the application process, and make it easy and inclusive for people to access support they are entitled to. We are offering a range of ways to make an application, including online, by post, over the phone or face-to-face. Social Security Scotland local delivery teams will also be available to provide assistance.

“People in Scotland with existing DWP awards do not need to be concerned about reapplying or going through an application process again. They will be transferred automatically to Social Security Scotland and we will write in advance, so people know what to expect. Our focus on safe and secure delivery will ensure that everyone continues to get the payments they receive, when they expect to.”

Double payment for unpaid carers

Thousands of unpaid carers will receive a double payment this winter under legislation recognising the additional pressure they face as a result of the pandemic.

If approved by Parliament, the Bill, published today, will mean more than 91,000 carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance Supplement will receive an extra £231.40, doubling their December payment to £462.80.

This extra investment, forecast to be £21 million, will be the second time the Scottish Government has doubled the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

The Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill, a priority for action within the first 100 days of this government, will also give Ministers powers to provide eligible carers with additional financial support in future if the need arises.

Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Unpaid carers provide essential support to family, friends and neighbours. Their roles have been even more important during the pandemic, with many taking on additional tasks and facing higher costs of looking after people staying at home to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“The Scottish Government is grateful to all carers for their dedication during this most difficult of times.

“We introduced the Carer’s Allowance Supplement in 2018 in recognition of the vital role unpaid carers play in our society, and because the UK Government’s Carer’s Allowance is the lowest of all working age benefits. The supplement, paid twice a year, is only available in Scotland and has already helped thousands of carers in recent years.

“Like we did last year, this December we want to provide a double supplement of £462.80 to support unpaid carers with the additional pressures they’ve experienced because of the pandemic. This will benefit carers on low incomes who already have some of the most intense caring roles. This financial assistance adds to the other ways we are helping unpaid carers, who can also access support through their local carer centres, such as information, advice, counselling and advocacy services.”

Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs at Carers Trust Scotland, said: “There is significant evidence that unpaid caring impacts upon physical and mental health and this has been exacerbated by COVID-19, resulting in many unpaid carers having to significantly increase the hours of care they provide.

“This additional payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which will provide additional financial support, has the potential to reduce some financial pressure and goes some way in continuing to recognise the immense contribution of unpaid carers in Scotland.”

Sebastian Fischer, VOCAL Chief Executive, said: “Unpaid carers have faced enormous challenges during the pandemic. They continue to prop up the health and social care sector and shoulder the impact of additional caring responsibilities through this difficult period.

“Creating measures of support which deliver real impact to carers’ daily lives is much needed. We believe the Carer’s Allowance Supplement is a positive step towards valuing the role of carers as equal partners in care and recognising their crucial contribution to Scotland’s economy.”

New role for Ben MacPherson as FM Nicola Sturgeon completes her ministerial team

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon completed her new governmental team last night with the announcement of junior ministerial appointments.

Consisting of 10 Cabinet Secretaries, including the First Minister, the Scottish Cabinet will be supported by 15 Junior Ministers.

There’s a new role for Northern & Leith MSP Ben MacPherson, who moves from Rural Affairs and Environment to become Minister for Social Security and Local Government.

Edinburgh Eastern MSP Ash Denham remains Minister for Community Safety and new Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson comes straight into government as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

The full ministerial team is:

First Minister: Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Drugs Policy: Angela Constance

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery: John Swinney

Minister for Parliamentary Business: George Adam

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy: Kate Forbes

Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work: (who will also work alongside the Net Zero Secretary), Richard Lochhead

Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise: Ivan McKee

Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth: Tom Arthur

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: Humza Yousaf

Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport: Maree Todd

Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care: Kevin Stewart

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: Shirley-Anne Somerville

Minister for Children and Young People: Clare Haughey

Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training: Jamie Hepburn

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport: Michael Matheson

Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform (who will also work alongside the Rural Affairs Secretary): Mairi McAllan

Minister for Transport: Graeme Dey

Cabinet Secretary for Justice: Keith Brown

Minister for Community Safety: Ash Denham

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government: Shona Robison

Minister for Equalities and Older People: Christina McKelvie

Minister for Social Security and Local Government: Ben MacPherson

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands: Mairi Gougeon

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture: Angus Robertson

Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development: Jenny Gilruth.

Holyrood Elections 2021: Big increase in Ben MacPherson’s majority in Northern and Leith

SNP’s BEN MACPHERSON has emphatically increased his majority in Edinburgh Northern and Leith.

Ben’s resounding victory was the last constituency declaration of the 2021 elections and rounded off a superb campaign for the SNP.

RESULT

BEN MACPHERSON (SNP) 22 443

Katrina Faccenda (Labour) 10 874

Lorna Slater (Scottish Greens) 6 116

SNP HOLD

Majority 11 569

Turnout 63%

Result last time (2016):

BEN MACPHERSON (SNP) 17322; Lesley Hinds (Labour) 10576; Ian McGill (Conservative) 6081.

Majoruty was 6746.

First Minister announces Holyrood reshuffle

Mairi Gougeon appointed Minister for Public Health and Sport

New role for local MSP Ben Macpherson

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has appointed Mairi Gougeon as the new Minister for Public Health and Sport, among a range of new appointments which she said come “at a crucial time for Scotland” as the nation faces a number of challenges.

As well as the wider role of improving Public Health and promoting sport at all levels in Scotland, Ms Gougeon will play a key role in tackling the pandemic with responsibility for Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing across Scotland, with the Health Secretary taking the lead on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ben Macpherson is to become Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, supporting both Roseanna Cunningham and Fergus Ewing where he will focus on the impacts of Brexit on the rural economy, support efforts to tackle climate change and to protect our wildlife and biodiversity.

Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee will take on additional responsibilities for supporting Finance Secretary Kate Forbes as the Scottish Government prepares to publish its Budget early in the new year.

Minister for Europe and International Development Jenny Gilruth is to take on responsibility for Migration.

Last week the First Minister nominated Angela Constance as Minister for Drugs Policy.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “At a crucial time for Scotland, these new appointments ensure that we have a ministerial team fully focused on tackling the many important challenges facing us.

“Mairi Gougeon has proven herself to be a highly effective Rural Affairs minister working with stakeholders, balancing competing interests and taking on difficult policy challenges. She will now be part of the team protecting and improving Scotland’s public health, and will play a key role in the pandemic, taking the lead on testing.

“Mairi will work alongside the new Minister for Drugs Policy Angela Constance, who is tasked specifically with tackling what is another major public health emergency in Scotland.

“Ben Macpherson takes on the environment post at a critical time in our fight against climate change and as we take new steps to protect Scotland’s wonderful and diverse natural environment. Having previously worked on Climate Justice and Climate Finance, Ben will continue our work to protect wildlife, enhance biodiversity and support Scotland’s rural economy.

“With responsibility for migration, Jenny Gilruth will be working to tackle the demographic challenge threatening to undermine our economy and our society, and Ivan McKee will assist Kate Forbes in supporting firms through the pandemic, ensuring Scottish Government procurement backs Scottish business and in preparing our Budget early in the new year.”

Brexit: Ben Macpherson urges Home Office to scrap five year rule

Home Office urged to remove five year rule for settled status.

Continue reading Brexit: Ben Macpherson urges Home Office to scrap five year rule

Work with us on immigration, Ben Macpherson urges UK Government

Migration Minister Ben Macpherson has urged the Home Office to work with the Scottish Government and stakeholders on an immigration policy that addresses the particular problems experienced by remote communities – and proposed that Scotland pilot a different approach. Continue reading Work with us on immigration, Ben Macpherson urges UK Government

Scots face uncertainty over return to homeland

UK Government immigration proposals threaten family reunification

Scots who currently live in another EU country, but who hope to come back to live in Scotland one day, will find it much harder to bring family members with them when they return, if and when the UK leaves the EU.

That is the prospect facing thousands of Scots as a consequence of the UK Government’s proposals for UK citizens in the EU post Brexit, Scottish Government Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson said today.

Mr Macpherson said that UK citizens living in the EU deserved guarantees from the UK Government about their rights to return home with family members if and when the UK leaves the EU.

“The ‘Stay in Scotland’ campaign launched by the First Minister earlier this month made clear how much the Scottish Government values the contributions made by EU citizens living and working in Scotland,” he said.

“Of course the negative consequences of the UK Government’s planned exit from the EU also extend to the rights of UK citizens living in other member states, and I am particularly concerned about the implications for those who hope to return to Scotland with their families in the future.

“Under UK Government proposals, due to come into effect in 2022, someone with a non-UK national spouse and children will no longer be allowed to return to Scotland with his or her family unless strict financial thresholds are met. This is unfair.

“I do not accept that someone’s ability to return to Scotland should be judged through arbitrary financial requirements, that do not take into account individual and often compassionate circumstances. The UK Government must seriously reconsider their proposals.

“Scots who want to return to Scotland from elsewhere in the EU should be able to bring their families with them, no matter how much they earn.”

Ben Macpherson: City Council is stepping in to support Universal Credit recipients failed by UK Government

Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson has renewed calls for an immediate halt to Universal Credit after it was revealed that Edinburgh council is spending millions of pounds attempting to undo the damage of this failed Tory policy. Continue reading Ben Macpherson: City Council is stepping in to support Universal Credit recipients failed by UK Government