In a ministerial statement on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville, confirmed that the new Social Security Scotland agency will determine eligibility for disability benefits with the support of public sector healthcare professionals, and not the private sector. Ruth followed the statement with a question, asking whether, given the stigma that is attached to the DWP’s work capability and PIP assessments, and the current high turnover rates for healthcare professionals undertaking PIP assessments for the DWP, if she could foresee any issues in recruitment and retention:
Also on Wednesday, Ruth participated in a debate entitled ‘Human Rights Defenders (Support and Protection)’, in which she acknowledged the efforts of many human rights defenders around the world to stand up for such rights, often at great peril to themselves, including the 3,500 people who have been murdered for their work over the last 20 years. The following is Ruth’s full contribution:
Away from the chamber, Ruth attended events to celebrate the launch of Garnock Connections (https://www.garnockconnections.org.uk/), and also to promote Wear Red Day, a forthcoming national day of action on Friday October 5th from Show Racism the Red Card (http://www.theredcard.org/wear-red-day/).
CP
Ruth Maguire MSP 