Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People
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.Overview
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People include:
- Devolved welfare policy
- Devolved social security
- Measures against poverty
- Best Start Grant
- Best Start Foods
- Funeral Support Payment
- Job Start Payment
- Carers Allowance Supplement
- Carer's Assistance
- Young Carers Grant
- Disability Assistance
- Employment Injury Assistance
- Cold Spell Heating Assistance
- Winter Heating Assistance
- Scottish Child Payment
- Equalities
- The protection and development of social and human rights
- Elderly people
- 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:
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.List of office holders
Minister for Social Security
Junior ministerial position
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People
