Minimum Income Guarantee Steering Group minutes: May 2025

Attendees and apologies

Strategy group

• Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Co-Chair
• Caron Lindsay, Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Paul O’Kane MSP, Scottish Labour

Expert group

• Russell Gunson, Co-Chair, Head of Programmes and Practice, The Robertson Trust
• Andy White, Senior Officer, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
• Carmen Martinez, Coordinator, Scottish Women’s Budget Group
• Chris Birt, Associate Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Emma Jackson, Head of Social Justice, Citizens Advice Scotland
• Fiona Collie, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Carers Scotland
• Gerard McCartney, Professor of Wellbeing Economy, University of Glasgow
• John Dickie, Director, Child Poverty Action Group
• Kimberley Wong, Policy and Research Officer, Coalition for Racial and Equality Rights  
• Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance
• Ruth Steele, Head of Social Security Futures, Scottish Government
• Satwat Rehman, Chief Executive, One Parent Families Scotland
• Stephen Boyd, Director, Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland
• Tressa Burke, Chief Executive, Glasgow Disability Alliance

Attending

• Ruth Boyle, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Poverty Alliance
• Jane Watson, Product Owner, Scottish Government
• Sholen Macpherson, Policy and Research Officer, Coalition for Racial and Equality Rights 

Secretariat

• Amanda Shaw, Minimum Income Guarantee Policy Officer, Scottish Government
• Caitlin Forsyth, Minimum Income Guarantee Policy Manager, Scottish Government
• Claire Johnson, Minimum Income Guarantee Policy Support Officer, Scottish Government
• Rebecca Darge, Minimum Income Guarantee Team Leader, Scottish Government
• Seona Carnegie, Minimum Income Guarantee Policy Manager, Scottish Government

Apologies

• Anna Ritchie Allan, Executive Director, Close the Gap
• Catherine Murphy, Executive Director, Engender
• Miles Briggs MSP, Scottish Conservatives
• Mubin Haq, Chief Executive, Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

Items and actions

Welcome

The Cabinet Secretary welcomed everyone to the meeting followed by thanking the Expert Group members for all their work on the final report. 

Final report and recommendations 

The Expert Group Chair provided an overview of the report and its recommendations. Following the overview, the Chair opened the discussion for questions.

The Chair advised that the report sets out the estimated costs and ways to pay for a MIG. The need for engagement with UKG officials and politicians was highlighted, specifically around the on-going UKG child poverty taskforce and UC review. However, the Expert Group report recommendations would be primarily directed to Scottish Government. It was clarified that services and costs remain a key component of a MIG.

Next steps and publication 

The Poverty Alliance updated on plans to build awareness and support for a MIG which will be based on the MIG Expert Group’s report. There will likely be an event after summer recess once there has been time to consider the proposals. 

Closing remarks

The Cabinet Secretary noted that the challenges of the last four years cannot be underestimated, highlighting that the period of the report development had been an ever-changing landscape.

She expressed thanks for the amount of work members of the Expert Group have put into the development of the proposals. She also emphasised the contribution to the work made by the Chair. 

12:15 Strategy Group members leave the meeting.

Report launch

The report will launch in June. The Poverty Alliance will look to hold an event after summer recess to build support and discuss how a MIG could be delivered.

The Chair opened discussion on launch activity and media handling. It was agreed that a coordinated effort would be beneficial. Members also flagged some events and report launches that will be taking place around the time of the Expert Group report’s launch, such as Carers Week, the UK Comprehensive Spending Review, and a JRF report on Scottish child poverty targets. It was noted these may need reflected in launch communications or may present an opportunity to highlight the MIG report. 

The Scottish Government is expected to respond once they have time to fully consider the recommendations within the report. 

The Secretariat can support by providing a briefing and slide pack to aid member’s communications with stakeholders and supporters, members are asked to consider any other support that may be required.

The agenda item closed with thanks from the Chair and Expert Group members to the Secretariat for all their hard work supporting the development of the report. 

Action: The Expert Group will coordinate media and launch plans for the publication of their report in June. Members are to inform the Secretariat if they require support.

12:45 Scottish Government Secretariat and Observers leave the meeting.