Public appointment: Co-Chairs and Member appointed to Scottish Commission on Social Security Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice today announced the appointment of Judith Paterson and Mark Simpson as interim Co-Chairs, and of Jackie Gulland as an interim Member to the Scottish Commission on Social Security.

Co-Chairs

Judith Paterson is Head of Advice and Rights (Scotland) for Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG). She has worked in the field of social security advice for over 30 years and is an author of guides on social security law and practice. From 1993 to 2001, she was editor of the Disability Rights Handbook for Disability Alliance, now part of Disability Rights (UK), and before that was in frontline advice roles. She has been a member of social security advisory bodies, including the Disability and Carers’ Benefits Expert Advisory Group and the Social Security Advisory Committee. Since 2019, Judith has been a member of the Scottish Commission on Social Security.

Dr Mark Simpson is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry, has been a member of the Scottish Commission on Social Security since its inception in 2019 and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Social Security Law. Dr Simpson’s research focuses on social security and related constitutional, citizenship and human rights issues. Since 2021 he has also advised the Department for Communities on social security in Northern Ireland as a member of the independent panels appointed for the review of discretionary support and the review of welfare mitigations.

Member

Dr Jackie Gulland is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Edinburgh and brings to this role her commitment to social justice and combatting inequality.

Dr Gulland has a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh and has particular expertise in understanding the impact of social welfare law and social security regulations on women, disabled people, carers and those living in poverty. She has published widely on these topics, including in an award winning book on the history of incapacity benefits. Her book "Gender, work and social control: a century of disability benefits" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) won the Social Policy Association Richard Titmuss Book Award in 2020. This book, and her other publications, have been commended for their clarity and ability to make complex information accessible and engaging to a wide audience.

Appointment

These appointments will be for 8 months and will run from 1 August 2023 and end no later than 31 March 2024.

These appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

Judith Paterson and Mark Simpson’s appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £306 per day for a time commitment of up to 24 days.

Jackie Gulland’s appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £225 per day for a time commitment of up to 24 days.

Other ministerial appointments

Mark Simpson is a Member of the Independent Review of Welfare

Mitigations, for which he receives remuneration of £250 per day, for a time commitment of 10 days per month. Mark Simpson is also a Member of the Independent Review of Discretionary Support, for which he receives remuneration of £250 per day, for a time commitment of 3 days per month.

Judith Paterson and Jackie Gulland do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Judith Paterson, Mark Simpson and Jackie Gulland have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) is an independent body set up to provide scrutiny of the Scottish social security system (including benefit regulations).

The full functions of the Commission are set out in section 22 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

The Commission is separate from the Scottish Government, and carries out its work independently of both Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament.