Public appointment: Member reappointed to the board of the Scottish Commission on Social Security

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP today announced the reappointment of Marilyn Howard as a Member of the board of the Scottish Commission on Social Security.

Member

Dr Marilyn Howard is a writer and researcher on social security issues and is a member of the Policy Advisory Group of the UK Women's Budget Group, receiving her doctorate for research comparing Scottish and UK Government approaches to Universal Credit payment. Her experience includes policy and strategy development on social security and disability employment when working for the Department for Work and Pensions and the Disability Rights Commission. She has also undertaken policy and research work in the UK-wide disability sector, Women’s Aid (England), and for a variety of organisations in a freelance capacity. Marilyn’s research interests include social security, poverty and equality, with publications on social security policy regarding women, carers, and disabled people. Former roles include membership of the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board and the Disability Employment Advisory Committee. Previous employment includes community social work, welfare rights advice and advocacy with individuals and communities, including local take-up campaigns.

Reappointment

This reappointment will be for 4 years and will run from 01 February 2027 to 31 January 2031.

This reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This reappointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £225 per day for a time commitment of 36 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Marilyn Howard does 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.   

Marilyn Howard has had no political activity within the last five years. 

Background

The Scottish Commission on Social Security is an independent body and is separate from the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland, which is an executive agency of the Scottish Government responsible for delivering social security payments in Scotland.

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 defines the role of SCoSS in providing independent scrutiny of the devolved social security system, with functions to:

• Provide independent expert scrutiny of draft social security regulations, including preparing and publishing reports and making recommendations on these regulations to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament.
• Prepare reports on how the expectations of the Social Security Charter are being met and make recommendations for improvement. These reports are also published and submitted to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.
• Report on any matter relevant to social security at the request of the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament.

In carrying out all its functions, SCoSS has regard to the social security principles set out in the Act. This means that SCoSS plays an important role in ensuring that these principles, which are at the heart of the devolved system of social security, are applied in practice.

SCoSS has already produced many detailed and wide-ranging reports on regulations covering most of the devolved social security benefits introduced since 2018, including Young Carers Grant, Scottish Child Payment, Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment. Most of the recommendations in these reports have been accepted by the Scottish Government and have therefore led to significant improvements to legislation.