The Public Services Reform (Poverty and Inequality Commission) (Scotland) Order 2018
The Scottish Ministers consider that the relevant conditions in section 16(2) of the Act are satisfied.
The Scottish Ministers have consulted in accordance with section 26 of the Act.
In accordance with section 25(2)(c) of the Act, the draft of this Order has been approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
Citation and commencement1.
This Order may be cited as the Public Services Reform (Poverty and Inequality Commission) (Scotland) Order 2018 and comes into force on 1st July 2019.
Amendment of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 20172.
(1)
(2)
“(2)
In addition to the functions conferred on it by this Act, the functions of the Commission are—
(a)
to advise the Scottish Ministers on any matter relating to poverty or inequality in Scotland, including the impact of their policies and use of resources in reducing such poverty and inequality,
(b)
to monitor progress in reducing poverty and inequality in Scotland,
(c)
to promote the reduction of poverty and inequality in Scotland.
(2A)
The Commission may do such things as it considers appropriate for the performance of its functions, including in particular—
(a)
gathering evidence,
(b)
carrying out research,
(c)
preparing and publishing such reports as it considers appropriate.
(2B)
The Commission must publish any advice it provides to the Scottish Ministers.”.
(3)
In the schedule, in paragraph 1 (membership)—
(a)
in sub-paragraph (1)(b) (number of members additional to chairing member), for “2 but no more than 4” substitute “4 but no more than 8”;
(b)
“(a)
securing that the Commission (taken as a whole) has experience in and knowledge of—
(i)
the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policy relating to poverty and inequality,
(ii)
research in connection with poverty and inequality,
(iii)
working with persons experiencing poverty or inequality (or both), and
(b)
the Commission’s membership including persons who have experienced poverty or inequality (or both).”.
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
This Order amends the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 (“the 2017 Act”) to allow the Poverty and Inequality Commission established by section 8 and the schedule of that Act to consider a wider range of poverty and inequality issues than those that are contained in the 2017 Act.
In summer 2017 the Scottish Ministers tasked a body of persons with providing advice on reduction of poverty and inequality in Scotland. Subsequently the Scottish Parliament enacted the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill to establish a Poverty and Inequality Commission (“the Commission”), with functions relating to child poverty targets described in that Bill. It would promote efficiency, effectiveness and economy in the exercise of public functions for the two functions to be combined and delivered by a single body. Article 2(2) of this Order expands the functions of the Commission accordingly.
Article 2(3) expands the membership of the Commission and broadens the experience and knowledge that is to be considered when the Scottish Ministers propose persons to the Scottish Parliament for approval for appointment to the Commission.