Shelter Scotland's submission to the Smith Commission

Key Recommendations

Shelter Scotland believes that the test of any recommendations for reform should be the extent to which further devolved powers could be used to tackle and address poverty and inequality generally and poor housing and homelessness specifically

Further powers on social security spending should be devolved in a comprehensive and holistic way (with the exception of issues relating to pensions) with the ultimate aim of meeting the ambition noted above

The devolution of powers relating to social welfare needs matching fiscal and economic powers to maximize their impact in delivering on the above aim

There is a significant risk that if powers are devolved tokenistically for political reasons, and not in a considered way with the ultimate aim of delivering a more comprehensive system of services and support to better meet the specific needs and circumstances of people in

Scotland that this could result in a poorer system overall

Key Considerations

The Commission should consider how its proposals would allow a more coordinated approach to linking delivery of social security to existing areas of devolved competence such as housing policy, health and social care, and employment and the value in considering the devolution of all aspects of welfare policy in relation to achieving this

Control over Housing Benefit within a fully devolved social security system, offers the potential for a shift in the balance in spending towards new social housing supply

At a pragmatic level, there would be significant risk in devolving an area of policy which is cyclical and subject to shifting demands, while retaining a fixed funding base

In considering a new, better-balanced approach to housing finance, the transition period is a crucial consideration