My Lords, no amendments were submitted.

Scottish Welfare Devolution (Amendment) Bill

A

BILL

TO

Amend the Scottish Welfare Devolution (Referendum) Act to alter provisions of devolved powers under Head F such as the Armed Forces Pensions.

Section 1: Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless specified otherwise;

(2) The ‘Initial Act’ refers to the Scottish Welfare Devolution (Referendum) Act 2022.

Section 2: Amendments

(1) In Section 4 of the Initial Act, insert;

(3) Provisions relating to pensions for Armed Forces servicepeople will remain reserved.
(4) Provisions relating to pensions for Civil Servants will remain reserved.

Section 3: Commencement, Extent, and Short Title

(1) This Act comes into force immediately upon Royal Assent

(a) The 180 day limit set in place by the successful vote in favour of devolving welfare will not be altered by this Act

(2) This Act extends to Scotland

(3) This Act may be cited as the Scottish Welfare Devolution (Amendment) Act 2022.

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, the Viscount Felixstowe, the Lord Leiston KT GCMG KCVO CT PC, on behalf of Her Majesty’s 31st Government.

Opening Speech:

My Lords,

I authored the initial act to hold the referendum to devolve Welfare, but I am not afraid to admit I did so rather sloppily. In devolving the entirety of Head F, we see some things devolved that arguably should not - namely, pensions for civil servants and armed forces servicepeople. The civil service and the military are both reserved to Westminster, and while I do not think we should be afraid of devolution I think we can respect that devolving provisions relating to pensions of armed forces servicepeople creates unnecessary divisions and complications, and likewise with the civil service.

The 31st Government has reached an agreement with the 17th Scottish Government to reserve these provisions. In return, we have offered them an increase in the block grant worth the amount spent on the Basic Income scheme in Scotland. The 17th Government has submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament which is currently being voted on; while the final results are not yet known, with every party (aside from the SWP) whipping in favour the result is clear. We have the consent of the devolved administration, and it is now time to clear this up to deliver on the mandate the people of Scotland gave to the devolution of welfare. I commend this bill to this House.

This division shall end on the 28th September at 10pm BST.