To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the annual performance of Social Security Scotland in 2023-24. (S6O-04003)

Social Security Scotland published its annual report and accounts and its charter measurement framework results this week. The findings show that 90 per cent of respondents said that their overall experience was very good or good. In the previous financial year, we paid more than £1.9 billion to people across Scotland. During that time, we launched the carer support payment nationally and a pilot for the pension-age disability payment. We now deliver 15 benefits, seven of which are available only in Scotland.

Of the £1.9 billion that was issued in devolved social security payments across Scotland, more than £277 million was invested in Glasgow, including for my Glasgow Cathcart constituents. Will the cabinet secretary outline, for Glasgow and for Scotland as a whole, how much of Social Security Scotland’s investment went towards devolved benefits that are unique to Scotland and not available anywhere else in the United Kingdom, such as the transformative Scottish child payment?

In 2023-24, Social Security Scotland invested £500 million in benefits that are unique to Scotland. Of that, £80 million was invested in the Glasgow city area. Our investment will support 1.4 million people this year—about one in four people in Scotland. Social Security Scotland’s benefits are helping to keep children out of poverty, assisting people to deal with rising living costs and supporting disabled people and those who devote their time to caring for others.