DWP data issues could delay benefit payments for Falkirk families

The UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee will meet on Thursday morning to grill DWP ministers Will Quince and Justin Tomlinson on welfare policy, Universal Credit and devolution of benefits.

Mr Quince and Mr Tomlinson are also expected to be questioned by members about solutions to data sharing issues.

A committee spokesperson said: “In the previous session of the welfare policy in Scotland inquiry, the committee heard the full rollout of a key benefit targeting child poverty could be delayed by competing interpretations of GDPR rules holding-up data sharing between the DWP and the Scottish Government.

"At the March 11 hearing, Scottish social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville told MPs Scotland ‘cannot deliver the Scottish Child Payment for six to 16-year-olds without data from the DWP’.

"The scheme is already operating for children under six.”