About the event
On Friday 29th April 2022, we hosted a debate event that explored disabled people’s experience of the benefits system to date and wider systems and attitudes that society constructs to support disabled people. 2022 sees the introduction of Adult Disability Payment in Scotland so it was an ideal time to ask questions.
Panellists were Ben Macpherson, Minister for Social Security, Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP (LAB), Jeremy Balfour MSP (CON) and Bill Scott, Senior Policy Advisor for Inclusion Scotland, Dr Sally Witcher, Freelance Consultant – see below for more information about them. The event was hosted by Joyce McMillan.
Tickets for in-person or online were ‘Pay What You Can’. On booking people had the opportunity to submit a question for the panel.
The event was live captioned and BSL interpreted.
The capacity of the auditorium was capped to allow some distance to be left between groups.
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Meet the panel
Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Social Security and Local Government
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Ben grew up in Edinburgh before studying a BA Honours degree in Philosophy and Politics at the University of York. After graduating he returned to Edinburgh and worked in a number of different roles before going on to complete a postgraduate LLB and a Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh. He then qualified as a solicitor and practised as a lawyer with one of Scotland’s large commercial firms. As well as his legal training, Ben has worked in financial services, for an NGO, in renewable energy, in a school and in hospitality.
Throughout his career, Ben has been a committed political activist. In 2016 this culminated in being elected as the MSP for the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency, where he lives.
As a backbencher, Ben has previously served on the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee, Justice Committee and Sub-Committee on Policing. He was also a Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the First Minster between 2016-2018.
In June 2018 Ben was appointed Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, before becoming Minister for Public Finance and Migration in February 2020, and Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment in December 2020. In May 2021 he took up his current role as Minister for Social Security and Local Government.
He is a committed internationalist and passionate about social justice and sustainable, inclusive economic progress. Beyond working and campaigning, Ben likes running, football and watching films and documentaries.
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Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, (Labour)
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Pam Duncan-Glancy is a Scottish Labour MSP representing the Glasgow Region, and Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Social Justice and Social Security. She is the first permanent wheelchair user to have been elected to the Scottish Parliament. Pam attended Stirling University where she studied psychology and was the first disabled person to be election to the National Union on Students, before moving to Glasgow. Pam previously worked in the third sector, including for Inclusion Scotland, and then at Public Health Scotland before becoming an MSP. She is married, with a dog – Tony the cockapoo.
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Jeremy Balfour MSP, (Conservative)
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Jeremy was born in Edinburgh and spent most of his life in Scotland. After studying law, he worked as a solicitor for a short time before becoming a Baptist Minister. Jeremy has also worked in the Third Sector. Jeremy was a Councillor in Edinburgh for 12 years and was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016. Jeremy was born with a physical disability and has campaigned on greater rights for all disabled indviduals. At present, he is on the Social Justice and Social Security Committee and is involved in a number of Cross Party Committees. He is married with twin girls and enjoys, travelling, reading and sport.
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Bill Scott, Senior Policy Advisor – Inclusion Scotland
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Bill is Chair of the Poverty & Inequality Commission for Scotland. He has worked at Inclusion Scotland, a Disabled People’s Organisation, for 15 years and is currently their Senior Policy Advisor. He has also previously worked as – a Senior Researcher in the Scottish Parliament; as Deputy Manager of Pilton Community Health Project; as Director of Lothian Anti-Poverty Alliance; as a Racial Equality Officer and as an Employment and Welfare Rights Worker. Bill serves on a number of Scottish Government advisory groups including the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group and Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group.
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Dr Sally Witcher, Freelance Consultant
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Dr Sally Witcher is a freelance consultant, a disabled person and disability benefit recipient. Former roles include CEO of Inclusion Scotland and Child Poverty Action Group (UK), Chair of the Disability Employment Advisory Group (UK Government) and senior civil servant in the Office for Disability Issues, DWP. Academic experience includes a Phd on diversity and social inclusion and advisory committee member for the LSE’s Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion. She currently chairs the Scottish Commission on Social Security (but will not be speaking in that capacity).
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