Section J5: Welfare Foods
Purpose and Effect
This Section reserves schemes for the distribution of welfare foods made under regulations under section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988.
General
Schemes for the distribution of welfare foods made by regulations under section 13 of the
Social Security Act 1988 provide nutritional supplements for expectant and breast-feeding mothers and children under the age of five. This is done by providing, free or at a reduced rate, liquid cow’s milk, dried milk, vitamin tablets and vitamin drops. Eligibility for this part of the scheme is dependent upon entitlement to certain income-related benefits and so is closely linked to social security schemes, which are reserved under Section F1. There is also provision for children under the age of 5 years and in day care for two hours or more per day to receive, free of charge, liquid cow’s milk or dried milk, and other children aged 5 and over but under the age of 16 who are unable because of a physical or mental disability to attend school, to receive liquid cow’s milk.
Parliamentary Consideration
| Stage | Date | Column |
|---|---|---|
| LC | 27-Jul-98 | 1284 |
| LR | 3-Nov-98 | 202 |
Details of Provisions
This reservation ensures that the Scottish Parliament has no legislative competence to make provision about the matters which are or could be covered by welfare food schemes as described above. The 1988 Act amends the law relating to social security in a number of ways; section 13 is only concerned with making provision for welfare food schemes.
Executive Devolution
The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1750) transferred non-statutory functions in relation to the welfare foods scheme.
Agency Arrangements
The Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1512) specified certain functions exercisable by the Scottish Ministers in relation to the welfare foods scheme for the purpose of section 93 of the Scotland Act.
