Remit
The Committee is the main UK advisory body on social security matters. However, the Committee's remit does not include industrial injuries, war pensions or occupational pensions, all of which are dealt with by other advisory bodies. Nor does the remit extend to subjects which may interrelate with social security benefits but which are not the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions. Examples of this are: social services, employment, training and education policies; health care; taxation; National Insurance contributions and Tax Credits. The Committee takes an interest in the impact of these policy areas on social security but has no statutory advisory responsibility for them. However in the case of National Insurance Contributions and Tax Credits, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Committee and Inland Revenue was signed in July 2004. This sets up formal arrangements under which the Committee will be invited to comment on matters within Inland Revenue’s responsibility and to provide confidential advice to Treasury Ministers.
From April 2000, at the request of the Secretary of State, the Committee took on the significant new task of scrutinising the Department's public information strategy