The Scottish Government published a consultation on the enforcement of the Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework.

The consultation sought views on making a Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework (TASF) legally enforceable. 

Consultation Questions

Question 1. Do you think the physical standards set out in the TASF are appropriate and sufficient to ensure that temporary accommodation provides an adequate, safe and secure space for the household?

Question 2. Please tell us whether there are any additional physical standards that you think should be added to this framework.

Question 3. Do you think that the definition of the physical standards is clear or are there some standards that could be clarified or explained in more detail to aid understanding?

Question 4. Do you think that any of the physical standards should NOT be included in the TASF?

Question 5. In 2020, article 7A was inserted into the Unsuitable Accommodation Order 2014. This set out circumstances where community hosting, rapid access accommodation and shared tenancy accommodation is deemed NOT to be unsuitable accommodation, provided that the household does not include a pregnant woman, a child or a person who exercises parental rights in respect of a child who does not form part of the household. Do you think that the accommodation prescribed under article 7A provides suitable accommodation for certain homeless households?

Question 6. Do you think the location standards set out in the TASF set out are relevant and fit for purpose?

Question 7. Please tell us whether there are any additional location standards that you think should be added to this framework.

Question 8. Do you think that the definition of the location standards is clear or are there some standards that could be clarified or explained in more detail to aid understanding?

Question 9. Do you think that any of the location standards should NOT be included in the TASF?

Question 10. Do you think the service standards set out in the TASF are relevant and fit for purpose?

Question 11. Please tell us if there are any additional service standards that you think should be added to this framework.

Question 12. Do you think that the definition of the service standards is clear or are there some standards that could be clarified or explained in more detail to aid understanding?

Question 13. Do you think that any of the service standards should NOT be included in the TASF?

Question 14. Do you think the management standards set out in the TASF are relevant and fit for purpose?

Question 15. Please tell us whether there are any additional management standards that you think should be added to this framework.

Question 16. Do you think that the definition of the management standards is clear or are there some standards that could be clarified or explained in more detail to aid understanding?

Question 17. Do you think that any of the management standards should NOT be included in the TASF?

Question 18. Do you agree that the TASF should be legally enforced?

Question 19. Do you agree that it would be appropriate for the TASF to be included within the Charter when it is reviewed in 2027?

Question 20. Do you agree with the proposal for the SHR to monitor social landlords’ performance of the TASF?

Question 21. It is possible that some local authorities may not be able to meet the new TASF when introduced. Do you think that there should be sanctions, such as penalties or fines, applied to those local authorities that fail to meet the TASF?

Question 22. Please tell us about any other approaches or options you think would be appropriate to implement to ensure that local authorities/RSLs adhere to the TASF.

Question 23. Do you agree with the proposal to review, and update as necessary, the TASF broadly in alignment with the review of the Charter?

Question 24. Do you agree with the proposal for a formal evaluation of the implementation of the TASF after three years?

The consultation can be found at A consultation on the enforcement of the Temporary Accommodation Standards Framework - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

Closing date for responses was 28 January 2026.

The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) sought views on the future of council tax in Scotland.

Council tax is a vital source of funding for local services such as schools, social care, roads, libraries and waste collection. The council tax system has remained largely unchanged since its introduction over 30 years ago.

This consultation formed part of a joint programme of work led by the Scottish Government and COSLA which is seeking to build consensus on reforms to council tax. The aim of this consultation was to gather views from individuals, households, communities, and organisations across Scotland on potential approaches to reform.

The key areas under consideration included:

• Updating the market reference point (currently based on values as at 1991) to reflect current market values and modernise the tax base.
• Exploring approaches to revaluation, including localised revaluation where band thresholds could differ by council area to reflect local housing markets.
• Introducing options for new council tax bands at the top and bottom of the scale to ensure the system is more progressive and proportionate, or to smooth the differences between tax rates.
• Considering transitional measures such as phased implementation and deferral options to help households adjust to any changes, as well as reductions to support lower-income households.

The findings from this consultation, together with the wider programme of engagement, will help support informed public debate and further consideration in the Scottish Parliament.

The consultation can be found at The Future of Council Tax in Scotland - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

Closing date for responses was 30 January 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV-Response-CT-Reform-Scotland-January-2026.pdf

On 18 November, the Minister of Finance announced that he intended to consult on changes to support for small businesses, outlining his view that the Small Business Rate Relief scheme currently provides vital support for operating costs for small businesses.

The Minister’s full statement can be accessed below:-

Finance Minister Oral Statement - Rating Policy Update on Strategic Road Map

The published consultation paper served to provide further background to the Small Business Rate Relief scheme and outlines the potential policy options for any revisions to the scheme.  The Department sought views from businesses and stakeholders on these options before any policy proposals are put to Ministers on any future enhancement to the support. 

The consultation can be found at https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations/small-business-rate-relief-sbrr-options

Closing date for responses was 29 January 2026.

This Call for Evidence represented the next step in exploring how reforms could be taken forward, to further incentivise and increase investment. It sought to gather more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences business investment decisions.

This evidence will be used to inform policy development and design.

This Call for Evidence covered the following areas:

• Chapter 2: Further information about you or the stakeholders you represent

• Chapter 3: The role of business rates in investment decisions

• Chapter 4: Transforming Business Rates: reforms to incentivise investment

• Chapter 5: Valuations on the receipts and expenditure (R&E) methodology

The consultation can be found at Business_Rates_and_investment_Call_for_Evidence.pdf

Closing date for responses was 18 February 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: Response_Business_Rates_and_Investment_Call_for_Evidence.pdf

The government is giving Mayoral Strategic Authorities in England the power to create local overnight visitor levies.

They sought views on the design of the new power including: 

• whether Foundation Strategic Authorities should also have the power to create overnight visitor levies
• how any revenues collected should be used
• the types of accommodation that will and will not be included
• how levy rates should be calculated and the powers Strategic Authorities have to change them
• what Strategic Authorities need to do to introduce a levy and to change it​
• liability for the levy and how this will be assessed
• the administrative framework for overnight visitor levies, including options to minimise regulatory requirements
• equalities impacts​

The consultation can be found at Visitor levy in England - GOV.UK

Closing date for responses was 18 February 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_Visitor_Levy_Consultation_2026.pdf

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 establishes a modernised legislative framework to enable the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to more effectively identify, prevent, and reduce fraud and error within the social security system. Three draft Codes of Practice have been developed, to ensure the safe, effective and proportionate use of DWP’s new powers. To ensure appropriate governance and transparency in the exercise of these new powers, the DWP was committed to undertaking a public consultation on the proposed Codes of Practice developed under the Act.

The consultation can be found at Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act DWP Codes of Practice: Verifying Eligibility in the Welfare System, Obtaining Information and Recovering Debt - GOV.UK

Closing date for responses was 27 February 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_Public_Authorities_(FER)_Act_Consultation_2026.pdf

The Scottish Government’s consultation on its statutory inputs into the Strategic Review of Charges for the 2027 to 2033 regulatory period: the Ministerial objectives and the Principles of Charging Statement.

Scottish Water must lead in meeting climate challenges and ensuring resilient services for a growing and mobile population. To sustain performance and meet future needs, the Scottish Government recognises that investment levels and customer charges might need to rise. The Principles of Charging and Ministerial Objectives they are consulting on set the right foundation for this while continuing to ensure efficiency and value for customers.

The consultation can be found here: Water services - investing in and paying from 2027: consultation - gov.scot

The consultation closes on 30 March 2026.

The Independent Review of the Valuation of Licensed Hospitality issued a call for evidence to help inform its considerations. The call for evidence invited respondents to provide information and research on the valuation methodology for the licensed hospitality sector for the purposes of non-domestic rates. 

The consultation can be found here: Background - Licensed hospitality valuation methodology: Gill review - call for evidence - gov.scot

The consultation closed at 5pm on 20 April 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_Gill_Review_2026.pdf

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) planned to change the scheduling and alignment and reduce the frequency of some of their routine administrative-based benefit Official Statistics, including Universal Credit (UC). 

They sought input on proposals 1 to 5 below. 

Proposal 1 

Reduce the frequency of Universal Credit statistics from monthly to quarterly and improve alignment of key metrics.   

Proposal 2

Align the timing of DWP Benefit Statistics (including Benefit Combinations) to financial years, with a move to an annual compendium release in Autumn.  

Proposal 3

Reduce the frequency of Housing Benefit Speed of Processing statistics to annual rather than quarterly.  

Proposal 4

Reduce the frequency of Housing Benefit Debt recovery statistics to annual, aligned to financial years, rather than biannual.  

Proposal 5

Reduce the frequency of the National Insurance Numbers Allocated to non-UK overseas nationals statistics to annual, aligned to financial years, rather than quarterly.

This consultation ran until 12 May 2026.

The consultation can be found here: DWP administrative-based benefit statistics: proposed changes to scheduling and frequency of releases - GOV.UK

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_DWP_benefit_statistics_proposed_changes_2026.pdf

This Call for Evidence was aimed at organisations and individuals who have information that is relevant to the Review. This Call for Evidence was administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on behalf of the Timms Review steering group. The Timms Review is committed to engaging with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. The purpose was to gather evidence from all interested parties to inform the Review.

The Review welcomed evidence and insight from individuals and organisations with lived or learned experience, knowledge and expertise.

This Call for Evidence was part of a wider programme of engagement with stakeholders which will be determined by the steering group. This Call for Evidence was open from 19 March until 28 May 2026. DWP will create a summary response to support the steering group in consolidating the evidence received.

The consultation can be found here: Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment: Call for Evidence - GOV.UK

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_Timms_Review_Call_For_Evidence_2026.pdf

Consultation paper seeking views on what should be included in regulations governing how Social Security Scotland uses new audit powers to estimate the rate and monetary value of fraud and error.

Scottish Ministers and Accountable Officers have a legal duty under sections 14 and 15 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000[1] to ensure payments are made correctly and deliver value for money.

Audit Scotland’s 2021-22 annual report[2] highlighted the need for Social Security Scotland to understand the levels of fraud and error within its caseload in line with other government departments delivering similar services. This activity would support the Scottish Government’s commitment to protect public resources, help identify any weaknesses in benefit processing, and improve systems and training. It would also help to identify and address the root causes of underpayments and overpayments, reducing administrative costs, ensuring better value for money and overall efficiency.

In response to this recommendation, Social Security Scotland reviewed the estimation methodologies used by DWP, the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, and international approaches, developing options based on best practice and legislative requirements. The methodology chosen involves a regular programme of sampling, review, and analysis of selected cases within the wider benefit caseload to ensure accuracy.

As the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (“the 2018 Act”) did not contain powers to request information directly from individuals selected for review, amendments were needed. Section 18 of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025 (“Information for Audit”) amends the 2018 Act to create new powers for Scottish Ministers to require individuals to provide information in order to audit the social security system as a whole.

This consultation sought views on the regulations required to operationalise section 87B-E of the 2018 Act - exemptions, safeguards, and the processes that will apply when a case is selected for review. The aim of the proposals were to produce timely, statistically sound, repeatable measures of fraud and error to underpin assurance without placing unnecessary or unfair burdens on clients.

The consultation can be found here: Estimating fraud and error in the Scottish social security system: Consultation - gov.scot

The consultation closed on 10 June 2026.

This consultation sought views on the detailed design of the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS), a new charge on owners of residential properties in England worth £2 million and above.

This consultation set out:   

• the design of the HVCTS  
• how ‘owner’ should be defined  
• the proposed support mechanism for those who cannot pay  
• a proposed list of property level discounts and exemptions  
• the billing and administration process  
• how a homeowner can challenge their banding or liability  
• the enforcement mechanisms for HVCTS 
• an assessment of the impact on those with protected characteristics  
• the approach to valuations

The consultation can be found here: High Value Council Tax Surcharge - GOV.UK

The consultation closed on 14 July 2026.

The IRRV's response can be found here: IRRV_Response_HVCTS_Consultation_2026.pdf