(e) the Scottish social security system is to contribute to reducing poverty in Scotland, (f) the Scottish social security system is to be designed with the people of Scotland on the basis of evidence, (g) opportunities are to be sought to continuously improve the Scottish social security system in ways which – (i) put the needs of those who require assistance first, and (ii) advance equality and non-discrimination, (h) the Scottish social security system is to be efficient and deliver value for money. The Act requires the Scottish Government to adopt a Scottish Social Security Charter which reflects the eight principles. The Charter explains what the principles mean in practice. It was written by people with lived experience of social security, their organisations, and Social Security Scotland staff.69 The Act establishes an independent Scottish Commission on Social Security, which reports regularly to the Scottish Parliament about how the Scottish Government is complying with the Charter. We include this case study because it explicitly uses the right to social security, and other values, to refresh Scotland’s social security system. The statutory principles, which include the right to social security, establish the foundational values of the new system. The principles are elaborated in a Charter, and an independent non-judicial body holds the Government accountable to the Charter through the Scottish Parliament. An analogous arrangement could be used in relation to Aotearoa’s housing system, the right to a decent home, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 36 Human Rights Commission Housing In March this year, the Scottish Government published Housing to 2040.70 Scotland’s social security reforms are a few years ahead of Housing to 2040, nonetheless some of its elements are already instructive. For example: • The right to an adequate home is an integral part of the housing reforms, for example, a significant part of the strategy is headed “The right to an adequate home and delivering equality”.71 • “Starting this year we will carry out a comprehensive audit of our current housing and homelessness legislation to understand what more is necessary to ensure people can realise their right to an adequate home.”72 • Develop with the UK government a “New Homes Ombudsman scheme to raise the standard of conduct of developers and the quality of new build homes.”73 • Establish a Tenant Participation Panel for the private rented sector, and a national network of social rented tenants for the social rented sector.74 New Zealand – the Government’s response to energy hardship (2021) In 2018, the Government established an independent panel to advise how the electricity market can deliver efficient, fair, and equitable prices. Important features of the panel’s final report include attention to poverty, energy hardship and energy equity.75 This year, the government is implementing the panel’s recommendations, which include establishing: • Consumer Advocacy Council to be an independent advocate for residential and business electricity consumers and provide evidence-based contributions in decisionmaking processes,