Agency decision awaited

NO decision has yet been made on the location of the new Scottish Benefits Agency.

That’s t he response from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following a request from Dundeebased MSP Jenny Marra that the agency should be based in the city.

Ms Marra, who i s a regional MSP for the North East, has launched a campaign to bring the centre to Dundee, creating around 300 jobs.

The Scottish Government announced i n March it would establish a Scottish Benefits Agency to manage benefits i n Scotland when welfare powers transfer under the new Scotland Act.

Ms Marra said Dundee was the ideal location for the agency since there are experienced civil servants, cheaper commercial property than the central belt and a need for well-paid jobs in the city.

In her response, Ms Sturgeon said she was not yet at the stage of making a decision on where the agency would be based and would be considering locations all over Scotland.