Call for Dundee to host Scotland’s benefits agency headquarters

An MSP has called on the Scottish Government to give Dundee a major jobs boost by basing the new benefits agency in the city.

Ministers are deciding on a location for a Scottish welfare HQ, which would employ up to 1,500 people, as Holyrood prepares to take on wideranging social security powers.

Bill Bowman, the Scottish Conservative MSP, said Dundee makes an “ideal location” and would offer some positive news following a series of jobs setbacks.

Mr Bowman said: “This would be a strong vote of confidence in the city at a time when millions of pounds are being invested in the regeneration of the Waterfront.”

He said the focus must be on job creation in Dundee after it had been “dealt a number of significant jobs blows in recent months”.

“Securing hundreds of new posts would provide a welcome boost for the city and the local economy,” he added.

Bank of Scotland announced the loss of 252 jobs in the city in June, while earlier this month nearly 100 were cut when Scottish Electric Group collapsed.

The Scottish Parliament is to assume control of 11 benefits by 2021, including personal independence payments and carer’s allowance.

MSPS will also have the power to create new payments and top-up existing ones that remain reserved to Westminster.

The agency, which will administer the benefits, will have an HQ as well as local offices, ministers have said.

Nicola Sturgeon laid out earlier this month her administration’s plans to recruit at least 1,500 members of staff for the agency.