Call to boost MPS’ scrutiny of social security laws

A Holyrood committee has called for changes to new social security legislation to allow greater scrutiny by MSPS.

The Social Security Bill paves the way for the Scottish Government to take over the running of 11 benefits and set up an agency to administer them.

It proposes that much of how the new system will operate in practice should be left to ministers to set out in regulations, rather than on the face of the legislation.

However, in its report, the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee said it did not believe this would allow adequate scrutiny.

It has asked the government to come up with proposals to address this and has recommended the creation of an independent Scottish social security advisory committee.