COMMENT

The cost of implementing new Holyrood powers – including a new benefits system – has not been properly estimated by the Scottish Government, Scotland’s public spending watchdog has warned.

A report by the Auditor General, Caroline Gardner, has also warned it will be “challenging” for ministers to recruit enough staff to get the Scottish social security system up and running on time.

Ms Gardner found that the cost of setting up new social security and financial powers would exceed the £200 million contribution made by the UK government and extra cash would have to be found from the Scottish budget.

The Scottish Government estimates that the new Scottish social security agency will employ at least 1,500 people when it is fully operational.

The report noted that 110 staff had been transferred to the social security programme from within the Scottish Government, creating workforce pressures in other departments.

It added: “It will be challenging to recruit the necessary staff numbers and skills to develop the new powers.”

“Greater transparency and a better understanding of the overall implementation costs is required to help financial planning and decision-making”

CAROLINE GARDNER