Hope amid Brexit

As the dust settles on the new ministerial appointments at the Scottish Government it was rather fitting that opposition parties took the time to thank Shona Robinson for her dedication and achievements while serving as Health Minister, with the First Minister observing that Ms Robinson is leaving office having just agreed a final pay deal (9 per cent over next three years) for health workers.

But it is the creation of the new senior ministerial posts of Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, and Cabinet Secretary for Constitutional Relations that were particularly pleasing, a clear indication that the Scottish Government is recognising the importance of the devolved welfare powers coming to Holyrood and the shambles that is Brexit.

The devolved welfare powers will see Holyrood take control of 15 per cent of all welfare spend in Scotland, affecting over 1.4 million people, so the creation of this senior ministerial post is fully justified.

And the current shambles that is the Brexit negotiations may spark some very interesting constitutional issues arising and it would have been remiss of the First Minister not to have prepared the Scottish

Government for such issues.

CATRIONA C CLARK

Hawthorn Drive Banknock, Falkirk

Could we please have a parliamentary investigation as to the legality of having an MSP, Ben Macpherson, masquerading and being paid for as the new “minister” for powers which are actually reserved, namely Europe, Immigration and International Development? How is that respecting the “devolution settlement”, and is it actually legal?

VICTOR CLEMENTS

Taybridge Terrace Aberfeldy, Perthshire