Risk as new benefits rolled out

THERE are ‘substantial’ risks associated with delivering new benefits in Scotland, a spending watchdog has warned.

Audit Scotland said more also needs to be done to show how the SNP’s new benefits will be paid for.

Devolved benefits include the Adult Disability Payment, which is projected to increase from 20,000 claimants in 2022 to 475,000 by 2026-27.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: ‘The Government now needs to plan how it will manage to pay for greater social security spending alongside other policy initiatives.’

The Audit Scotland report says: ‘It will be some time before the devolved benefits are fully administered within Scotland. Timescales are challenging and substantial risks remain, including accessing data, putting in place longerterm digital solutions and getting operational staffing in place.’

Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘Far from improving life for the most vulnerable in society, this will only pile pressure on future budgets and lead to cuts to the very services Scots rely on.’