The cost of setting up Scotland’s new social security system has more than doubled to £651 million.   The increase emerged in a revised business case on the delivery of new benefits devolved to Holyrood over the next four years.   In 2017, the SNP Government estimated the full cost of creating the new Scottish welfare state would be around £308 million.  The new business case confirmed: “Current plans indicate spending on implementation will total £651 million from 2018-19 to 2024-25. This one off investment in implementation will benefit the people of Scotland and will be used by future governments for decades.”  Shirley-Anne Somerville, the social security secretary, said last week’s Scottish budget announcement showed the government is committed to a fair welfare system.  “We are building the new system from scratch - the most significant new public service to be created in Scotland since devolution,” she said.  “We are creating a social security system with fairness, dignity and respect at its heart. A service that has been designed with the help of those that use it, to meet the needs of the people of Scotland now and in future.”  It’s understood social security officials had to revise the costs when it became clear how hard it is to move claims from the UK Department for Work and Pensions to the new agency without breaking their payments. The full devolution costs were also not known in 2017.  Eleven benefits are being transferred from the DWP in the largest devolution of responsibility since Holyrood was established.  With new benefits included, 16 will be eventually be delivered through Social Security Scotland.  The new system will affect around 1.8 million people and pay out an estimated £4 billion within five years.  In 2018, public spending body Audit Scotland warned the Scottish Government had not clearly estimated the total cost of putting the new powers into practice.  The organisation found “good early progress” but warned the plans were at “critical point”. Scottish benefits set-up cost doubles to £651 million
Benefits,Scottish National Party,Scottish Government,DWP

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