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MSPs have unanimously passed legislation to establish a devolved Scottish social security system.

Holyrood is being given responsibility for 11 benefits, including disability living allowance, personal independence payments and carer's allowance.

The benefits are relied upon by 1.4 million people across the country, and are worth about £3.3bn a year.

The devolution of the powers is being staggered, with the benefits system due to be fully operational by 2021.

The payments will be administered by a new Scottish social security agency, headquartered in Dundee and Glasgow, with 1,500 jobs split across the two sites.

A further 400 people will be employed at smaller sites across the country.

The Scottish government has described the changes as a "golden opportunity" to set up a system with "respect and dignity" at its heart.

And it has said the benefits agency will be "a new public service of which we can all be proud", and which will "deliver for the people of Scotland".

Image caption The bill was unanimously supported by MSPs, who gave Jeane Freeman a standing ovation

It estimates that 500,000 people or families are currently not claiming benefits they are entitled to, and is to spend £300,000 to encourage take-up.

The benefits which are being devolved from Westminster to Holyrood are:

Personal Independence Payments

Carer's Allowance

Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance

Winter Fuel Payments

Cold Weather Payments

Severe Disablement Allowance

Industrial Injuries Disability Benefits

Funeral Expenses Payments (to be replaced by Funeral Expense Assistance)

Sure Start Maternity Grant (to be replaced by Best Start Grant)

Discretionary Housing Payments

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said the passage of the bill was "a historic day" for Holyrood, marking the "biggest transfer of powers since devolution began".

She told MSPs: "We have a new public service for the people of Scotland, a principle now enshrined in legislation. That, I believe, is something we should all be proud of.

"This bill has been an opportunity to set up a new service and to do things differently, to remake the system in a way that better fits with the ambition we have for ourselves, as a parliament and as a country. Our shared ambition to live with dignity, fairness and respect."

She said she was "proud and honoured" to move the bill for final approval.

Image caption Jeane Freeman said it was a "historic day" for Holyrood

Despite their overall support, opposition parties pressed for changes to some sections of the bill. There was four hours of debate and voting on amendments at Holyrood prior to the final debate.

The Scottish government moved to remove a limit on how long a terminally-ill patient must have left to live before they are eligible for fast-tracking to the highest rate of disability benefits.

MSPs also agreed to press for split payments of Universal Credit between a couple, something which ultimately is in the hands of the Department of Work and Pensions, although a Labour bid to boost child benefit by £5 was rejected by 97 votes to 26.

'Historic day'

The bill was backed by all opposition parties, with the final vote ending 123 to zero.

Scottish Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins agreed it was a "historic day" for Holyrood, paying tribute to Ms Freeman and civil servants who worked on the bill.

He said there was an "awful lot" of work still to be done, with "significant challenges" including the "inevitable labyrinth of shared rule" between Scottish ministers, the DWP and local authorities.

Scottish Labour's Mark Griffin said the "important piece of legislation" had been made stronger by the amendments suggested by MSPs and third sector groups during the bill's progress through Holyrood.

He said the passage was "very much the beginning of a process full of questions", but said it could result in a "functioning social security system which invests in the people of Scotland".

Green MSP Alison Johnstone said the move was a fundamental chance to "do things differently" from the current system, which she said was "fostering insecurity" for too many people.

And Lib Dem Alex Cole-Hamilton said the new system should focus on "restoring humanity", putting claimants "in the driving seat" and recognising the difficulties they face.

It has been estimated that the new system will cost in the region of £308m to set up. Ms Freeman has said she does not expect that figure to increase, despite warnings from Audit Scotland that plans are at a "critical point". </s> Scotland has taken control of its welfare system in a transfer of power from Westminster that campaigners have praised for recognising social security as a human right.

The first devolved welfare system also offers automatic split payments of universal credit to protect women’s financial autonomy and aims to end unnecessary disability assessments.

As the Holyrood parliament unanimously passed the final stage of the social security (Scotland) bill on Wednesday evening, the director of the Poverty Alliance, Peter Kelly, said it offered the possibility of the new welfare system playing a very different role in Scotland.

“With almost daily reports of the impact of the cuts to social security at the UK level, such as the freeze on levels of many UK benefits or the roll out of universal credit, it is time to show that a different approach is possible.”

The new powers, part of the package promised to the Scottish parliament after the 2014 independence referendum, account for 15% of Scotland’s total benefits bill and will affect 1.4 million people.

Eleven benefits are being wholly transferred, including disability living allowance and personal independence payments, along with the opportunity to top up existing payments and create new ones.

The bill was passed after an intense afternoon of debate, which showcased the cross-party and third sector expertise that has shaped the landmark bill, alongside the input of ordinary Scots canvassed in a country-wide consultation. 



There were a number of significant last-minute amendments to the legislation, including the removal of any time limit on terminal illness. It was brought by the social security minister, Jeane Freeman, after senior medical professionals called for its inclusion. Current rules for disability benefits and universal credit say a patient must have six months or less to live before their illness is classed as terminal.

The feminist campaign group Engender welcomed the success of Labour MSP Mark Griffin’s amendment on split payments, in particular for those 89% of domestically abused women who experience financial restrictions by their partner. 



Both the Poverty Alliance and the Child Poverty Action Group Scotland called on Freeman to reconsider Griffin’s unsuccessful amendment to top up child benefit by £5 a week, which he insisted would lift 30,000 children out of poverty. The Scottish government argued that the framework bill for the new powers was not the appropriate place for such a change.

Presenting the final bill to Holyrood, Freeman said: “The devolution of social security represents the greatest single increase in the responsibilities of this parliament since devolution. Today we write a new chapter in our history, a system built for the people of Scotland, designed in partnership with the people of Scotland, a system with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart, a system quite unlike any other that has gone before.”

The new system will include an unprecedented degree of independent scrutiny, put in place after anti-poverty groups expressed concerns about the extent to which the detail of new benefits is being left to regulations, rather than included within primary legislation, which could make it easier for subsequent governments to cut payments or change eligibility criteria. </s> The Scottish government's alternative to the EU Withdrawal Bill has been passed by MSPs.

Ministers put forward their "continuity bill" as part of an ongoing row over UK frameworks of post-Brexit powers.

It has undergone more than 20 hours of debate and scrutiny across three weeks, and the finalised bill was backed by a margin of 95 votes to 32.

Brexit minister Mike Russell said he still hoped to strike a deal with the UK government rather than use the bill.

There is now a period of four weeks in which a Supreme Court legal challenge could be lodged by law officers. The UK government said the competence of the bill - previously questioned by Holyrood Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh - would be "considered".
• What is the continuity bill?
• Look back on the debate and vote on Holyrood Live

The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill was put forward as an emergency stop-gap measure after Scottish ministers warned they may not put forward the Westminster EU Withdrawal Bill for a consent vote at Holyrood.

Both UK and Scottish ministers still say they would rather come to an agreement over post-Brexit powers than have to rely on continuity bills being passed in Edinburgh and Cardiff, but no deal has been yet been finalised despite a series of high-level meetings.

The Welsh National Assembly passed its own continuity legislation just hours before the Holyrood bill.

All 129 of Holyrood's MSPs were present for the final debate and votes.

There was fierce debate once again over section 13 of the bill, despite opposition members stripping back the powers involved in the committee stage.

This part of the bill, which is not mirrored in the Westminster legislation, would allow ministers to propose "keeping pace" with EU laws post-Brexit, in order to maintain regulatory equivalence with the EU in key fields.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene claimed this was "a back door excuse for the SNP to hand powers back to Brussels", while other members said they were "very extensive" powers to be held by ministers rather than by the parliament.

However, Mr Russell argued that the provisions were "necessary", and could indeed prove "vitally important" for fields like environmental protection.

Ultimately, 40 amendments were accepted, including proposals from members of all parties.

Mr Russell said he was still hopeful that an agreement could be struck with UK ministers over the EU Withdrawal Bill, which would render the Holyrood bill unneeded - but warned that the Westminster bill in its current form is "incompatible with the devolution settlement".

He said the continuity bill would ensure that Scottish law could "continue to operate effectively after withdrawal" should members "be unable to consent" to the UK bill, and said passing it proved MSPs were "resolute in defending devolution".

He said parliament had "risen to the occasion" of dealing with the bill in emergency procedure - which included 11 hours of scrutiny by the finance committee, sifting through 231 proposed amendments.

After the final vote, Mr Russell said: "We are still committed to discussions with the UK government. We now expect them to acknowledge the overwhelming view expressed by the Scottish Parliament - and the Welsh National Assembly - and come forward with proposals that respect the devolution settlement and allow us to come to an agreement."

The Scottish Conservatives were the only party to wholly oppose the bill, with Labour and the Greens backing it and the Lib Dems split.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins said there were "grave doubts" about the competence of the bill, urging law officers to refer it to the Supreme Court - something Mr Russell rejected, saying ministers had "no doubt" the legislation was above board.

He contended that the bill was "bad law which we have been asked to make badly", with a "rushed, reckless" passage through parliament. He also claimed it "trespasses on reserved powers" - something he said did not "respect the devolution settlement" or the UK's constitution.

Mr Tomkins said the "real purpose" of the bill was to "sow the seeds of division within the United Kingdom", to "create legal chaos and confusion".

Labour's Neil Findlay also said he would prefer a deal to be done with UK ministers, saying: "We should not easily forget that it is the Tories that have gotten us into this mess and time is running out for them to get us out of it."

Green MSP Patrick Harvie urged ministers to "defend this bill robustly" if it is challenged, praising MSPs for maximising the amount of cross-party scrutiny MSPs managed to carry out despite the emergency timetable.

And Lib Dem Tavish Scott noted that "most of us would rather not be here", saying that the day the UK leaves the EU would be a "bad day" - adding that parliament would have a "huge workload" in the aftermath.

The Lib Dems were divided in the final vote, with Mike Rumbles saying he wanted "no part of voting for what I believe to be an illegal bill".

What happens next?

The bill has been passed by MSPs, but it is not yet on the statute books.

There is now a 28-day period in which law officers - such as Scotland's Lord Advocate James Wolffe, the UK's top law officer in Scotland, Advocate General Lord Keen, or Attorney General Jeremy Wright - can trigger a legal challenge.

If any of them think the bill might be acting beyond Holyrood's powers - as Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh thinks it might be - they could refer the case to the Supreme Court in London.

If there were a legal challenge during this period, the bill would have to wait until the case was settled before it could receive Royal Assent and actually enter into law.

This would be unprecedented at Holyrood - law officers have never sent a Scottish bill to the Supreme Court, although there have been a few examples concerning the National Assembly for Wales. As such, its hard to know what the timeline would be for any court case - but given the significance of the bill, it might be reasonable to expect the court to treat it as a high priority.

After the Queen has signed off the bill, there could still be a legal challenge from any party with a relevant interest - like in the case of alcohol minimum pricing, which was held up for several years by challenges from the drinks industry.

Of course, at any point through this process, a deal over devolved powers could be struck between Scottish and UK ministers - which would see the Scottish government move to withdraw the bill wholesale.

To this end, a "self-destruct" clause has been written into the bill, which allows MSPs to repeal the bill via a vote of parliament. </s> At the the SNP conference in Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, announces that her government will publish a bill for a new independence referendum next week. This is a direct challenge to Theresa May’s hardline stance on leaving the EU
• Nicola Sturgeon challenges May with second referendum bill </s> Scotland’s Brexit minister has suggested Holyrood could vote against Prime Minister Theresa May’s Great Repeal Bill.

Mike Russell said legislation to transpose all EU law applying to the UK into domestic law would require the consent of the Scottish Parliament, where the majority of MSPs are against it.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme, he called for greater involvement for the devolved administrations in the “meat” of Brexit negotiations.

Mr Russell, citing devolved areas such as fishing and agriculture, said: “There are issues which are issues for the Scottish Government, they are not issues for the UK Government.

READ MORE: Theresa May to trigger Article 50 before end of March 2017

“A piece of legislation such as Theresa May is now promising, this Great Repeal Act, will require the approval of the Scottish Parliament. A legislative consent motion will be required.

“The Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, has a formal role there. We need to make sure that we are in there discussing these matters.”

Asked whether the Scottish Parliament would vote against a repeal Bill, he said: “Presently there is a majority against that repeal Bill, that is absolutely obvious.

READ MORE: Theresa May to enshrine EU regulations in domestic law

“We’ve had three votes in the Scottish Parliament in the last four weeks on European matters. All of them have been in favour of the single market and issues like that, and against what appears to be the current position of the hard Brexiteers who are pushing Theresa May and trying to force her into their camp.

“That, at the present moment, would appear to be the case.”

Responding to the announcement on Twitter, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was “depressing” that UK Government decisions “are being driven by ideology of the hard Brexiteers, rather than interests of country”.

Mr Russell added: “Today’s announcements, I think, are more designed to pacify the Tory right wing. They are not designed to give the clarity that people actually need.

“There is some small print in the Government’s announcement today, which seems to imply that we will be asked, the devolved administrations will be asked, for their ideas and their views.

“That’s not consultation, that’s certainly not the Theresa May full engagement and full involvement that she promised.

“We have to keep arguing for, pressing for and insisting upon the involvement of the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations in the meat of these matters.”

’Like’ The Scotsman on Facebook for regular updates

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY </s> Nicola Sturgeon has called for a second independence referendum to take place within two years.

The First Minister said Scotland was at a "crossroads" as the UK Government prepared to trigger Article 50.

The earliest time for a vote would be the autumn of 2018, and the latest in the spring of 2019, she said.

She said she would seek for a Section 30 order which would transfer power for the vote to the Scottish Parliament.

The First Minister indicated there was little chance of a compromise with the UK Government on the issue of Scotland having a special deal to stay in the European single market.

Theresa May could begin the formal process of leaving the EU as early as Tuesday, following a vote at Westminster.

The UK Government has said that "another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty."

Speaking at Bute House, First Minister said: "Scotland stands at a hugely important crossroads.

"On the eve of Article 50 being triggered, not only is there no UK wide agreement on the way ahead - the UK Government has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement.

"All of our efforts at compromise have been met with a brick wall of intransigence.

"UK membership of the single market was ruled out with no prior consultation with the Scottish Government or with the other devolved administrations, leaving us facing not just Brexit, but a hard Brexit.

"And far from any prospect of significant new powers for the Scottish Parliament, the UK Government is becoming ever more assertive in its intention to muscle in on the powers we already have. The language of partnership has gone, completely."

She added: "The Scottish Government's mandate for offering this choice is beyond doubt. So next week I will seek the approval of the Scottish Parliament to open discussions with the UK Government on the details of a Section 30 order - the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.

"The UK Government was clear in 2014 that an independence referendum should be, in their words, 'made in Scotland, by the people of Scotland' - that is a principle that should be respected today.

"The detailed arrangements for a referendum - including its timing - should be for the Scottish Parliament to decide."

She stressed there should be "clarity" about the implications of independence.

She continued: "If I ruled out a referendum, I would be deciding - completely unilaterally - that Scotland will follow the UK to a hard Brexit come-what-may, no matter how damaging to our economy and our society it turns out to be."

Immediately following the Brexit vote last June, the First Minister said a second independence referendum was "highly likely."

Scots voted 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

In the independence referendum in 2014, the vote was 55% to 45% in favour of staying in the UK.

The Scottish Parliament does not hold the power to organise an independence referendum and must gain permission from the UK Government to hold one through a legal instrument called a section 30 order.

The UK Government and several Scottish opposition parties have said there should not be a second vote on the issue.

A UK Government spokesman said: "As the Prime Minister has set out, the UK Government seeks a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK Government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK.

"We have been working closely with all the devolved administrations - listening to their proposals, and recognising the many areas of common ground, including workers' rights, the status of EU citizens living in the UK and our security from crime and terrorism.

"Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a 'once in a generation' vote.

"The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time.

"The Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland."

Responding to the First Minister's speech, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said "Scotland is already divided enough."

She said: "We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do.

"Two years ago, 85 per cent of Scotland's voters took part in the independence referendum and the result was a clear vote to remain in the UK.

"With our country facing all of the uncertainty around the Tories' reckless plans for a hard Brexit, the last thing we need is even more uncertainty and division.

"A clear majority of the people of Scotland voted to reject the SNP's false hope and lies, and backed working together with the other nations of the UK.

"The reality is that leaving the UK would mean turbo-charged austerity for Scotland, putting the future of our schools and hospitals at risk."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said her party would oppose the move for a Section 30 order in the Scottish Parliament.

She tweeted: "Nicola Sturgeon has today chosen the path of further division and uncertainty."

Last week a poll for STV News found Scots certain to vote in another independence referendum were split 50/50 on the issue.

A poll published in the Herald newspaper on Monday suggested the split was 52% in favour of staying in the UK and 48% for leaving.

The BMG research found 56% were against the idea of holding an independence vote before the Brexit negotiations are finished.

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are. </s> Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The BBC reports Sturgeon says the timing of another vote will be the Scottish Parliament to decide, with Sturgeon’s preferred timing for the referendum to be between autumn in 2018 and spring 2019.

She plans to ask the Scottish Parliament next week for permission to request a section 30 order from Westminster, which would grant the power for a legally binding referendum.

Speaking in Edinburgh today, Sturgeon says Scotland is at a “hugely important crossroads”.

She says: “I will take the steps necessary now to make sure that Scotland will have a choice at the end of this process.

“A choice of whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit, or to become an independent country able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe.”

Sturgeon adds: “The Scottish government’s mandate for offering this choice is beyond doubt.

“So next week I will seek the approval of the Scottish Parliament to open discussions with the UK government on the details of a Section 30 order – the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.”

In the EU referendum last year, Scotland voted 62 per cent in favour of remaining in the EU. In its original vote on independence in 2014, 55 per cent of Scottish voters opted against independence. </s> Nicola Sturgeon caught Westminster off-guard on Monday (13 March) by calling for a second Scottish independence referendum. The first minister of Scotland was expected to make the move at the SNP's spring conference in Glasgow, which starts on Friday (17 March).

But with the Article 50 bill set to pass through parliament on Monday evening and Theresa May expected to trigger EU divorce talks on Tuesday, Sturgeon called the media to her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh.

"I can confirm today that next week I will seek the authority of the Scottish Parliament to agree with the UK government the details of a Section 20 Order, the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a second Scottish interdependence referendum," she said.

"The UK government was clear in 2014 that an independence referendum should, in their words, be made in Scotland by the people of Scotland. That is a principle that should be respected today. The detailed arrangements of a referendum, including its timing, must be for the Scottish Parliament to decide."

Sturgeon added: "If Scotland is to have a real choice, when the terms of Brexit are known but before it is too late to choose our own course, then that choice must be offered between the Autumn of next year 2018 and the spring of 2019."

The comments come after an Ipsos MORI poll for STV News, of more than 1,000 respondents between 24 February and 6 March, found that Scottish people likely to vote were split 50/50 on the independence issue. Scots voted 55% against splitting from the rest of the UK in 2014.

But 62% of Scottish voters backed a Remain vote at the EU referendum in June, when the UK voted 52% to 48% to split from the economic and political bloc.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale warned that Scotland was "already divided enough". "We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do," she said.

"Two years ago 85% of Scotland's voters took part in the independence referendum and the result was a clear vote to remain in the UK.

"With our country facing all of the uncertainty around Brexit, the last thing we need is even more uncertainty and division."

However, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn caused controversy over the weekend by describing a second independence referendum as "absolutely fine".

"Well, if a referendum is held then it is absolutely fine, it should be held," he told the Press Assocation. "I don't think it's the job of Westminster or the Labour Party to prevent people holding referenda.

"I do think we should set it within the context of the economic relationship with the rest of the UK and the question of devolution of EU powers to English regions and to Scotland and to parts of Scotland rather than just to the government in Holyrood, because of the principle of regionalism is it goes to everybody within a region, not just to the central powers and the SNP have a bit of a tendency to centralise everything around themselves."

"As the prime minister has set out, the UK government seeks a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK. "We have been working closely with all the devolved administrations - listening to their proposals, and recognising the many areas of common ground, including workers' rights, the status of EU citizens living in the UK and our security from crime and terrorism. "Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a 'once in a generation' vote. "The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time. "The Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland." </s> Nicola Sturgeon is to publish a draft bill calling for a second Scottish independence referendum next week in a direct challenge to Theresa May’s hardline stance on leaving the EU.

The first minister told the Scottish National party conference in Glasgow she had a powerful political mandate to defend Scotland’s vote in favour of remaining in the EU in June’s referendum.

But the UK government’s recent rhetoric and policies on immigration and remaining within the EU single market made it clear the Tory party had now been taken over by its “rampant” and xenophobic right wing.

To applause, Sturgeon told the prime minister: “Hear this: if you think for one single second that I’m not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland’s interests, then think again.”

Sturgeon then won a standing ovation when she announced that the draft Scottish independence referendum bill would be published next week – earlier than her officials had previously signalled.

Speeding up the referendum bill process opens up a deepening and increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, showing Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tories’ shift to a harder line on Brexit has strengthened her hand.

Sturgeon faces clear short-term obstacles to staging a second vote on leaving the UK. Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one.

The latest poll, published on Thursday by the Herald from BMG, found independence does not have a majority and that only 12% of voters would switch to back leaving the UK if there was a hard Brexit. It found 47% were against independence, 38% in favour and 12% undecided.

The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of overall government spending in Scotland.

The SNP leader told delegates her first objective was to win far more power for the Scottish parliament – a proposal many senior SNP figures including the former health secretary Alex Neil now back.

Sturgeon made clear for the first time she would press May to strengthen Holyrood’s autonomy over policies currently overseen by the EU but devolved within the UK to Scotland, such as fisheries and agriculture.

But Sturgeon expanded that list of demands to include the right for Scotland to have special access to the single market, the freedom to have distinctive immigration policies, and the right to strike separate foreign deals, without specifying what those deals might be.

However, Sturgeon risks losing any goodwill with May’s government by also promising on Thursday to vote against the UK government’s bill to leave the EU – regardless of the powers on offer to Holyrood. That stance is likely to entrench opposition to increased powers for Scotland among UK cabinet ministers.

Sturgeon will meet May in late October at a joint ministerial committee meeting between the prime minister and leaders of the UK’s three devolved governments, where a formal deal on involving the devolved administrations will also be signed.

Signalling what would be on her agenda at that meeting, Sturgeon said: “Over the next few weeks we will table specific proposals to protect Scotland’s interests in Europe and keep us in the single market – even if the rest of the UK decides to leave.



“It’s clear that beyond hardline rhetoric the UK government has no detailed plan. So the Scottish government will set out a plan for Scotland. We will seek to make this plan a key element of the UK’s article 50 negotiation. 

 “It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish parliament.”
Scotland's Parliament approves a bill devolving authority for social care payments. The bill arranges staggered introduction with complete devolution by 2021 and formation of a new agency to administer it.