In one of the biggest changes following devolution, the following benefits are being devolved to Scotland:
Ill Health and Disability Benefits:
Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Attendance Allowance
Severe Disablement Allowance
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Carers Allowance
Best Start Grant
Child Benefit
Funeral Expenses
Cold Weather and Winter Fuel Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments
Some powers in relation to Universal Credit
A new agency will be set-up in Scotland to manage these benefits and the Scottish Government has already promised to treat those in need with a bit more compassion than is often the case in England. I feel sure the good folk of Dundee and Glasgow can provide the kind of people, with a bit of empathy, required for the jobs. The First Minister said on this:
‘Having powers over newly devolved benefits presents an exciting opportunity to create a social security system for Scotland that is fairer and based on dignity and respect.’
Though the HQ will be in Dundee the 1 500 jobs will be split evenly between the two cities to ‘spread the economic benefit across the east and west of Scotland.’
It’s good to see a bit of much-needed de-centralisation away from Edinburgh to two cities that deserved to benefit more from devolution. Personally, I’d have put the parliament in Perth.
Talking-up Scotland 
Totally agree about the the placement of the new agency and also see Scone / Perth as a better position for a Scottish parliament. If disappointed Aberdeen and it’s hinterland shows commitment to Scotland it could be considered for some sort of energy agency after independence but the future energy hub could be further north.
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Good idea about the energy hub.
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Some people are bound to see a link between new powers for Holyrood and Jobs.
Quite a powerful message.
New Bridge , new jobs. . . SNP Good
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Hopefully widely reported? Mind you why worry about the press – I probably get more readers than some of their articles do? Reptilian Scotland remains the big barrier but my psych says I’ve not to watch them or get mad at them.
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Scottish civil servants would like to see the jobs not be in Glasgow too – they’re being set up in a building already full to bursting, and being supported by other civil servants who are already struggling under the job load, and cuts in money available to do it.
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