The minister concludes saying there is a huge opportunity to do things differently in Scotland.   

The minister says the devolution of social security powers and how we use them, is one of most complex tasks undertaken since the Scottish Parliament was established.

She says it involves delivering a range of, sometimes complex, benefits worth around £2.7bn

"So our first priority is ensuring a smooth transition for people receiving benefits, particularly disabled people and their carers."

Ms Freeman says the Carer Advisory Groups is looking at a Young Carer’s Allowance, to provide extra support for young people with significant caring responsibilities - adopting a Scottish Greens suggestion.

The minister says the Carer’s Allowance will be raised to the level of the Jobseeker’s Allowance – an additional £600 a year, an approximate 18% increase.  

The government will extend eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment to families with children in receipt of the highest care component of the disability living allowance, says the minister.

The minister pledges to "build into our system a consistent, systemic approach that treats every single person with compassion, with dignity, with fairness and with respect".  

"Nothing less will be tolerated."

Ms Freeman says the Scottish government will: 

• maintain the level of disability benefits, and making sure they will not be means tested
• reform the "appalling" assessment procedures to ensure they work for the people claiming disability benefits

Image source, Getty Images

• set clear time frames for assessments, decisions and appeals
• stop the revolving door of assessments for those with long-term illnesses, disabilities or conditions and introduce longer-term awards
• any child in receipt of disability living allowance will continue to receive that award to the age 18 if they so wish 

Ms Freeman says the Scottish government will create a fairer, more transparent approach to social security and "build in equality, fairness and respect".

The social security minister says she has heard from disabled people worried and distressed by the cuts being imposed, and by the way they are treated by the UK government’s welfare system.

Ms Freeman pays tributes to carers and the contribution they make.

The minister says the new devolved powers "present us with an enormous opportunity to build a fairer society".  

She says this is an opportunity to take a different path to the UK Government and tackle inequalities.

Social Security Minister Jeanne Freeman is leading the debate for the government and making her maiden speech.

Ms Freeman says: "The shared task is to lay the foundations of a social security system we can all be proud off".

She pays tribute to her predecessor Margaret Burgess and highlights the importance of Carers Week. 

Image source, Scottish Parliament/SPICe

Click here for the full report on SPICe's briefing on new social security powers, external.

Image source, PA/BBC

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged:

• create a Scottish Social Security Agency 
• abolish the bedroom tax 
• end the "degrading DWP approach to disability assessments" and ensure that disability payments are not reduced or means tested 
• investment of more than £200m in key measures to "make social security fairer" and publish a Fairer Scotland Action Plan

• "put dignity and respect back at the heart of our social security system"
• increase Carers Allowance and I can announce today that we will also 
• consider the introduction of a Young Carers' Allowance 

• make changes to how universal credit can be paid
• extend winter fuel payments to families with severely disabled children 

The Scottish government will shortly lead a debate entitled 'Dignity, Fairness and Respect and Disability Benefits'.

That's lunch we're back at 2.30pm with the 'Dignity, Fairness and Respect and Disability Benefits" debate.

Image source, Thinkstock

The minister is back speaking Norwegian, but concludes saying Norway and Scotland are "firm friends" in English.

Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame thanks the minister in Norwegian and that's lunch and time for language lessons for the Holyrood Live team.