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Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone says the Bill has been improved significantly by MSPs at Stage 2 and 3 through amendments.

Ms Johnstone says the Bill has quite possibly been the biggest challlenge for a minister since devolution!

She praises Jeane Freeman for tackling this challenge with "passion, dedication and when required good humour".

This recieves applause from the chamber.

The uncertainty over benefits for the terminally ill cannot be a template for how benefits will be delivered going forward, the Labour MSP says.

Key details must be published further in advance, he adds.

"We as a parliament have much more work to do so the people of Scotland can be proud of its social security system."

Scottish Labour looks forward to having a functional system which invests in the people of Scotland, Mr Griffin concludes.

The establishment of Scotland's devolved social security system is at a "critical point", auditors have said.

Holyrood is taking on responsibility for a range of welfare benefits, to be delivered by a new government agency.

A new Audit Scotland report warned that ministers had "not clearly estimated" the cost of putting powers into practice, urging greater transparency.

Image source, SPL

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said she was "confident" that plans for the agency were on track.

MSPs are currently considering legislation, external to set up a Scottish social security agency for the delivery of a range of welfare benefits.

Holyrood is taking on the administration of benefits including disability living allowance, personal independence payments, carer's allowance and winter fuel payments.

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

Read more here.

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Labour MSP Mark Griffin praises the support from the third sector which has improved this Bill, making it stronger than when introduced.

Mr Griffin says his party has secured amendments working towards automatic split payments.

He insists Labour still want to see child benefit topped up, an amendment of his on this issue was defeated earlier.

"This is very much the beginning of a process full of questions."

Mr Tomkins says the parliament has worked well together to improve this Bill.

He uses the example of the social security principles, the social security charter and ministers' regulation-making powers to highlight areas of the Bill which has had significant improvements.

The critical question on social security is who is entitled to what, but neither of this is addressed in the Bill the Tory MSP states.

There is an awful lot more work to do before devolved social security is actually in operation, he says.

He raises concerns about "hints of delay", the transparency around inter-governmental process and costs.

Scotland's new social security agency will have its headquarters in Dundee, the first minister confirmed in September.

Nicola Sturgeon said the new agency will also have a site in Glasgow, with 1,500 jobs split evenly between the cities.

The Scottish government will be given powers to deliver 11 devolved benefits.

These include disability living allowance, personal independence payments, carer's allowances and winter fuel payments.

The new agency is expected to be fully operational by 2021.

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Tory MSP Adam Tomkins begins very consensually saying: "Well said minister."

Mr Tomkins says devolution of social security allows Scotland to try something new and to build on failed experience elsewhere and lead by example.

He says this Bill delivers on these goals, or at least it promises to, depending on what happens next.

The Tory MSP says social security will only get more complex and the challenge is to ensure that complication does not become a burden to the people who rely on it.

"This is a Bill we will enthusiastically support tonight at decision time."

We want to significantly reduce the stress caused by the benefits process, which is why the Scottish government has chosen a different path from the UK government on assessments, Ms Freeman says.

Inclusive communication is embedded in the legislation for the first time anywhere in the UK, she adds.

The minister says the devolution of social security is the biggest increase of responsibility for this parliament.

"I am proud and I am honoured to move the motion in my name."

Her statement is met with applause from around the chamber.

The 11 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

Image source, bbc

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman says: "This is an historic day for this parliament."

When we vote on the Social Security Bill we will mark the single biggest transfer of powers to Holyrood, she says.

The minister thanks the many third sector organisations and most of all the people of Scotland who shared their experiences with the DWP.

Ms Freeman say they did this despite a system which recently has not served them well.

"Our system will be rights based", she says, with dignity and respect at its heart.

She says anyone with a disability will be able to access independent advocacy.

Image source, Getty iImages

Legislation that will establish a devolved Scottish social security system will be passed by MSPs at decision time at 7.10pm.

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.

Read more here.

Image source, Thinkstock

MSPs will now debate the Social Security (Scotland) Bill for the final time, before voting to pass it at 7.10pm.

The final group is on scrutiny of subordinate legislation for the Bill.

The minister backs all amendments in the group except Labour MSP Pauline McNeill's 145, which requests all sub leg be given additional scrutiny.

She argues not all sub leg will require extra oversight or the expertise of the Social Security Commission.

This argument is backed by Tory MSP Adam Tomkins.

Ms McNeill says her amendment would allow the Commission to decide whether a report was necessary but importantly it would not have to prepare one.

Ms Freeman says their is a presumption behind the amendment that no scrutiny from the Commission means no scrutiny at all, which is not the case.

She expresses concern about regulations being subject to unnecessary delay.

Pauline McNeill's amendment is defeated by 91 to 31 votes.

That ends consideration of amendments.

Time for a well earned break but join us again at 5.55pm!

The minister says the Scottish government has been clear on its commitment to use its flexibility to establish split payments.

She says the Scottish government will back the amendments but warns members that it cannot be enacted without DWP agreement.

Ms Freeman urges colleagues to campaign on the issue on a pan-UK basis.

Until this is changes for all the UK, the Scottish government will continue to engage with the DWP she confirms.

The amendment is agree unanimously and there is a smattering of applause from across the chamber.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton expresses strong support for Mark Griffin's amendment on automatic split payments of UC.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says single house payments are more of the same mindless attacks on women from Westminster.

Ms Johnstone says agrees this would be better done across the whole of the UK, but asks how long that would take.

The Green MSP says that is why she backs Mr Griffin's amendment.

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire backs automatic split payments, particularly as it will support women affected by domestic abuse.

The best outcome is not the Scottish government creating an exception but for the whole of the UK to implement automatic split payments, she argues.

She urges other parties to back SNP MP Philippa Whitford's members' bill in Westminster.

Image source, SP

Labour MSP Mark Griffin calls for payments of Universal Credit to be automatically split to joint claimants.

Mr Griffin says UC single household payments to couples have contributed to a drastic shift of income from women to men.

The Labour MSP says there is overwhelming support for split payments to protect women and children from financial and domestic abuse.