SNP MSP Jenny Gilruth raises a point of order saying Jackie Baillie was wrong to say talks on college lecturers pay had stalled during FMQs.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh says he hopes Ms Gilruth takes comfort from having made her point, but stresses it is not a point of order for him to rule on.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says he and the cabinet secretary have opposed the "DLA take away", where DLA payments to children and their families were taken away after protracted hospital stays of 87 days or more.

Mr Cole-Hamilton calls for confirmation this will not happen in Scotland, given Ms Somerville has announced the new system of benefits for children with a disability will open for claimants in 2020.

This is one of the areas the consultation to be launched next week can and will look at, says Ms Somerville.

The minister pledges to look very carefully at the priorities people want to see changed and she calls for a genuine and open discussion about these priorities.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone seeks assurances that the vast majority of claimants will not have to undertake face to face assessment.

Ms Somerville confirms that is the aim, adding the consultation to be launched next week will look into ensuring applications at early stages limit the need for face to face assessments.

They will only be required if there has been no other way for the agency to gather the evidence it needs, she explains.

Labour MSP Mark Griffin says he is disappointed, disgusted even with some of the details brought to the chamber.

Yet again the sick, disabled, elderly and carers will have to wait says Mr Griffin.

He says the cabinet secretary will have to pay millions to the DWP to force this on the disabled.

It makes a mockery of the 18 month pledge on setting up an entire social security system in the independence referendum, he says.

Image source, bbc

The Labour MSP calls on the cabinet secretary to apologise to every single disabled person she is leaving at the hands of the Tories for another five years.

Ms Somerville insists if anyone has alternatives then she is all ears.

The minister warns Mr Griffin not to pretend he has a safe alternative.

She argues the timetable she has laid out will ensure people get the right payments at the right time.

Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne says the cabinet secretary must see the "utter hypocrisy" this statement exposes.

She says the Scottish government has raised expectations, yet it will be 2024 before PIP's successor will be in place.

It will have taken nine years to take over 11 devolved benefits Ms Ballantyne says and she urges the minister to apologise to the "hard-working" DWP staff in Scotland.

I'll make no apology for criticising the way the DWP tackle things like universal credit, Ms Somerville replies.

She adds this is not the fault of DWP staff but the UK government.

The minister says it is disappointing that Ms Ballantyne still thinks the DWP is doing a good job under the Conservatives.

Ms Somerville stresses the importance of protecting people's benefits when they are transferred, causing minimum anxiety.

The social security secretary tells the chamber: "We will protect people's payments during transfer."

From early 2021 no-one in Scotland will undergo a DWP face to face assessment for disability benefits, with the new PIP replacements.

She also guarantees people will not be required to make a new claim to move on the benefits.

The work of transferring people will start next year she points out.

Ms Somerville expects the majority of people to have been transferred by 2023 and all cases transferred by 2024.

She says today she will publish 11 policy papers and next week she will launch a consultation on disability assistance.

A benefit to support those over state pension age who need someone to help them because of a disability will be introduced by end of next year, Ms Somerville confirms.

The new claims services for working disabled people, which will replace PIP, will begin in 2021 she adds.

A person-centred approach will be at the heart of the Scottish government's three forms of disability assistance and face-to-face assessments will be reduced she states.

The social security secretary announces that by the end of 2021, new claims will open for the Scottish carer's allowance.

This means by the end of 2021, the Scottish government will be delivering new claims for all disability and carers assistance she states.

Ms Somerville says people and their entitlement must be protected and there must be a dignified and respectful system.

The Scottish government will introduce disability assistance for children and young people from next summer, she says.

Also from next year 16,000 children and families will get help with their heating costs and there will be additional payments for those carers with a disabled child.

• Personal Independence Payments
• Carer's Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Winter Fuel Payments
• Cold Weather Payments

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• 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 Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says Social Security Scotland has made a strong start.

On 1 April 2020, we will take control of the remaining benefits to be devolved she states.

The Scottish government will gradually take on responsibility on benefits from the DWP from then the cabinet secretary explains.

"This is a formidable responsibility which I do not underestimate."

We need to implement the changes with pain-staking care to ensure people do not fall in the gaps, Ms Somerville says.

"I will not take risk that endanger people's payments," she adds.

Image source, GETTY IMAGES

Last April MSPs 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.

• Look back on the debate and vote on Holyrood Live
• Read more here

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will now deliver a ministerial statement on the delivery of devolved benefits.

Image source, bbc

Support is growing among businesses for a separate Scottish system for foreigners' work permits after Brexit.

It would apply after citizens of the other 27 EU states lose the automatic right to live and work in the UK.

The UK government's immigraion white paper includes a consultation on a minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for skilled migrants seeking five-year visas

The prospect of losing thousands of recruits from the rest of the European Union undermines the business models used by some employers - particularly in tourism.

The outcome of the debate depends on the nature of Brexit. If there is no deal, the rights of EU workers are not clear, and may relate to how long they have spent in the UK.

The deal forged by Theresa May and backed by her cabinet would delay the point at which EU nationals would lose the right to work in the UK, but it is not clear what rights would be negotiated for new arrivals from the continent after the transition.

Image source, bbc

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says Adam Tomkins seems to be living in a parallel universe to his colleagues at Westminster.

We need a UK solution to this UK problem, say Mr Rennie, who posits the impact is already being felt by businesses in Scotland.

Mr Macpherson agrees what is being proposed in the UK government's White Paper will be damaging, but again insists the challenges Scotland faces are more pronounced than the rest of the UK.

The minister argues the temporary and seasonal solutions are not adequate for Scotland.