Ms Somerville says there will be a halt in the transfer of people from Disability Living Allowance to PIP (personal independence payments) until there is agency agreement.

She says the Fiscal Commission can revise its forecasts if the forthcoming Scottish government changes to PIP alter the budget.

Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour says if the Scottish PIP is fully administrated by the agency in 2021 and costs more, Kate Forbes has already said there is no more cash.

Ms Somerville agrees and points out the new finance secretary has repeatedly said there is no extra money in cabinet.

"Absolutely Kate Forbes is correct there is no contingency sitting here."

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks about concerns about social security being demand-led, difficulty with forecasting and how this may impact on the budget.

The cabinet secretary accepts this is something the government will have to be cognisant of.

Kevin Stevens from the Scottish government says the Scottish Fiscal Commission is using recent data for its forecasts and further information on the block grant adjustment will be available once the UK government has published its budget in March.

Ms Somerville says borrowing or reserves may be used if reconciliation is required, and this is covered by the fiscal framework.

She says the government has a close working relationship with the fiscal commission, whose forecasting is inserted into the budget.

Ms Somerville says if the "bedroom tax" was abolished UK wide it would provide £60m that could be spent within the Scottish block grant on other measures.

However the social security secretary echoes the new finance secretary when she says: "The budget is fully spent."

Budget talks are underway, but Kate Forbes has repeatedly said there is no extra cash to smooth the way to a deal.

Ms Somerville agrees with the convener that £60m could be spent "in a heartbeat".

Image source, PA Media

Convener Bob Doris says Glasgow City Council is spending all its allowance for the Scottish Welfare Fund "and then some".

He asks about the formula for the figures arrived at for how much is given to councils.

Ms Somerville highlights discussions with Cosla, as well as evidence-gathering being carried out at the moment.

She says it is up to local authorities to administer this budget in a way that fits their local needs.

Scottish councils need an extra £300m of funding just to "stand still", local government body Cosla told MSPs yesterday, with a call for £1bn extra funding in the budget.

Ms Somerville pivots to the infrastructure to deliver a "brand new service for Scotland" for devolved benefits for years to come.

The social security programme continues at pace to deliver the Scottish government commitments, she says.

The minister argues it is difficult to see how the service could be developed more quickly and she stresses the need for it to be "safe and secure".

The minister cites the 2019 Audit Scotland report into social security which found there was "no clear understanding of what is needed to deliver welfare payments to Scotland's expected 1.4 million claimants".

Image source, Audit Scotland

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville confirms her portfolio has been provided with £3.8bn in the 2020/21 budget.

The Scottish Welfare Fund will be increased by almost 8% to allow local authorities to continue to support the most vulnerable people, she adds.

On new benefits, she says the government is taking a demand-led rather than target-led approach, which means forecast variation could have a significant impact on the Scottish budget.

The cabinet secretary goes on to highlight four new benefits to be delivered by the Scottish government in 2020, including the new Scottish Child Payment, while a further two benefits will be rolled out in the first part of 2021.

In addition the budget includes £369m for administration, made up of:

£6.7m for local authorities to administer DHPs and the Scottish Welfare Fund

£186.4 for Social Security Scotland to deliver existing benefits and prepare for future benefits

£175.4 for the Scottish Government social security programme to develop future benefits

The budget includes:

• £3.2bn for devolved benefits administered by DWP under agency agreements
• £126m for benefits and payments1 directly administered by Social Security Scotland
• £108m for devolved benefits administered by local authorities, which increases to around £440m if income foregone as a result of council tax reduction is included
• £186m for administration of Social Security Scotland
• £175m for development of future Scottish social security through the Scottish Government‟s Programme

Most of the budget (85% of £3.75bn) is paying for devolved benefits administered by the DWP under agency agreements.

Image source, bbc

Committee convener Bob Doris welcomes:

• Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville
• Kevin Stevens from the Scottish government
• Alison Byrne from Scottish government
• James Wallace from Social Security Scotland

Read the committee papers, including a SPICe breifing on the social security budget line,here., external

The Social Security Committee is about to take evidence on the budget, and how it affects devolved benefits, from:

• Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People
• Kevin Stevens, Head of Strategic & Programme Finance, Social Security Directorate
• Alison Byrne, Deputy Director Social Security Programme Delivery Support, Scottish Government
• James Wallace, Deputy Director Finance and Corporate Services, Social Security Scotland.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to BBC Scotland Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 20 February 2020.

We begin with Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville giving evidence on the budget.

We'll cover a second budget evidence session from 1pm, as Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf gives evidence on the settlement for policing.

This follows the warning from the Scottish Police Authority that Police Scotland is facing an "unsustainable" financial deficit, in spite of the increase compared with 2019/20.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs will debate the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) (Scotland) Bill for the final time.

This legislation would see prisoners serving a sentence of less than 12 months getting the right to vote in Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

It would also extend the franchise to all those with a legal right to live in Scotland, including those who have been granted refugee or asylum status.

To pass, the bill would require the support of at least two-thirds of MSPs.

Before that Nicola Sturgeon will be quizzed by opposition party leaders from the usual time of noon.

The lunchtime member's debate is on the role of Scottish agriculture in tackling climate change.