MSPs set to vote on Bill to soften the impact of coalition welfare reforms

Welfare reforms: Benefits will be paid as a single universal credit.

Legislation designed to mitigate the impact of coalition welfare reforms at UK level is expected to be passed at its final stage in Holyrood.

MSPs from all political parties are likely to back the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill.

The legislation follows the UK Welfare Reform Act which has raised concerns in Scotland. The Act abolishes a range of benefits such as council tax benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance, child tax credit, working tax credit and housing benefit and replaces them with a single universal credit.

Holyrood's Welfare Reform Committee, which took evidence from local authorities, government agencies and third sector bodies, produced a critical report after hearing that the Act will put more pressure on Scotland's most deprived families.

Action to soften the impact of the changes is strongly supported by both Scottish Labour and the SNP.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Westminster has yet to clarify how the reforms will affect Scotland but said the new Bill will go some way to making their impact less severe.

Speaking at the first stage of the legislation in Holyrood, she also confirmed measures to protect council tax benefit and so-called passported benefits where statutory entitlements are used as a "passport" to additional help such as free travel.

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