TORY indifference could delay Scotland taking control of its own benefits system, the Scottish social security minister has warned.

Jeanne Freeman said she had “concern and worry” over the DWP sticking to the agreed timetable to devolve welfare powers.

Her comments follows the announcement last week that the ministers in Edinburgh had been told by their counterparts in London to push back proposals to scrap the controversial bedroom tax in 2019.

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Last year the Scottish Government secured an agreement from the DWP that would have seen the housing element of Universal Credit devolved to the Scottish Parliament from next spring, effectively allowing the bedroom tax to be scrapped at source.

At present, Holyrood uses discretionary housing payments to mitigate the support cut at a cost of £50 million a year, but this can only be done when eligible households make an application.

Last week, however, the DWP said this transfer of powers wouldn’t be possible.

The Scottish Government said it was clear it had been “re-prioritised in a queue of existing and new work,” by the Tory run department.

When DWP minister Esther McVey was in front of Holyrood’s social security committee on Monday morning, she told MSPs it was wrong to suggest there had been a formal agreement that this would happen.

But yesterday, speaking as she announced plans to give additional support, and widen out who was eligible for independent advocacy services when claiming benefits, Freeman disputed that, and said that she was now concerned about what that might mean for the Scottish Government’s timetable to have full control over the 11 benefits being devolved by 2021.

Scotland’s new social security agency is due to have the Best Start Grant, the Carers Allowance Supplement, and Funeral Expenses Assistance up and running by this summer.

Details on when the others, including Personal Independence Payments, disability Living Allowance, and Attendance Allowance, will be operated north of the border are due to be released in the coming months.

Freeman told reporters: “The important thing to remember here is that it’s not just about the Scottish Government’s plans, it’s also about the DWP’s plans.

“There are 11 benefits, it’s 15 per cent of UK government spend. Therefore what we do relies on the DWP stopping doing things and also passing information over to us.”

She added: “I’ve always said that one of the risks is how well DWP works with us, and us with them. And I’m not intending to imply any malicious intent by anybody, but the DWP have a lot on their plate and there’s a lot that they have to do and they have a lot of priorities.

“What I need to constantly make sure is that we do not slip down that priority list. So of course the letter [from the DWP] that put the bedroom tax abolition back a year is a matter of concern and worry.

“And that simply means we need to up our efforts to be saying to the DWP that we have our plans, we know what they are, we need to know that your plans to devolve these benefits to us continue to match our plans, in terms of timings.”

A DWP spokesperson said they were keen to see the Scottish Government’s detailed plans: “We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to ensure a smooth transition of the remaining devolved responsibilities. DWP has already delivered on many aspects of the Scotland Act. We’ve introduced Universal Credit choices, supported the implementation of Fair Start Scotland and we’re helping the Scottish Government to bring in a Carers Allowance supplement.”