John Swinney faces FMQs in wake of UK's sweeping welfare cuts

The sweeping UK welfare reforms and Dundee University financial mismanagement are likely to be raised as John Swinney faces First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

Swinney will be grilled by opposition leaders after the UK Labour Government announced a package of benefits cuts.

The changes are supposed to make savings of £5bn by 2030.

They include changes to Universal Credit and job seekers allowance as well as new, stricter eligibility requirements for sick and disabled people receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Labour is also set to raise the age at which people can claim PIP to 22.

PIP, which has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment in Scotland, provides extra money to people with disabilities or long-term health conditions – such as cancer and long-term physical and mental health conditions.

ADP is a devolved benefit, and Scottish recipients are paid from Social Security Scotland. However, much like the Winter Fuel Payments, which Labour cut in 2024, the Scottish Government receives money from Westminster to fund social security benefits like disability payments.

Any changes to funding at Westminster could potentially leave the Scottish Government with a set of tough decisions to make.

The First Minister could also be faced with questions about financial mismanagement at Dundee University.

University chiefs appeared before the Education, Children and Young People Committee at Holyrood on Wednesday morning for questioning.

They revealed that the school will be “out of cash” by the end of June without intervention.

They also admitted that financial mismanagement at least partially led to the £35m funding shortfall.

FMQs will be broadcast from noon on Thursday.