A CALL for employment support schemes to operate without the “threat of benefit sanctions” once they are devolved to Holyrood has been backed by MSPs.

The Scottish Government motion was supported by every party except the Tories and immediately hailed as a victory by MSPs.

They believe a devolution loophole can be exploited to end the work programme penalties.

While the sanctions regime is not being devolved, research commissioned by the Scottish Green Party has suggested a system where the temporary stopping of benefits for breaking rules can effectively be ended.

This could be the case if the organisations that are delivering the programmes are ordered by SNP ministers not to share relevant information with London.