THE Scottish Government has regularly been strongly critical of the use of benefit sanctions by the Department for Work and Pensions against those deemed to have failed to comply with job-seeking requirements or to fulfil employability placements.

It would therefore have been impossible to continue with a similar policy when powers over employability were devolved to Holyrood.

But the adoption of a system which appears entirely voluntary is likely to present minister for employability Jamie Hepburn with a different set of problems, from this weekend, when his department takes on responsibility for helping people into work.

The sanctions regime has undoubtedly been popular in some quarters – in Scotland as well as in the wider UK – with a significant proportion of the public believing the benefits system is regularly abused by individuals and families happy to live on state support, with little interest in working for a living.

Mr Hepburn believes public opinion has been “inflamed” by unsympathetic coverage of those reliant on social security, much of which is exaggerated. That is undoubtedly true. But hostile elements of the media and opposition politicians may now make it their mission to find an extreme case where benefits appear to be funding someone who has consciously opted for idleness.

The Herald has also been critical of the DWP’s use of sanctions. Threatening people is questionable, threatening them with destitution often for weeks at a time is inhumane, carrying out that threat immoral. In addition the problems caused by losing your only income are hardly conducive to any attempts to find work.

But Mr Hepburn is staking a lot on the success of what can be offered through a new, more holistic approach in Scotland. Without compulsion, employability programmes must be much more attractive to participants than the UK Government’ s unimpressive Work Programme.

The Scottish Government has often said it could do better. Now Mr Hepburn has to deliver.