MSPs last night passed Scotland's own Welfare Reform Bill in an effort to dampen down the worst effects of Westminster legislation on the issue.

The Bill included measures to protect council tax benefit and so-called "passported" benefits where statutory entitlements are used as a gateway to additional help such as free travel.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill was a unique piece of legislation which came about after MSPs took the step of refusing legislative consent for the UK Government's reforms of the benefits system.

The UK Welfare Reform 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.

"This Government will do everything we can to protect people in Scotland from the worst impact of these reforms," she said.

Labour's Drew Smith said: "The impact of welfare reform could be so large that even now we still do not know the true extent of the problems."

Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said his party supports the Bill but was disappointed that it was even necessary. "The welfare reform process is absolutely essential to the long-term welfare of a number of people," he said.