AN independent Scotland could well afford a decent benefits system, the SNP claimed yesterday, after new official figures showed the growth in Scotland's welfare bill lagging behind the rest of the country.

An analysis for the SNP by the House of Commons library found welfare spending in Scotland, from 1990 to 2013, grew by 79%, but by 96% in the UK.

The key difference was a surge in the Housing Benefit bill for England, which grew by 120%, compared to 70% in Scotland.

The Disability Living Allowance bill grew by 141% in England against 125% in Scotland.

State pension spending remained roughly the same.

Had the welfare bill for Scotland risen as fast as the UK's total cost it would have been £16 billion last year; in fact, it was £1.4bn less at £14.6bn.

Despite the cross-border differences, the SNP say policies designed for England - such as cutting the Housing Benefit bill through the bedroom tax - are still imposed on Scotland.

Welfare spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford said: "The figures show that since devolution, benefits expenditure grew at a significantly slower rate than in the rest of the UK. This is further proof that spending on social protection is more affordable for Scotland."