SNP ministers are “yet again refusing to use the full powers available” to Holyrood, Scottish Labour charged yesterday as the party made the case for a pay rise for carers.

Tories at Westminster have changed the mechanism for increasing the carers’ allowance so it is in line with the consumer price index (CPI) of inflation, as opposed to the higher retail price index (RPI).

An opposition motion tabled by Labour MSP Mark Griffin called for the Scottish government to use recently devolved social security powers to supplement the allowance, so it still increases in line with RPI.