Plans for Scottish social security services to have premises in all local authority areas are going ahead – despite no current presence in either East Renfrewshire or Renfrewshire.

Scottish Government ministers said earlier this year they plan to have the recently devolved welfare support agency, Social Security Scotland, operating in all local authority areas.

However, the roll-out of new premises will be incremental, with local help only currently available in Dundee and Glasgow.

Support in East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire will come later, with a joint location scheme said to be the most likely.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Families are facing unprecedented pressures due to continuing welfare cuts from the UK Government, with Scotland set to lose £3.7 billion in welfare spending every year by 2020.

“As with many other organisations, we continue to press the UK Government to reverse these changes.

“We have always been clear that when fully operational there will be a local presence across the country to support those accessing Scotland’s social security benefits.”

Despite the plans being in place, some have criticised the speed of implementation, with Renfrewshire Conservative councillor Jane Strang claiming the move to establish a premises is “behind schedule”.

However, Social Security Scotland have said setting up in council areas was always planned to be a gradual process.

Areas across Scotland are said to be benefitting from around 400 jobs as part of the new services which cover 11 benefits paid automatically.

Councillor Strang added: “At a time when Renfrewshire’s budget is facing challenges on an unprecedented scale, we need to ensure that support is there for the most vulnerable people.

“That is why it would have been welcome if the SNP government had pressed on with finding suitable premises to help deliver their new social security system.”

MSP Maurice Golden added that the plans appeared to be “some way off at the moment from being delivered”.