A report from Scottish Tribunals has revealed that the 2020 date for the devolution of tribunals has been pushed back to 2022 at the earliest. The transfer of powers was planned as a response to the 2014 Independence Referendum as part of the Smith Agreement. Despite this, in the five years following the Agreement, the UK government has failed to publish plans that satisfy all interested parties.
Holyrood expressed "disappointment" at the development. It was joined in its expression of concern by Scottish trade unions. On behalf of workers, the Scottish Trade Union Congress announced that a meeting had been sought with the cabinet secretary for justice to discuss the delay.