# After Mail reveals Swinney’s ‘free schoolbags for pupils’ will be made in China, he hands a £35m benefits contract…to India!

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/after-mail-reveals-swinneys-free-schoolbags-for-pupils-will-be-made-in-china-he-hands-a-35m-benefits-contract-to-india/
- Published: 2026-10-31T18:50:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T19:03:23+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16255155/After-Mail-reveals-Swinneys-free-schoolbags-pupils-China-hands-35m-benefits-contract-India.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Asia, Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Mphasis will manage Scotland’s benefits platform under a £35.4 million contract.
- The system serves up to two million people.
- Opposition politicians say public contracts should create jobs in Scotland.

## Summary

The Scottish Government has awarded Indian IT firm Mphasis a contract worth £35.4 million to manage the software behind Scotland’s benefits system. The deal has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who argue public contracts should support Scottish businesses and jobs, particularly as ministers have spoken of growing Scotland’s technology sector.

The platform handles applications, eligibility decisions and payments for benefits for up to two million people, and Mphasis says its work will keep the system reliable and reduce disruption. The contract follows First Minister John Swinney’s visit to India and comes after a separate £2.7 million deal for schoolbags made in China; the article also cites a £6 million investment by an Indian company in a Scottish recycling plant.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.