MSPS are "frustrated" as another UK Government minister has refused an invitation to appear at a Holyrood committee taking the number of snubs to 11.

Priti Patel, Employment Minister, who is responsible for welfare reform, has said she is unable to attend the Holyrood Welfare Reform Committee before Parliament is dissolved next month.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith has refused to appear at the Welfare Reform Committee, as has Esther McVey and Lord Freud.

Ms Patel previously agreed to a meeting in public when she met with committee members last October, but now said “parliamentary commitments” prevent her doing so this session.

The Committee, which has now issued invites on 11 occasions to ministers, said it is frustrated once again at the failure to accept.

Hugh Henry, committee convenor said: "UK Ministers have now declined to appear before the Welfare Reform Committee on 11 occasions, since the committee was created in 2011.

“When she met with us for informal talks last October, Priti Patel agreed to a public meeting in the New Year.

“She has had four months to make this happen and she now tells us that she is unable to come to Edinburgh before dissolution in March.

“The committee has heard first-hand evidence from individuals and organisations on the front line of welfare reform over the last five years.

“Iain Duncan Smith has, for whatever reason, chosen not to engage with us at all and, although we’ve had several informal meetings with Ministers, it is unacceptable that MSPs have not had the opportunity to question UK Ministers in public session.”