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Full Scots fiscal power ruled out Full Scots fiscal power ruled out
(29 minutes later)
Moves to hand full financial powers to Scotland have been ruled out by the body considering reforms to devolution.Moves to hand full financial powers to Scotland have been ruled out by the body considering reforms to devolution.
The Calman Commmission said devolving full fiscal autonomy would be inconsistent with the United Kingdom.The Calman Commmission said devolving full fiscal autonomy would be inconsistent with the United Kingdom.
The finding came as the commission, set up by Scotland's opposition parties, delivered its interim report.The finding came as the commission, set up by Scotland's opposition parties, delivered its interim report.
Its chair, Sir Kenneth Calman, also dismissed criticism that the report drew no detailed conclusions, saying it had been a serious piece of work.Its chair, Sir Kenneth Calman, also dismissed criticism that the report drew no detailed conclusions, saying it had been a serious piece of work.
The Calman Commission, due to publish its final findings in 2009, was set up in March to look at how things have changed since devolution in 1999.The Calman Commission, due to publish its final findings in 2009, was set up in March to look at how things have changed since devolution in 1999.
It's not about the status quo, it's about where we can take devolution based on the evidence that we've got Sir Kenneth CalmanCalman Commission It is considering issues such as finance, firearms and broadcasting. The interim report was published after seven months of work, involving more than 160 written submissions and more than 30 oral evidence sessions and public sessions across Scotland and in Newcastle.
Sir Kenneth told BBC Scotland: "It's not about the status quo, it's about where we can take devolution based on the evidence that we've got and we've had a great deal of evidence which we've brought in which I think will show you new directions. Sir Kenneth told a media conference at the Scottish Parliament: "We've had quite a lot of evidence already. We do need some more before we come to any final conclusions."
"Devolution certainly is working and indeed that's one of the strongest things that's come through in all of the evidence that we've received." But he stressed: "We haven't been wasting our time, I don't think. This has been a very serious deliberation on Scotland's future."
He said there were no firm conclusions or recommendations but that many of the areas would be looked at in the second phase of the commission's work. Some issues, Sir Kenneth said, had come through "loud and clear" in the evidence, including a feeling that, while devolution had been a great success, functions such as defence and national security could only be dealt with at a UK level.
Evidence sessions And he said financial issues, such as the devolution of tax powers and the block grant which Scotland gets from the Treasury, would be looked at in future.
The commission met for the first time at Holyrood in April, with former deputy first minister Jim Wallace and former Lord Advocate Lord Boyd among its members. But he added: "Full fiscal autonomy is inconsistent with the Union and we do not consider it further."
It has held a series of evidence sessions throughout the year, with former first minister Jack McConnell calling for a new system of resolving wrangles between Edinburgh and London when he appeared in October.
Other members of the 15-strong commission include former Tory Scottish Office Minister Lord James Douglas Hamilton, Labour peer Lord Elder, Iain McMillan of CBI Scotland and Mona Siddiqui, professor of Islamic studies at Glasgow University.
The SNP is holding its own consultation into the constitutional future, entitled the National Conversation.