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Full Scots fiscal power ruled out Full Scots fiscal power ruled out
(20 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 first, 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, insisting 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. He said some issues had come through "loud and clear" in the evidence, including a feeling that, while devolution had been a great success since it cake about in 1999, functions such as defence and national security could only be dealt with at a UK level.
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. This has been a very serious deliberation on Scotland's future Sir Kenneth Calman
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."
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."
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.
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.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.
But he added: "Full fiscal autonomy is inconsistent with the Union and we do not consider it further."But he added: "Full fiscal autonomy is inconsistent with the Union and we do not consider it further."
The commission said a number of areas had been flagged up for further consideration, including whether issues including broadcasting, firearms, energy policy and the misuse of drugs should be overseen by Westminster or Holyrood.
The Calman Commission, due to publish its conclusions in 2009, released its interim report 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 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."
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."
The body was set up after winning the backing of Scotland's pro-union parties, Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats, in a Scottish Parliamentary vote.