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| 'Radical' Holyrood powers urged | 'Radical' Holyrood powers urged |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Holyrood should take charge of half the income tax raised in Scotland under "radical" plans put forward by the body reviewing Scottish devolution. | Holyrood should take charge of half the income tax raised in Scotland under "radical" plans put forward by the body reviewing Scottish devolution. |
| The Calman Commission also said the Scottish Parliament should control national speed limits, drink-driving laws and airguns legislation. | The Calman Commission also said the Scottish Parliament should control national speed limits, drink-driving laws and airguns legislation. |
| In its final report, the body said powers on winding up companies should be returned to Westminster. | In its final report, the body said powers on winding up companies should be returned to Westminster. |
| A steering group has been set up to take the recommendations forward. | A steering group has been set up to take the recommendations forward. |
| The report was broadly welcomed by political parties - although the SNP said Scotland should have complete control over its finances. | |
| The long-awaited report's key recommendation called for a new Scottish-set income tax. | The long-awaited report's key recommendation called for a new Scottish-set income tax. |
| Brian TaylorScottish political editor The actual power contained in the income tax proposal may be somewhat less than meets the instant eye. | Brian TaylorScottish political editor The actual power contained in the income tax proposal may be somewhat less than meets the instant eye. |
| For one thing, Scotland could not vary the tax balance. Could not, for example, choose, politically, to heap added taxation upon the well-heeled. | For one thing, Scotland could not vary the tax balance. Could not, for example, choose, politically, to heap added taxation upon the well-heeled. |
| The differential between standard and upper rates would remain set. | The differential between standard and upper rates would remain set. |
| Plus, Scotland might simply leave well alone - choosing to reinstate the 10p tax removed at outset by the Treasury. Brian Taylor's blog Digesting the Calman report class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8100769.stm">In quotes: Calman report reaction | |
| It proposed that the UK Treasury should deduct 10p from standard and upper rates of income tax in Scotland and give MSPs the power to decide how to raise cash. | It proposed that the UK Treasury should deduct 10p from standard and upper rates of income tax in Scotland and give MSPs the power to decide how to raise cash. |
| The new powers would be combined with a cut in the block grant, currently about £32bn, which Scotland gets from the UK Government. | The new powers would be combined with a cut in the block grant, currently about £32bn, which Scotland gets from the UK Government. |
| The report also said MSPs should gain control over stamp duty, landfill tax and air passenger duty, as part of proposals which would see Scotland controlling more than a third of its budget. | The report also said MSPs should gain control over stamp duty, landfill tax and air passenger duty, as part of proposals which would see Scotland controlling more than a third of its budget. |
| The commission, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, also said powers to run Scottish elections should be handed from Westminster to Holyrood. | The commission, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, also said powers to run Scottish elections should be handed from Westminster to Holyrood. |
| Devolving nature conservation at sea to Scotland was also among its 24 recommendations. | Devolving nature conservation at sea to Scotland was also among its 24 recommendations. |
| Sir Kenneth, a former chief medical officer for Scotland, concluded devolution had been a "real success" after 10 years, but could work better. | Sir Kenneth, a former chief medical officer for Scotland, concluded devolution had been a "real success" after 10 years, but could work better. |
| "Our radical and innovative proposals to introduce a new Scottish rate of income tax will significantly strengthen the accountability of the Scottish Parliament and enable it to serve the people of Scotland better, with a union secure for the future," he stated. | "Our radical and innovative proposals to introduce a new Scottish rate of income tax will significantly strengthen the accountability of the Scottish Parliament and enable it to serve the people of Scotland better, with a union secure for the future," he stated. |
| Sir Kenneth Calman said Holyrood should be less dependent on Westminster for funding | |
| The commission also put forward reforms to make Holyrood and Westminster work better together, including "state of Scotland" debates at the UK parliament. | The commission also put forward reforms to make Holyrood and Westminster work better together, including "state of Scotland" debates at the UK parliament. |
| The body was voted in at Holyrood in 2007 by Scotland's main opposition parties - Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives - and was supported by UK ministers. | The body was voted in at Holyrood in 2007 by Scotland's main opposition parties - Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives - and was supported by UK ministers. |
| The Scottish Government criticised the commission, because it was not looking at the issue of independence and ruled out Westminster handing full financial powers to Scotland. | The Scottish Government criticised the commission, because it was not looking at the issue of independence and ruled out Westminster handing full financial powers to Scotland. |
| SNP ministers have their own rival constitutional review - the National Conversation - currently under way. | SNP ministers have their own rival constitutional review - the National Conversation - currently under way. |
| The Calman steering group will consist of the Scottish Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders, as well as Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy. | The Calman steering group will consist of the Scottish Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders, as well as Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy. |
| READ THE REPORT Serving Scotland Better - Scotland and the United Kingdom in the 21st Century [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE REPORT Serving Scotland Better - Scotland and the United Kingdom in the 21st Century [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray welcomed the report as an exciting development in devolution. | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray welcomed the report as an exciting development in devolution. |
| He added: "It is bold and progressive. Ten years on, the Calman Commission has rigorously examined how we can make the Scottish Parliament more accountable." | He added: "It is bold and progressive. Ten years on, the Calman Commission has rigorously examined how we can make the Scottish Parliament more accountable." |
| Tavish Scott, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "Calman's recommendations take us towards a real home rule settlement. Politicians should not be able to take easy spending decisions without the responsibility of accounting for this money." | Tavish Scott, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "Calman's recommendations take us towards a real home rule settlement. Politicians should not be able to take easy spending decisions without the responsibility of accounting for this money." |
| His Scottish Conservative counterpart, Annabel Goldie, said: "This is a hugely significant and thorough piece of work. It is our duty to cement Scotland's place in the Union and to strengthen devolution." | His Scottish Conservative counterpart, Annabel Goldie, said: "This is a hugely significant and thorough piece of work. It is our duty to cement Scotland's place in the Union and to strengthen devolution." |
| The Scottish Government's constitution minister, Mike Russell, said he would welcome any extra powers for Scotland. | |
| But he added: "Full fiscal autonomy has the great benefit of allowing the Scottish Parliament to make its decisions based on a range of taxation - not just income tax, which is a very blunt instrument." |