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MSPs at Holyrood to debate new powers report MSPs at Holyrood debate new powers report
(about 7 hours later)
MSPs are to debate a Holyrood report that says the plan for new Scottish Parliament powers falls short of what has been recommended. The convener of the Scottish Parliament's devolution committee has warned the UK Government not to get off to a false start with the introduction of legislation to implement further powers to Scotland.
The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee suggested last week that the UK government plan required "extensive redrafting". SNP MSP Bruce Crawford was speaking at a debate in Holyrood.
The debate comes six days after Prime Minister David Cameron met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. He called on the new Conservative government at Westminster to ensure the new Scotland Bill is fit for purpose.
He said he wanted a "really strong" Scottish Parliament. The Bill is expected to be introduced next Thursday.
Mr Cameron added that his priority was to see the Smith Commission recommendations implemented "in full". MSPs were debating a report by the devolution committee, which concluded that the draft legislation does not meet "the spirit or the substance" of the Smith Commission recommendations.
The day after the people of Scotland voted "No" in the Scottish independence referendum, Lord Smith of Kelvin was appointed to head up a cross-party group tasked with looking at more powers for Holyrood. Mr Crawford said: "The committee has called on the new UK government to seriously consider the areas which we've highlighted which we believe the draft clauses fall short in.
The commission recommended that the parliament should have control over "The UK government must ensure that the Bill is strengthened to fully deliver on the Smith recommendations.
Ms Sturgeon said the Smith Commission proposals were "a good starting point" but did not go far enough. "If the UK government is getting ready to fire the starting pistol by introducing the Scotland Bill next week, then my committee is saying that we're not yet at the starting line, so let's not have a false start.
She wanted the parliament to be given powers over business taxes, employment law, the minimum wage and additional powers over welfare. "Let's try to get the legislation right at the outset of the journey."
Members of the committee met with new Scottish Secretary David Mundell in London on Tuesday for "constructive" discussions following the publication of the report.
Mr Crawford said: "We were pleased that he signalled an imminent introduction of the Scotland Bill and that he's planning to make some, and I stress some, changes to the Bill before introduction, most notably on the welfare clauses.
"We also said we would reserve judgement until we see the actual Bill as there's still a lot of work ahead for the UK Government to get it right."
Powerful parliament
Prime Minister David Cameron met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week to discuss further devolution beyond what was proposed by the Smith Commission in the wake of last year's independence referendum.
Mr Cameron has said he could consider "sensible suggestions" on what additional powers could be transferred north.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "There were clear commitments by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State that the Scotland Bill would implement the Smith Commission in full and, of course, we will test that commitment when we see the Scotland Bill on May 28."
Labour's Jackie Baillie said: "All we want to see is the letter and spirit of the Smith agreement is fully translated into a legislative package."
With "substantial" responsibilities over income tax coming to the parliament next year, Ms Baillie said the further powers set out in the Smith agreement could be in place by 2020 or earlier.
Former Conservative leader Annabel Goldie, who was a member of the Smith Commission, stressed the need for parties to work together
She said: "Above all it is important that our constitutional direction is a matter of building consensus rather than being political divisive.
"We must ensure that the Smith Commission agreement is effectively brought forward, recognising both the spirit and the letter of the agreement itself.
"This is just the beginning of the process of bringing forward a new, effective Scotland Act that will make this chamber, this Parliament, one of the most powerful devolved legislatures in the world."
For the Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott said it was important to recognise that the committee does recognise the UK government got some of the clauses right in some areas, but did "not demonstrably get it right in others".
Mr Scott, who sat on the Smith Commission, said there needed to be space for confidential discussions but similarly there needed to be parliamentary scrutiny of process.