Full Fiscal Scottish Autonomy

The Scottish Government wants control handed over to Holyrood, arguing it would offer Scots greater protection.

The Scottish Affairs Select Committee says such a move would cut the Scottish Parliament's budget by an immediate £6.5 billion.

MPs claim it would mean Scotland also losing £8 billion in additional funds delivered via the Barnett formula.

They argue that the majority of people in Scotland voted to retain the safety net of the UK's broad tax base, and the Smith Agreement respects that decision.

The Committee says that the UK Government has failed to rebut these claims with sufficient vigour. It's calling on both Governments to do better and work together constructively and in good faith to deliver a new devolution settlement for Scotland that is transparent, robust and fair to both sides.

Ian Davidson MP, Chair of the Committee, said “This transfer of powers and resources to the Scottish Parliament is very welcome, and strikes the right balance between our twin desires: for both further devolution and financial security, while also respecting the Referendum decision.

“Now we need to hear what should be done with these new powers, particularly the opportunity to increase, by any amount, each and every benefit and to change all tax rates and bands.” 

Angus Robertson MP, SNP Westminster Leader, said:"The debate in Scotland is about how to get the maximum power for Scotland as soon as possible to counter Westminster’s continued austerity and cuts programme – which both Labour and Tories have signed up to for the next parliament.

“The limited powers recommended by the Smith Commission do not live up to the pre-referendum rhetoric of the ‘Vow’ from the Westminster parties. Now the Scottish Affairs Committee (SAC) is saying that Scotland cannot be trusted even with those. Labour and Tory members of the Committee say that we shouldn’t even have the Smith proposals without Westminster having the final say - in other words a veto.

“That is exactly the kind of arrogant, out of touch approach that is doing such damage to all of the Westminster parties and which they may pay a very heavy price for at the General Election. It does not even live up to the Smith Commission, never mind the Vow."