CALMAN FINANCE POWERS SHOULD BE FULL FISCAL POWERS

CALMAN FINANCE POWERS SHOULD BE FULL FISCAL POWERS

TRANSFER OF LIFE SAVING POWERS LONG OVERDUE

SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP today (Wednesday) called for the
“transfer of fiscal powers” to Scotland to mean the transfer of full
fiscal responsibilities - rather than the half baked proposals contained
in the Calman Commission. The coalition UK Government is expected to
outline proposals in the Queen’s Speech next week.

The call came as SNP MSP Dave Thompson welcomed reports that devolving
long over due powers over drink driving, speed limits and air guns will be
included in the Queens Speech.

SNP MP and Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie said:

"That this Government is willing to devolve some powers to the Scottish
Parliament is a welcome step forward, however they must look very closely
at the impact the Calman plans will have.

"Borrowing powers and genuine fiscal autonomy for Scotland would be very
welcome, but that is not what Calman or the previous government's white
paper proposed.

"It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the financial powers offered in
the Calman Commission do not offer a real level of financial
responsibility for the Scottish Parliament, but instead risk economic
damage to Scotland.

"Instead of adopting Labour's stitched up Calman plan the Lib Dems and
Conservatives should look to the only model that can work effectively and
deliver a growth strategy for Scotland – full fiscal autonomy for the
Scottish Parliament.

"The Lib Dems have long supported additional financial powers for the
Scottish Parliament - and their own Steel Commission recommended a much
more effective transfer of powers with control over corporation tax and
full control of income tax being given to the Scottish Parliament, and a
share of North Sea revenues , rather than the half baked proposals of
Labour's Calman Commission.

"In putting forward legislation on fiscal powers for the Scottish
Parliament the new coalition must live up to the "respect" agenda that it
preaches and deliver real fiscal powers not stick with the stitch up that
was the Calman Commission plan."

Welcoming news that the transfer of powers over drink driving, air guns
and speed limits should be included in the Queen's Speech Mr Thompson
added:

"The proposals in the Calman Commission that we all agree on - powers to
amend the drink driving limit, to take action on air guns and speed limits
should be devolved as soon as possible. The SNP Government was ready to
work with the previous UK Government to transfer these powers immediately
and I hope this will now be done without any further delay.

"These are powers which can save lives and their transfer to the Scottish
Parliament is long overdue."