Scotland in the United Kingdom: An enduring settlement

The UK Government published on 22 January 2014 draft legislation to give Scottish Parliament more powers. A Command Paper including the 44 draft clauses sets out the new powers which will be transferred to Scotland following the historic all-party agreement reached by the Smith Commission in 2014.

The Scottish Parliament was set become one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. It would be responsible for more than 60% of Scottish spending while being part of the wider UK.

The Scottish Government reacted to the proposals by saying that an urgent rethink was required across several of the legislative clauses outlined by the Prime Minister if the new legislation was to deliver on both the letter and the spirit of the Smith Commission proposals.

ESO: Background information: Proposals for further devolution of powers to Scottish Parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/policy-paper-proposals-for-further-devolution-of-powers-to-scottish-parliament/

ESO: Background information: Find all further information in ESO on the Scottish referendum 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=scotland%202014%20referendum%20&searchOption=all

EurActiv, 22.01.15: London transfers powers to Scotland as reward for staying in UK http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/london-transfers-powers-scots-reward-staying-uk-311472

United Kingdom: GOV.UK: News story, 22.01.15: All-party promise of new powers for Scotland delivered https://www.gov.uk/government/news/all-party-promise-of-new-powers-for-scotland-delivered

The Conversation, 22.01.15: A bill for more Scottish powers is one thing, making it law is quite another https://theconversation.com/a-bill-for-more-scottish-powers-is-one-thing-making-it-law-is-quite-another-36626

BBC News, 22.01.15: New Scottish Parliament powers plan published http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30915457

Scotland: Scottish Government: News, 22.01.15: Smith clauses give Westminster veto in key areas http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Smith-clauses-give-Westminster-veto-in-key-areas-14d4.aspx

The Guardian, 22.01.15: Nicola Sturgeon: draft bill ‘waters down’ Smith commission promises http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/22/nicola-sturgeon-smith-commission-scotland-first-minister-danny-alexander-uk-veto

United Kingdom: Parliament: News: 2015: January: Statement on draft Scotland clauses: 22 January 2015 http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/january/statement-draft-scotland-clauses-22-january-2015/

United Kingdom: Parliament: Library: Standard Notes, 22.01.15: Devolution of financial powers to the Scottish Parliament: recent developments - Commons Library Standard Note http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn07077.pdf

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