David Cameron pledges his commitment to devolution in phone call to Alex Salmond

Published on Wednesday 12 May 2010 16:40

SCOTLAND'S First Minister Alex Salmond said today that he has received assurances from David Cameron that he is committed to devolution.

• Alex Salmond and David Cameron

The SNP leader spoke to the UK's new Prime Minister by phone following the deal struck last night between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems which will see the two parties form a coalition government.

But Mr Salmond is demanding assurances from Mr Cameron that his coalition Government will not change the way the Scottish Government is funded without its consent.

Mr Salmond said the phone conversation, in which he congratulated Mr Cameron, was "constructive and amicable" and that the Conservative leader planned to visit Scotland within a week.

The First Minister said he would be "happy" to meet him, adding: "The focus of the talks will be on economic recovery, and I have written a letter to Mr Cameron setting out some of the issues of importance and interest to the Scottish Government in our discussions with the UK Government."

In that letter, Mr Salmond said: "There is also general agreement that the financial responsibility of the Scottish Parliament should be strengthened but not on the specific changes.

"We would expect to work closely with the UK Government to develop and agree a system that increases accountability and promotes Scotland's economic interests."

The letter, which was also sent to Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, went on: "Further development of the devolution settlement is an ambition common to all parties represented in the Scottish Parliament.

"To signal its respect for that consensus the UK Government should undertake to introduce, as a matter of urgency, measures to implement those specific recommendations of the Calman Commission that have been supported by all parties."

The new administration at Westminster may see greater powers devolved to Holyrood following the Lib Dem's manifesto promise to implement the recommendations of the Calman Commission.