Hand over election power now says SNP chief

Published on Thursday 15 May 2008 10:28

TIME is running out for Westminster to hand control of Scottish Parliament elections to Holyrood, an SNP minister has said.

The independent Gould report into last year's election fiasco recommended control of both the Holyrood and council elections should be given to the Scottish Parliament instead of having the responsibility split between Westminster and Holyrood.

But Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business, said: "Time is already running short to do the things we need to do. We expect (The Scottish Office) to say something before the summer.

"If they don't say something by September it will be too late for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to deal with the Scottish Parliament election in 2011."