Letter: Calman on the backfoot

It IS not surprising that some members of the Calman Commission, including its chair (Prof Muscatelli), wish to defend their conclusions.

In doing so, they continue the efforts of many involved in the Calman process to avoid scrutiny of the deflationary and damaging proposals being put forward in the Scotland Bill. It is, though, disappointing to see a supposedly independent expert adviser to the Parliamentary Scotland Bill Committee involved in such actions.

Of the economists involved Professor Ulph, though you wouldn't know it from the piece, was selected by some members of the Scotland Bill Committee as their adviser on the economic implications of the bill. The public suggestion of the SNP that MSPs of nearly 12 years' experience should pursue their inquiry themselves was rejected by Labour, Tory and Lib Dem members, seemingly concerned they would have to fight their own battles and build their own smokescreens.

It is not Prof Ulph's views in themselves that concern me, though I disagree with him, but the conflict of interest inherent in publicly defending the proposals of an expert group of which he was a member, whilst employed by a parliamentary committee to provide advice and criticism on the legislation which followed on from that work.

LINDA FABIANI, MSP