Letter: Vital voice in the devolution debate

IT WAS very interesting to read Martin Sime's article "We must have power over jobs and benefits", (Insight, 23 January) on his views as the chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations on the Calman Commission and the Scotland Bill.

It would make the work of the Holyrood Committee scrutinising the Scotland Bill have some meaning if its recommendations included his proposals. This is too much to expect and all we will get is a majority rubber stamping of the Bill.

Labour leader Iain Gray is calling for more guaranteed apprenticeships, but where can they come from unless the Scottish Parliament has real powers to grow our economy? The Conservative Party makes great play about the importance of the voluntary sector, so we can expect Annabel Goldie MSP and her group to support these proposals. The Lib Dems allegedly support a federal system of taxation, so again I expect Tavish Scott MSP's group to back greater fiscal powers for the Scottish Parliament. We wouldn't expect these opposition parties to break their word, would we?

Bill Robertson, Bishopton