Consent for Scotland Bill to be given by MSPs

THE transfer from Westminster to Holyrood of a raft of major new financial and law-making powers looks set to be backed by MSPs today, as they give their support to the UK government’s Scotland Bill.

All the parties at the Scottish Parliament are expected to support a legislative consent motion (LCM), backing moves to push the new powers up to the Edinburgh parliament.

The bill will create a new rate of Scottish income tax, giving ministers major new authority to vary the rate for Scottish-based residents. It will also see the devolution of stamp duty and landfill tax, and will give Scottish ministers more borrowing powers.

The agreement of an LCM comes after the UK and Scottish governments agreed a deal last month to sign the bill into law.

SNP ministers say the legislation is already out of date, however, and falls far short of the powers they argue the country requires.

The bill is due to complete its passage through the Westminster parliament next week, but many of the measures will not come into force until 2015 or 2016.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: “The Scotland Bill is the largest ever transfer of financial powers to Scotland.

“It is a momentous vote for Holyrood.”