Scotland Bill: Key demands for legislation deal

Additional borrowing powers – The Scottish Government is to get £2.2 billion of borrowing for building projects, including the new Forth crossing, as well as £500 million in revenue borrowing. A consultation will also be launched into allowing the Scottish Government to borrow by way of bonds.

Out in the cold in Europe

EU meetings – The Scottish ministers’ attendance at the EU Council of Ministers should have been put on a statutory footing, the SNP says. Alex Salmond fears Scotland could be left out in the cold on key issues such as agriculture and fishing because it is denied access to the top table. Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead has previously led the UK delegation at other EU meetings in Brussels on fishing, where Scotland has most of the UK fleet.

Call for controls over television

Broadcasting – A commission by former BBC news chief Blair Jenkins four years ago called for the creation of a Scottish digital television channel, prompting the drive for greater Scottish control over broadcasting. The SNP says Holyrood should be given the power to establish public service broadcasting institutions and be involved in future licence fee setting arrangements. They also want to be able to say which big sporting events must be shown on free-to-air TV.

Questions raised on revenues

Excise duties – The SNP expected HM Revenue & Customs to collect these duties on behalf of Holyrood, which would then get the revenues. But questions were raised about how different rates across the UK would be implemented. Opposition parties ridiculed the proposals, claiming that customs officers would have to be placed at the Scottish Border in order to effectively police this.

Crown Estate rules the waves

The Crown Estate – The Crown Estate Commissioners (CEC) controls almost half of Scotland’s shoreline and all its seabed. This means it also controls the lucrative offshore marine renewables fields, which the SNP wants to drive its renewable energy revolution. A report by Westminster’s Scottish affairs select committee this week said the CEC in Scotland should be stripped of its powers, which should be handed to local councils to increase accountability.

Border wars over business tax

CORPORATION TAX – The SNP wants to cut the tax levied on the profits of big business in an effort to attract more firms to Scotland. The UK government is considering devolving this in Northern Ireland, where it struggles to compete with the Republic of Ireland, where rates are almost half the UK level. Nationalists say that if Stormont gets it, Holyrood should as well. This is causing disquiet in the north of England, where it is feared firms could relocate to Scotland for a lower tax rate.

• Full text of the Written Ministerial Statement by Michael Moore on the Scotland Bill