Sketch: Calm after the storm as Sir Kenneth manages a smile

After the fireworks of last week's Scotland Bill committee, when witnesses threatened to walk out over the aggressive line of MSPs' questions, proceedings returned to normal yesterday.

Earnest exchanges over corporation tax in Bavaria and macroecomonic borrowing powers were the order of the day. It was one for the anoraks, and the incendiary tone of last week was absent as international academics appeared. Committee convener Wendy Alexander was the focus of complaints from academics Andrew Hughes Hallett and Drew Scott last week over her tough questioning on fiscal autonomy.

But she kept her head down yesterday, as her Nationalist vice-convener Brian Adam took the lead in quizzing witnesses. Perhaps the more convivial "round table" format, which encourages witnesses and MSPs to "chip in", contributed to the less adversarial approach.

But that row wasn't forgotten, particularly the absence of Professor Alan Trench, who pulled out of his scheduled appearance yesterday in protest at the treatment of last week's witnesses.

As Mr Adam thanked the witnesses, he quipped: "It's unfortunate that not everybody who was invited felt able to come along - perhaps for understandable reasons."

The unusually reserved Ms Alexander made only a passing mention, as she referred to the "large amount of time" the committee devoted to grilling last week's witnesses.

Sir Kenneth Calman, the author of the report which brought about the legislation, even poked fun at the controversy when he later accused Mr Adam of "misinterpreting" his evidence.

"I can at least laugh about it - and I won't complain," Sir Kenneth joked.