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| Scotland Bill: Commons to vote on new Scottish powers | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs are debating plans to give more powers to Holyrood as the Scotland Bill completes its final stages in the Commons. | MPs are debating plans to give more powers to Holyrood as the Scotland Bill completes its final stages in the Commons. |
| Members are to vote on the bill, which aims to deliver more devolution as agreed by the Smith Commission. | Members are to vote on the bill, which aims to deliver more devolution as agreed by the Smith Commission. |
| The debate opened shortly after 16:30, with SNP MP Pete Wishart criticising the amount of time available to discuss the bill and its amendments. | The debate opened shortly after 16:30, with SNP MP Pete Wishart criticising the amount of time available to discuss the bill and its amendments. |
| A final vote on the bill needs to be carried out by 22:30. | A final vote on the bill needs to be carried out by 22:30. |
| Mr Wishart said the lack of time was a "slap in the face" for Scotland, and added: "Scotland is watching these proceedings and it will not understand the gross disrespect shown to our nation's debate and our nation's business." | Mr Wishart said the lack of time was a "slap in the face" for Scotland, and added: "Scotland is watching these proceedings and it will not understand the gross disrespect shown to our nation's debate and our nation's business." |
| Scottish Secretary David Mundell said Mr Wishart was "always angry at something", adding: "Each time we have discussed this bill we have had this sort of stunt". | Scottish Secretary David Mundell said Mr Wishart was "always angry at something", adding: "Each time we have discussed this bill we have had this sort of stunt". |
| Mr Mundell said the vote would mark a "significant day for Scotland" as it would see "the public debate about our country's future move from questions of constitutional process and on to the real business of using power to improve people's lives". | Mr Mundell said the vote would mark a "significant day for Scotland" as it would see "the public debate about our country's future move from questions of constitutional process and on to the real business of using power to improve people's lives". |
| But the SNP said the bill continued to be a "long, long way away" from the recommendations of the Smith Commission and of the Vow, which was made by the three main UK party leaders ahead of last year's independence referendum. | |
| There was also anger from the SNP benches about MPs for English constituencies, including Labour's Graham Allen, taking up time during the debate to discuss issues such as English local government, which the SNP's leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, said had "absolutely nothing to do with the Scotland Bill". | |
| Assuming the bill is backed by MPs it will then be passed to the House of Lords for further consideration. | Assuming the bill is backed by MPs it will then be passed to the House of Lords for further consideration. |
| The Scottish Parliament will also need to give its legislative consent before the bill receives royal assent, which is scheduled to be in the spring of next year - ahead of May's Holyrood election. | The Scottish Parliament will also need to give its legislative consent before the bill receives royal assent, which is scheduled to be in the spring of next year - ahead of May's Holyrood election. |
| The UK government has said the bill would make Holyrood one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. | The UK government has said the bill would make Holyrood one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. |
| It has tabled more than 80 amendments which UK ministers claim allay criticism that the bill does not go far enough. | It has tabled more than 80 amendments which UK ministers claim allay criticism that the bill does not go far enough. |
| These include enhanced power over welfare which would allow the Scottish government to create new benefits, the power to top-up reserved benefits such as tax credits and control of abortion law. | These include enhanced power over welfare which would allow the Scottish government to create new benefits, the power to top-up reserved benefits such as tax credits and control of abortion law. |
| In total, about 200 amendments and new clauses have been lodged on the bill. | |
| Among the amendments tabled by the SNP is one which would give Scotland full fiscal autonomy by handing control over all taxation, borrowing and public expenditure to Holyrood. | Among the amendments tabled by the SNP is one which would give Scotland full fiscal autonomy by handing control over all taxation, borrowing and public expenditure to Holyrood. |
| 'Benefits plans' | 'Benefits plans' |
| Speaking during the debate, Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh predicted either the Tories or Labour would promise full fiscal autonomy at the next election - a position which he supports. | |
| SNP MPs have also tabled an amendment calling for MSPs to have full control over timing and organisation of any future independence referendum. | SNP MPs have also tabled an amendment calling for MSPs to have full control over timing and organisation of any future independence referendum. |
| Ahead of Monday's vote in the Commons, Mr Mundell said: "Even the Scottish government now accept that the Scotland Bill gives them substantial new powers over benefits. It allows them to top-up tax credits, top-up child benefit or even create brand new benefits in devolved areas. | Ahead of Monday's vote in the Commons, Mr Mundell said: "Even the Scottish government now accept that the Scotland Bill gives them substantial new powers over benefits. It allows them to top-up tax credits, top-up child benefit or even create brand new benefits in devolved areas. |
| "The vote in the Commons will mean the Scottish government have run out of excuses for not telling Scotland what their benefits plans are. | "The vote in the Commons will mean the Scottish government have run out of excuses for not telling Scotland what their benefits plans are. |
| "People now want to know how much this is all going to cost and how it will be paid for." | "People now want to know how much this is all going to cost and how it will be paid for." |
| A spokesman for Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The Scotland Bill is far from perfect, giving Scotland responsibility for just 14% of welfare spending. | A spokesman for Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The Scotland Bill is far from perfect, giving Scotland responsibility for just 14% of welfare spending. |
| "Last week, after months of pressure, the UK government lodged over 80 amendments to try and bring the Scotland Bill up to scratch. | "Last week, after months of pressure, the UK government lodged over 80 amendments to try and bring the Scotland Bill up to scratch. |
| "These are welcome, but there are still shortcomings, and Holyrood will make a final decision on the bill in a few months' time. | "These are welcome, but there are still shortcomings, and Holyrood will make a final decision on the bill in a few months' time. |
| "The final vote will depend on the outcome of negotiations between the Scottish government and the Treasury, on the funding framework that comes with it. | "The final vote will depend on the outcome of negotiations between the Scottish government and the Treasury, on the funding framework that comes with it. |
| "The UK government retains effective vetoes in many areas, and the powers of conditionality and sanctions which will hurt the most vulnerable hardest will remain at Westminster." | "The UK government retains effective vetoes in many areas, and the powers of conditionality and sanctions which will hurt the most vulnerable hardest will remain at Westminster." |
| 'Incredible opportunity' | 'Incredible opportunity' |
| Scottish Labour said the amended Scotland Bill more than fulfilled the Vow. | Scottish Labour said the amended Scotland Bill more than fulfilled the Vow. |
| Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray MP said: "The challenge now is to the SNP government to tell us how they are going to use these powers. | Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray MP said: "The challenge now is to the SNP government to tell us how they are going to use these powers. |
| "These powers create an incredible opportunity for Scotland, and we need politicians with the political will to use them. | "These powers create an incredible opportunity for Scotland, and we need politicians with the political will to use them. |
| "As a first step, Nicola Sturgeon should be telling people across Scotland how she will use the powers to restore the money lost from tax credit cuts." | "As a first step, Nicola Sturgeon should be telling people across Scotland how she will use the powers to restore the money lost from tax credit cuts." |