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Sturgeon writes to Cameron over fiscal framework deal Sturgeon writes to Cameron over fiscal framework deal
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has written to the prime minister putting forward her case in the talks over a fiscal framework.Nicola Sturgeon has written to the prime minister putting forward her case in the talks over a fiscal framework.
The Scottish and UK government have been locked in lengthy discussions over a deal to underpin new devolved powers.The Scottish and UK government have been locked in lengthy discussions over a deal to underpin new devolved powers.
Ms Sturgeon told Mr Cameron she was "committed" to reaching an agreement, but seeking clarity on key points.Ms Sturgeon told Mr Cameron she was "committed" to reaching an agreement, but seeking clarity on key points.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said she hoped the Scottish government would not "scupper" talks when "a deal was there to be done". Downing Street confirmed the letter had been received and a reply would be made "in due course".
A spokeswoman for the PM said the UK government was committed to implementing the Smith Commission deal on more devolved powers "in full".
She added that the outcome needed to be fair to Scotland and "it has got to be fair to taxpayers in the rest of the UK too".
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has held repeated talks with his Westminster counterparts about the fiscal framework, which the Scottish government wants to debate at Holyrood prior to dissolution in March.Deputy First Minister John Swinney has held repeated talks with his Westminster counterparts about the fiscal framework, which the Scottish government wants to debate at Holyrood prior to dissolution in March.
The devolution committee called for a resolution by 12 February, to give time for scrutiny of the deal and debate by both parliaments, although Mr Swinney has written to the committee asking for "flexibility".The devolution committee called for a resolution by 12 February, to give time for scrutiny of the deal and debate by both parliaments, although Mr Swinney has written to the committee asking for "flexibility".
'Simply not acceptable''Simply not acceptable'
Ms Sturgeon's three-page letter to Mr Cameron sets out the Scottish government's interpretation of the "no detriment" principle, a clause called for by the Smith Commission on new devolved powers. Ms Sturgeon's three-page letter to Mr Cameron sets out the Scottish government's interpretation of the "no detriment" principle, a clause called for by the Smith Commission.
She said she did not think there was "any ambiguity whatsoever" in the Smith Commission recommendations, and said an agreement on the principle could "greatly increase the probability of a successful outcome". She said she did not think there was "any ambiguity whatsoever" in the commission's recommendations, and said an agreement on the principle could "greatly increase the probability of a successful outcome".
"Provided tax policy in Scotland remains the same as in the rest of the UK, and Scotland's economic performance matches that of the rest of the UK, the Scottish budget should be no better or worse off, than if current funding arrangements continued without further devolution. Ms Sturgeon added: "Provided tax policy in Scotland remains the same as in the rest of the UK, and Scotland's economic performance matches that of the rest of the UK, the Scottish budget should be no better or worse off, than if current funding arrangements continued without further devolution.
"Equally, no detriment under these conditions also means that the rest of the UK would be no better or worse off either."Equally, no detriment under these conditions also means that the rest of the UK would be no better or worse off either.
"I must make clear that the approach taken by the Treasury so far - which seems to focus, not on delivering 'no detriment' but instead on seeking agreement on the amount of detriment that Scotland should bear - is simply not acceptable to the Scottish government.""I must make clear that the approach taken by the Treasury so far - which seems to focus, not on delivering 'no detriment' but instead on seeking agreement on the amount of detriment that Scotland should bear - is simply not acceptable to the Scottish government."
UK Treasury minister Greg Hands, who has led the talks with Mr Swinney, said there were "still a number of issues out there", adding: "We need to make sure we can get a deal that both governments can sell to their parliaments." UK Treasury minister Greg Hands, who has led the talks with Mr Swinney, said there were "still a number of issues out there".
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the BBC's Daily Politics programme that she believed a far deal could be struck. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the BBC's Daily Politics programme that she believed a far deal could be struck, but she accepted that negotiations were at "quite a delicate point".
She said: "I think there's a deal there to be done that's good for both the UK and for Scotland, and I certainly want to see the powers come to Scotland.
"I would be very disappointed if the SNP used the kind of grievance narrative to walk away from these talks.
"Negotiations are at quite a delicate point. Certainly my colleagues in the UK government want a deal to be done. They have moved substantially on this, we haven't seen anywhere near as much movement from the Scottish government.
"I think the SNP, as you would expect this close to an election, are being incredibly political about this. I really hope that wiser heads prevail and they don't scupper the deal, when there's a deal there to be done."