This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25626977

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scotland's referendum: What are the 'no' parties offering instead of independence? Scotland's referendum: What are the 'no' parties offering instead of independence?
(2 months later)
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on the pro-Union Better Together campaign to outline what a "no" vote in the referendum would mean for voters. The Scottish National Party is clear about what it wants to see happen to Scotland in the future, but what of the pro-Union parties which are part of the Better Together campaign?
She said the Scottish government's White Paper on independence provided a "compelling case" and urged Better Together to offer an alternative vision for Scotland. Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have all said they favour more devolution for Scotland.
All three of the parties that make up Better Together have said they favour more devolution for Scotland. But what exactly do they support, and what have they said so far?
But what exactly do they favour, and what have they said so far? In early 2012, Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont set up a commission to look at further devolution for the Scottish Parliament.
In early 2012, Labour leader Johann Lamont said: "Devolution is a process, not an event. I want the current devolved settlement to be renewed, refreshed and deepened." The commission reported back in March 2014, with recommendations centred on more tax varying powers and control over some elements of welfare and benefits policy.
In March of that year, the party set up a commission to look at the future development of devolution. Under the proposals MSPs would be able to vary tax by up to 15p, giving them the option of restoring the 50p rate for top earners. But there would be no power to cut the upper income tax rate, which currently sits at 45p.
An interim report, titled Powers For a Purpose - Strengthening Devolution, was published in April 2013 and concluded that there was a case for income tax to be devolved to Holyrood. Under the plan, MSPs would decide the rates and bands of income tax depending on spending commitments. This goes further than the Scotland Act 2012, which will give Holyrood the power to vary income tax by 10p from 2016, regardless of the outcome of the independence referendum.
But the commission, which includes MPs, MEPs, councillors, union members and academics as well as Ms Lamont, also reflected concern among some Labour MPs that full transfer of income tax was a step too far. Elsewhere, the commission proposed that housing benefit should be devolved to Holyrood, as well as the attendance allowance - paid to disabled over-65s - and the work programme, which manages services for the unemployed.
The report said it would not back any plan leading to cuts in Scotland's funding or an undermining of the Barnett Formula. Powers over housing benefit would allow MSPs to scrap the UK government's controversial under occupancy charge - called the "bedroom tax" by opponents.
Under the plan, control of corporation tax, VAT, North Sea oil tax, benefits and pension and alcohol and tobacco duties would remain at Westminster. Under the proposals all other pensions and benefits would stay at Westminster, and there would be no powers for Holyrood over corporation tax, national insurance, VAT, capital gains tax or air passenger duty.
The report rejected other possibilities, including fiscal autonomy, which it described as "a thinly disguised version of independence", but argued for a bigger role for local government in Scotland, including control of Crown Estate shoreline revenues. Launching the plans, Ms Lamont said: "This is an important piece of work which we hope will answer people's desire to have a stronger, more accountable Scottish Parliament."
The report also backed the devolution of vehicle excise and air passenger duties. In March 2013, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson set up a commission, headed by Lord Strathclyde, the former leader of the House of Lords, to look at further devolution.
Drew Smith, Scottish Labour's constitutional spokesperson, said: "It was Labour who delivered the Scottish Parliament and played a key role in the ongoing enhancement of its powers through the Calman Commisson. We look forward to building on this proud record by bringing forward our proposals on strengthening devolution in the spring." During her leadership campaign in 2011 Ms Davidson had described the current devolution settlement as "a line in the sand", but this stance changed when she announced the commission, saying her party was "committed to a new path; more responsibility for the Scottish Parliament and a strengthening of devolution".
The commission will report later this year - before the referendum - but there have already been strong hints that, like Labour's, it will recommend further tax powers for Holyrood.
During a speech at the Scottish Conservatives conference in March 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron said a "No" vote in the referendum "can mean further devolution".
He added: "Giving the Scottish Parliament greater responsibility for raising more of the money it spends - that's what Ruth believes, and I believe it too."
The Liberal Democrats have long been proponents of home rule for Scotland within a federal Britain.The Liberal Democrats have long been proponents of home rule for Scotland within a federal Britain.
They set out their most recent plans in October 2012 with a report titled Federalism - the best future for Scotland, written by a constitutional commission chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who has called the current arrangements "unsustainable".They set out their most recent plans in October 2012 with a report titled Federalism - the best future for Scotland, written by a constitutional commission chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who has called the current arrangements "unsustainable".
As well as delivering home rule for Scotland - a system where the vast majority of domestic policy would be decided and managed by the Scottish Parliament - the report advocated significant devolution from Westminster for other parts of the UK, including England.As well as delivering home rule for Scotland - a system where the vast majority of domestic policy would be decided and managed by the Scottish Parliament - the report advocated significant devolution from Westminster for other parts of the UK, including England.
The report argued for "fiscal federalism", where Scotland would raise and spend most of its own taxes and borrow on its own terms. The Barnett Formula would be scrapped and replaced with a new "needs-based" arrangement reflecting the fiscal changes.The report argued for "fiscal federalism", where Scotland would raise and spend most of its own taxes and borrow on its own terms. The Barnett Formula would be scrapped and replaced with a new "needs-based" arrangement reflecting the fiscal changes.
Oil would continue to be managed at a UK level, as would welfare and pensions, defence and foreign affairs.Oil would continue to be managed at a UK level, as would welfare and pensions, defence and foreign affairs.
Under the plans, the Act of Union between Scotland and England would be scrapped and replaced with a declaration of federalism.Under the plans, the Act of Union between Scotland and England would be scrapped and replaced with a declaration of federalism.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "With a consensus on more powers emerging the momentum is now behind our party's approach on new powers that should be delivered when Scotland opts to stay in the UK."Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "With a consensus on more powers emerging the momentum is now behind our party's approach on new powers that should be delivered when Scotland opts to stay in the UK."
In March 2013, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson set up a commission, headed by Lord Strathclyde, the former leader of the House of Lords, to look at further powers for the Scottish Parliament.
Announcing the commission, she said the party was "committed to a new path; more responsibility for the Scottish Parliament and a strengthening of devolution."
During her leadership campaign in 2011, however, Ms Davidson had described the current devolution settlement as "a line in the sand".
Although she set up the commission, which also includes former Tory leader Annabel Goldie, former presiding officer Alex Fergusson, business leaders and academics, Ms Davidson is not contributing to its work.
The commission will report later this year, according to the Scottish Conservatives, when Ms Davidson will consider its findings and announce the party's position on further devolution before the referendum on 18 September.
A Conservative spokesman said: "The Scottish Conservatives want devolution to work better for people in Scotland and that is why we set up the Strathclyde Commission, which will report back in good time before the referendum vote."