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-32902734

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
More powers Scotland Bill published at Westminster Nicola Sturgeon critical of newly published more powers Scotland Bill
(about 5 hours later)
Legislation giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament is due to begin its journey through Westminster. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has criticised the newly published Scotland Bill saying it falls short in "almost every way".
The Scotland Bill, outlined in the Queen's Speech, could become law by February 2016 if approved by MPs. However, the UK government insisted the legislation fulfilled promises made after the Scottish independence vote.
David Cameron said the legislation would make Scotland the most powerful devolved assembly anywhere in the world. Ms Sturgeon told MSPs the Bill did not contain the welfare powers promised.
But the SNP has said it did not meet the recommendations of the Smith Commission. The 76-page document was published the day after the Queen's Speech outlined the Conservative government's plan to give tax-raising powers to Scotland.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell will lay the Scotland Bill before the House of Commons, with discussions on the principles of the legislation due to take place next month. Prime Minister David Cameron believed the plan would make Scotland the most powerful devolved assembly anywhere in the world.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I am very keen that we get on to implement it [the Scotland Bill] so the Scottish Parliament has these powers, the Scottish government can then take the decisions that they say they need to do to make changes in Scotland in relation to the economy, welfare and other matters." Its key elements include:
The Scotland Bill follows recommendations made by the cross-party Smith Commission which was set up to look at devolving more powers to Scotland.
In response to a question from SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said: "The UK government, I think, had a very clear test today to deliver a bill which lived up in full, in spirit and in letter, to the Smith Commission.
"The bill has been published within the last hour or so and from my glance at it, I think it falls short in almost every area.
"The bill, for example, doesn't contain the full welfare powers recommended by the Smith Commission and in some key powers it retains, unbelievably in my view, given the amount of concern that was expressed about this, it retains a veto for the UK government on key policy areas.
"So, for example, if this parliament wants to abolish the bedroom tax, as I hope we do, the UK government would still have a right of veto over whether we could do it or not. Now I'm sorry, but that is not devolution."
Income taxIncome tax
If it passes the usual parliamentary hurdles it could become law early next year, ahead of the Holyrood elections in May 2016. However, Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, disagreed with the Scottish government's assessment.
The UK government said the new bill would embody the Smith Commission agreement which was signed by the SNP, the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens in November last year. He said: "The government will be delivering the Smith Commission in full, we are starting that parliamentary journey which will lead to the Scottish Parliament having control over income tax in Scotland, over £2.5bn of welfare spend and a raft of other measures which will help economic and job creation."
The promise of more powers to Holyrood followed voters rejecting Scottish independence by 55% to 45% in last September's referendum. Mr Mundell added: "Scotland will still hold on to the benefits of being part of the UK that people voted for in the referendum last September.
The key elements of the Scotland Bill include: "Sharing risks and resources with the rest of the UK is good for everyone in the UK when it comes to vital matters such as pensions, currency, trade and national security."
Before the Queen's Speech, SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted the Scotland Bill to go much further than the Smith proposals. If the bill passes the usual parliamentary hurdles it could become law early next year, ahead of the Holyrood elections in May 2016.
She had been keen to see Holyrood given full control over National Insurance, the minimum wage, Corporation Tax, full control of welfare and employment and trade union law.
However, the Bill does not contain any of those demands.
Clauses change
Ahead of the Bill coming before the UK parliament, Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney questioned whether it would fulfil the recommendations of the Smith Commission.
He told Good Morning Scotland: "The big test later on this morning will be whether or not David Mundell and the Conservative government have listened to all the constructive input that we have given to ensure that the draft clauses published in January have been changed.
"And changed satisfactorily to address, not just my concerns and the concerns of the Scottish government, but the concerns of five political parties on the Devolution (Further Powers) committee of the Scottish Parliament."
Mr Mundell said the parliamentary process would allow for debate and amendments but any proposed amendments must be made in an "evidenced way".
He added: "If others have proposals they need to bring them forward in an evidenced way - to show why these additional powers would be required, what benefit they would bring to Scotland and how they would affect the UK as a whole."
What next for Scotland?What next for Scotland?
A new Scotland Bill will be based on recommendations made by the Smith Commission - the cross-party group formed after the independence referendum to look at what additional powers might be handed to Scotland.A new Scotland Bill will be based on recommendations made by the Smith Commission - the cross-party group formed after the independence referendum to look at what additional powers might be handed to Scotland.
But how were its foundations laid? Find out more...But how were its foundations laid? Find out more...