Treasury Minister David Gauke has admitted that the definition of a Scottish taxpayer under plans to give Scotland tax-raising powers has still to be settled. He said deciding whether people employed by Scottish companies working in England, or vice-versa, paid their taxes to Scotland or Westminster was “one of the first questions we need to …
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Calman Will Deepen Scots Economic Misery
In May, the new coalition in Westminster pledged to implement the long-delayed Calman Commission recommendations for the Scottish Government. The Calman report, originally published in June 2009, was sat on by New Labour, but now its recommendations for Holyrood seem certain to be introduced within the coming months. The most eye-catching feature of Calman’s proposals is in …
Opinion: The true cost of Calman
No one can expect to escape the effect of the huge cuts in UK Government spending set in train by last week’s emergency Budget. But in Scotland, if the much-vaunted Calman proposals are adopted, the impact is bound to be even more severe. The cuts will certainly result in a significant reduction in the block …
Fiscal responsibility will bring power closer to the people
Geoff Mawdsley, Director of Reform Scotland – The Scotsman Far from the devolution of further fiscal powers being a ‘distraction’, [Tom Miers Scotsman 15/7/10], it is a fundamental part of a liberalising programme of reform that brings power closer to people. Reform Scotland has consistently advocated this approach because it is the key to a …
Why the fiscal crisis boosts the case for more tax powers
Our arguments are driven by straightforward economic logic – not ideology.
Finding the formula
Brian Taylor, BBC Scottish political editor – | 12:39 UK time, Friday, 9 July 2010 I was once told that every incoming Scottish Secretary was welcomed by the Treasury with the suggestion that there might be a review of relative spending needs across the United Kingdom. In response, every incoming Scottish Secretary buried said request …
Welsh proposals provide opportunity for fresh thinking on Scottish fiscal devolution
The Campaign For Fiscal Responsibility has welcomed the findings of the Holtham Commission, the independent body set up to consider new ways of funding the Welsh Assembly. ‘This is certainly a move in the right direction and goes a lot further than the proposals put forward by the Calman Commission for Scotland,’ said CFFR spokesman …
Give Scotland greater financial responsibility
Letter to the Editor of the Financial Times – Ben Thomson Sir, David Miles and Gerald Holtham (“Scotland is taking more than its share of funds”, July 6) argue that the Barnett formula used to calculate the Edinburgh government’s block grant gives Scotland “more than its share of funding”. This is to miss the point …
A perfect example of how devolution should operate
Professor James Mitchell – The Herald This week saw the publication of a report that, at first sight, might seem a cure for insomniacs. But the final report of the Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales is important and relevant to Scotland. The commission behind the report was set up by the Labour-Plaid …