Tax Bill Receives Cool Reception

On 30 November the Coalition Government introduced the Scotland Bill, in implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Scottish Devolution's (Calman Commission) final report.

The Bill proposes a number of important changes to the way in which the Scottish Parliament is run, and its legislative competencies. The Scottish Parliament would gain legislative competence in relation to the regulation of air weapons. It would surrender to Westminster legislative competence in relation to certain aspects of the process for winding up companies in Scotland, and for regulating health professionals in Scotland. However, the biggest matters dealt with by the Bill are the proposed changes to the tax raising powers of the Scottish Parliament.