There is a real danger Scotland now has worst of both worlds Saturday 29 November 2014 IAIN Paterson appears disappointed that the Smith Commission report does not represent a route into home rule I had thought that this path had effectively and democratically been renounced on September 18. However, I do view the report more as a burning fuse for continuing incongruity on the issue among the political parties in both Holyrood and Westminster. The potential arguments implicit in it will fuel the independence lobby who will undoubtedly welcome the war of attrition it already appears to prime. I find that Lord Smith rather seeks to obscure the sharper details of what I can only view as a clever political compact by his disarming preface to this expedient report. He states in what I view as more of a national starter paper: Significantly more devolved spending in Scotland will now come from tax raised in Scotland with the remainder coming from the block grant provided by the UK Government. I think he really meant a new type of grant rather than continuing the Scottish grant; however as if perhaps realising this debatable point of grammar he then informs us that: The Barnett Formula will continue to be used to determine the remaining block grant. I found it was by the time I read paragraph 95 that the true meaning becomes clear - that the implication of this proposal in Scotlands new fiscal framework is stated as being contained contentiously by ... the manner in which the block grant is adjusted to accommodate further devolution... Given that we are often a rapidly ageing, retired and ailing population in Scotland I would have expected the block grant to increase in real terms had this situation not developed as a result of the unrequired vow. I question how we got into this uncertain position, in that we have moved from having the best of both worlds to potentially having the worst of both worlds. I find subsequent pleas in the report of no detriment to the status quo system seem difficult to accept or consider as sustainable in the longer term in the way now proposed. The whole muddle reminds me of the time when I was a young boy and brought home four empty lemonade bottles I had found and announced I would redeem the deposits. At this news my father informed me he was very proud and that week I would therefore only require to be given half of my pocket money. Bill Brown,
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 08:24:30 +0000
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