POLICE FEDERATION SUBMISSION TO THE SMITH COMMISSION

A summary of the Scottish Police Federation's submission to the Smith Commission. The full report can be found here.

The Scottish Police Federation believes it is in the interests of the people of Scotland to have a parliament with all necessary powers to ensure it can deliver the best possible life chances for our citizens, regardless of where they happen to live or how rich or poor they happen to be.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the Commission should endorse a statement that it is iniquitous that the Scottish people cannot directly determine the global funding arrangements for the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the dates within which the Commission is expected to deliver were superficially determined and provide an unrealistic time frame in which to properly consider and evaluate any submissions that it receives.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the Commission should be able to continue its considerations beyond St Andrew's Night and if required to be able to make recommendations for draft clauses beyond Burns’ Night. 

They have to deal with some REALLY dodgy blokes

The Scottish Police Federation believes the Commission should make clear that regardless of its recommendations, there are no guarantees these will be delivered.

The Scottish Police Federation supports the view expressed by the Prime Minister that all options for devolution are possible and believes this statement should be the basis upon which this, and any future discussions on Scottish devolution is based.

The Scottish Police Federation believes that it is incumbent on all parties to set aside their pre referendum positions and work towards delivering proposals that will best deliver for the citizens of Scotland.

The Scottish Police Federation believes that ALL UK spending decisions should clearly identify by each budget line, the proportions of spending drawn from borrowings, income tax, national insurance, corporation tax, excise duties and any other clearly identifiable income stream.

 

The Scottish Police Federation believes that Scottish MPs should retain the ability to vote on any matter which may have a budgetary consideration or consequence for Scotland.

The Scottish Police Federation believes that any budget in England & Wales which is made up in any part from funding sources which are in themselves contributed to by the citizens in the devolved nations should continue to attract full Barnett consequentials.

The Scottish Police Federation believes that unless the relationship between the Scottish Parliament and Annually Managed Expenditure is addressed, that 'control' over income tax will prove to give the appearance of more powers without actually delivering so.

The Scottish Police Federation believes that Barnett bypass is manifestly unfair, deprives devolved administrations of funding that could be utilised to tackle social injustice and that in future only spending on defence, foreign affairs and the administration of the state should be capable of being categorised as being of UK wide significance.

The Scottish Police Federation asks the Commission to ask itself that if the further powers under consideration for transfer to the Scottish Parliament will not help address poverty and its associated devastating consequences, whether these powers go far enough?

The Scottish Police Federation believes that the greatest opportunity for public sector workers to be fairly rewarded and remunerated for the priceless role they perform in our society rests with increased powers for the Scottish Parliament. 

The Scottish Police Federation believes that cutting investment in the public sector actively undermines communities and stymies opportunities for growth and prosperity.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the Scottish Parliament should have full policy as well as legislative responsibility for public sector pensions in Scotland.

The Scottish Police Federation believes ALL revenues raised through the imposition of fines or proceeds of crime seizures (without limitation) should be retained in Scotland to provide the Scottish Government with additional resources to help those who need them most.

The Scottish Police Federation believes absolute authority and responsibility for counter terrorism policing in Scotland should rest with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland.

The Scottish Police Federation believes the Scottish Parliament should have full policy and legislative responsibility on all matters that are ultimately enforceable through the courts in Scotland.

WHAT? ... JUST WHAT?

DID THE LIBERALS JUST WANT MORE DEVOLUTION WHEN THEY HAD NO POWER TO GRANT IT?

The Liberal Democrats seem to me to be a little inconsistent in their requests for a more devolved Scotland, most particularly on the following matters which have been brought to my attention.

I wonder if their minds have been changed for them by their bosses in London, who have had their minds changed for them by THEIR bosses in London...the Tories?

The Crown Estates - In 1998 the LibDems proposed amending the Scotland Bill to devolve the Crown Estates to the Scottish Parliament. Now Michael Moore is saying they will oppose this.

European representation - In 1998 the LibDems proposed amending the Scotland Bill to allow Scottish Executive (now government) Ministers to have the right of statutory representation in the Council of Ministers. Now they are suggesting that they will oppose this.

Corporation Tax - In his submission to the Calman Commission on behalf of the Scottish LibDems the then leader Tavish Scott called for corporation tax to be devolved with "all revenues accruing directly to the Scottish Parliament". Now they are opposing this.

Excise duty - In his submission to the Calman Commission on behalf of the Scottish LibDems the then leader Tavish Scott called for tobacco and alcohol duties, along with fuel duty and vehicle excise duty, to be devolved with "all revenues accruing directly to the Scottish Parliament". Now they are signalling they will oppose this.

Broadcasting - In the LibDems' Steel Commission it was said that there should be much greater accountability to the Scottish Parliament and regular reporting from the BBC with a formal role for the Scottish Parliament in the charter renewal process. No positive response to the Scottish Government's similar proposals have been received.

Borrowing powers - In his submission to the Calman Commission on behalf of the Scottish LibDems the then leader Tavish Scott called for proper borrowing powers for Scotland and said they "should not be a one-way process, imposed by the Treasury and the UK Government on the Scottish Parliament ... [but] by agreement a new framework of rules as to how, when and to what extent, Scottish borrowing powers could be exercised." To date all they have allowed is a fastracking of the limited Scotland Bill proposals. 

A Manifesto For Scotland: More Nats, Less Cuts

This morning, before the launch in Glasgow of the SNP manifesto, Alex did a great interview with the “Today” journalist Justin Webb and set out his stall. He has not given his support to any of the parties in England, but he has indicated that his preference was for a big rise in the size and influence of the smaller parties everywhere.

He believes that a ‘balanced’ parliament (which is a better name for it than a ‘hung’ parliament and more appropriate too) would give the SNP a chance to influence policy and push for Scotland’s rights for a change. He’s repeated that he has no wish to tell the English how to run their country. He simply wants Scots to have the right to run theirs.

Alex repeated that he would not go into coalition with anyone. Well, he can’t, can he? He only has the moral authority to vote on matters that affect Scotland. Nothing else! He has the greatest knowledge of any of the politicians of working with a balanced parliament, and he would look for the SNP to approach the post-election landscape on a “vote by vote” basis, securing concessions in return for supporting key pieces of government legislation.

One example would be the money from the fossil fuel levy, £200 million sitting in a London bank. It can only be used for renewable in Scotland if there is a corresponding £200 million cut in the Scottish grant. How ridiculous is that?

He wants to see the UK ditch Trident, with a saving of £2b+ a year and more when the replacement for Trident is axed. Also on the scrap heap would go the House of Lords, Scotland Office and the daft ID cards.

Alex did a Gordon and “agreed with Nick” when he indicated that he wanted an end to the old two party system. He said that a “balanced parliament will be the people’s parliament”.

The rest of the manifesto concerns itself with details of fighting cuts imposed by Westminster and creating green jobs in Scotland.

It’s a manifesto for Scotland. It gets my vote.