The people of Scotland have a good reason to celebrate this St Andrew's Day.

The Scotland Act is now law. It received Royal Assent on Thursday, 19 November.

It was a truly historic day for Scotland and another important step in the country's journey towards a new political future.

There is still much to be done. By St Andrew's Day next year we will have a Scottish Parliament.

A modern democracy

Before then we will have the elections in May and the official opening of the parliament in July - the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years.

We are on the threshold of a new era, an era of openness, accountability, responsiveness and modern democracy.

We must now ensure we build a system which will encourage this. In shaping the political structure of the parliament, through the inclusion of proportional representation, we have ensured it will be truly representative.

The design chosen for the parliament building reflects this new era. It is innovative, modern and accessible.

The parliament can build on the work we have already begun. It will have direct responsibility for the policies which will allow it to shape Scottish solutions to Scottish need.

Education, training, housing, healthcare, economic development will all be in its hands.

It will have the opportunity to promote an inclusive Scotland and reverse 20 years of neglect. We have begun to set things right but there is still work to do. Too many people have been excluded for too long.

The parliament will be responsible for building enterprise, and an enterprise culture, in Scotland.

It can tap the potential of the Scottish people and equip Scottish business to compete on the world stage. It will have the tools to make Scotland a world beater.

It will not achieve this by inward-looking and introspective policies. Scotland can learn from the best around the world.

The parliament will need to be open to new ideas and welcome innovation.

Fresh momentum

Devolution brings a fresh momentum for change, a new drive to face the challenges ahead. The parliament must ensure it uses this momentum and this energy.

I have already experienced the new sense of purpose devolution brings.

As the Scotland Bill made its way through parliament there was a real buzz at the Scottish Office.

When the act received Royal Assent there was a tremendous sense of achievement felt by all the hard-working and dedicated team involved.

The parliament we have created reflects the will of the people of Scotland.

The next stage of this historic journey now lies with them, the electorate.

We are moving towards a new modern and dynamic political climate in Scotland.

Government will be closer to the people it serves and no sector of Scottish society or geographical region will be excluded.

As Secretary of State for Scotland I have been very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. I now look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.