Calman quizzed over extra powers

Sir Kenneth warned against any cherrypicking of his recommendations

MPs have questioned the man who has recommended giving greater fiscal powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee quizzed Sir Kenneth Calman in Glasgow.

Earlier this month, the Calman Commission proposed radical plans which would allow Holyrood to take charge of half the income tax raised in Scotland.

It is the third time Sir Kenneth has appeared before members of the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee.

The public hearing at Glasgow City Chambers was the first chance MPs have had to question the commission chairman, since he came up with far reaching plans to alter the current devolution settlement.

In its final report the Calman Commission recommended that Holyrood should control national speed limits, drink driving laws, airgun legislation and its own elections.

If somebody had asked me to chair a commission on independence, I would have been happy to chair that too - they did not Sir Kenneth Calman

In addition it proposed that the Scottish Parliament should control half the income tax raised in Scotland.

Sir Kenneth denied that independence had been the "elephant in the room" during its deliberations.

He said: "If somebody had asked me to chair a commission on independence, I would have been happy to chair that too - they did not.

"They asked me to look at Scotland within the Union, and how Scotland could be stronger and how the Union could be stronger, and that's the remit we had."

He also warned against any cherrypicking of his recommendations, but said they could be implemented at different speeds.

He argued that the findings on inter-governmental and interparliamentary relations, and financial accountability, were two major themes.

The recommendations for better relations between Holyrood and Westminster would, in particular, help strengthen the Union, he said.

Defending the income tax proposals, he told Labour MP Ian Davidson - who pointed out that the existing 3p tax-varying power had never been used - that the scheme recommended would force a choice to be made.

"The proposals we put forward would mean the Scottish Parliament would have to take a decision," he said.