Scotland Bill reaches final stage in House of Commons

The Scotland Bill will reach the final stage in its journey through the House of Commons today.

While the UK Government argues the bill will make Holyrood one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world, the SNP has claimed it does not go far enough in delivering the promises contained in the Vow.

The SNP has attempted to amend the legislation to give Holyrood the power to set any future independence referendums.

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Scottish secretary Ian Murray said the Bill goes beyond the promises made in the Vow, and challenged the SNP to “tell us how they are going to use these powers”.

SNP deputy leader, Stewart Hosie warned the Bill did not deliver the package laid out in the Smith Commission.

He said: “The SNP amendments to the bill are aimed at avoiding the worst excesses of the Tory cuts and austerity – by giving Holyrood greater welfare and employment rights and job creation powers.

"The SNP amendment on tax credits would devolve control over all aspects of working and child tax credits to Scotland. The Scotland Bill as it stands will give Scotland the power to top up benefits – but gives Scotland no power to do something for those who will lose their credits entirely as a result of the Tories’ tax credit cuts.”

Ian Murray said: “Labour pressure means the Vow has been delivered in full. The Scotland Bill amendments we are discussing today meets in full the promises made to people across Scotland in the Vow before the referendum. In fact, it goes beyond what was promised in the vow. The Scottish Parliament will now be one of the most powerful devolved Parliaments in the world, with control over income tax and billions of pounds of welfare spending.

“Labour has been the driving force behind this bill, and the amendments that the Government is bringing forward today is a result of Labour pressure. We have taken a constructive approach and put forward more amendments on tax and welfare than all the other parties in the House of Commons combined.

“The challenge now is to the SNP Government to tell us how they are going to use these powers. These powers create an incredible opportunity for Scotland, and we need politicians with the political will to use them. As a first step, Nicola Sturgeon should be telling people across Scotland how she will use the powers to restore the money lost from tax credit cuts.”

The Bill will be put in front of the Scottish Parliament for approval. The SNP is calling the Bill to include the devolution of employment rights.

Hosie said: "This Bill – even with the Government amendments – still has significant restrictions on employment support.  On discretionary payments and assistance there are still restrictions – despite the Smith Commission clearly concluding that full autonomy on this was recommended. In addition the UK government can still effectively veto the exercise of devolved powers over Universal Credit. That is unacceptable and we hope to see those vetos removed.”

David Mundell said: “We have nearly completed all the stages of the legislation in the House of Commons and it is now time to find out what the price tag on benefits could be for Scottish taxpayers.

“Even the Scottish government now accept that the Scotland Bill gives them substantial new powers over benefits. It allows them to top-up tax credits, top-up child benefit or even create brand new benefits in devolved areas.

“The vote in the Commons will mean the Scottish government have run out of excuses for not telling Scotland what their benefits plans are."

“People now want to know how much this is all going to cost and how it will be paid for.”