UK Parliament / Open data

Scotland Bill

Proceeding contribution from David Mundell (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Monday, 8 June 2015. It occurred during Debate on bills on Scotland Bill.

In relation to matters for which the Scottish Parliament is responsible, it will be the Scottish taxpayer who has to pay. So if the Scottish Parliament and Government want additional spending, the Scottish taxpayer will have to pay.

I wish to conclude my remarks, but I have sought to take as many interventions as possible because part of the Bill is about accountability. The Bill represents the fulfilment of a promise to the people of Scotland that a no vote in the referendum was not a vote for no change. It delivers on the all-party Smith Commission agreement, as the Law Society of Scotland and many others have already made clear. The Government and the Smith Commission engaged extensively on the agreement, and on the draft clauses since January, and the Bill before us today is all the stronger for that extensive engagement.

It will benefit further from four days of full line-by-line scrutiny in this Chamber. The challenge will then be for the Scottish Government to finally set out what they will do with the new powers they will receive. Now is the time for the Scottish Government to stop acting and start doing. I commend the Bill to the House.

5.8 pm

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
596 cc931-2 
Session
2015-16
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Legislation
Scotland Bill 2015-16
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