I have made an attempt to summarise the five submissions as a Google Doc so people can see the areas of concensus and dissent for themselves. It's not perfect but I hope it helps and if it is useful please do copy freely.
I also have made my own submission and copy this below for your information. If anything I say is useful, please do plagiarise freely.
The deadline for submissions is 31st October. Email submissions to haveyoursay@smith-commission.scot
Submission to Smith Commission
I have read the Command Paper and the submissions of the SNP
Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party with interest. I sympathise with anyone attempting to deal
with these conflicting submissions particularly where positions are entrenched
by self-interest.
I am also concerned that the timescales adversely impact
opportunities for public engagement (as opposed to mere consultation). I understand that the Electoral Reform
Society and others in civic society are making representations to you on this
subject and seeking ways forward.
Constitutional Convention concepts are useful and may be helpful to you
if the political parties prove intransigent.
The Party positions
The three Westminster parties have used their several
Commissions as their submissions to the Smith Commission which I feel fails to
reflect the realities of
- A relatively narrow 45%/55% vote in the Independence Referendum;
- Promises made by the Westminster parties promising substantial new powers/DevoMax/Home rule and even the dreaded word federalism. The party leaders did not distance themselves from even the most extreme of these statements; and
- Poll information on range of powers people feel should be controlled at Holyrood including the long running Social Attitudes Survey data.
There is real mood for change and those aspirations are long
standing and deeply felt. Significant
new powers, up to DevoMax (to use an ill defined shorthand) is the ‘settled
will of the Scottish people’.
In this context, it is disappointing the Labour and
Conservatives have not proposed any changes to their Commission proposals of
earlier in the year. The LibDems have
made more substantive proposals and considered how the wider implications
across the UK could be managed via federalism.
This produces more of a process towards DevoMax that might release some
logjams.
The SNP Scottish Government has asked for the ‘next best
thing’ to independence, with foreign affairs and defence, monetary policy and
citizenship and borders reserved to Westminster. They do not seek any influence on monetary
policy.
The Scottish Green Party has made an attempt at DevoMax,
importantly highlighting the important of a written constitution and
joint/partnership arrangements between the two layers of government for some
issues. They do seek influence over
monetary policy and seek representation on management board level of the
Treasury, Bank of England and HMRC.
Both SNP and Green proposals seems to be roughly in line
with public opinion as ascertained by recent polls and the on a longer
timescale by Professor Curtices’ Social Attitudes Survey.
While the Commission is under excessive time pressure to
come up with concrete proposals with wide agreement, I would suggest that some
of the pressures can be managed by phasing proposals over a period and setting
out a road map as to how the UK constitutional pressure can be managed, while
meeting the aspirations of Scotland to proceed as quickly as possible. The danger in such process is any delays : the
timetable would need clearly to beat at the pace of a Scottish not a
Westminster drum.
A declaration that any part of the UK could, in
principle, take to itself similar powers and matching responsibilities may
allay some tensions and would be attractive to many outside Scotland – although
it is not for Scotland to dictate the form of government in other areas of the
UK. But if the UK is to follow that
route, the inevitable consequence will be the surrender of powers to devolved
bodies and the lessening of the current over-wheening power of
Westminster. That will be uncomfortable
for Westminster politicians but their comfort is not part of your remit.
Constitutional
There appears to be a broad consensus towards entrenchment
of the Scottish Parliament and the development and formalisation of mechanisms
for joint working/joint policy making/ policy co-ordination. I can only see this as a written
constitution for Scotland. But we will
always have the conflict between the concepts of ‘sovereignty lying with the
people’ and ‘the crown in parliament’.
It is hard to argue against the submissions by the Greens
and the SNP seeking for powers over Scottish elections and governmental
arrangements but the proposals from the Greens towards managing additional powers
via public participation and internal devolution within Scotland are attractive
and act as a counterweight to the criticism that Holyrood would be a ‘wee
Westminster’.
The submissions by the Greens, SNP and Liberal Democrats
provide a solid foundation for agreement here.
Tax
Money is the root of all evil and is a crucial part of this
debate. Spending powers are inextricably linked to tax
raising powers. Subject to any
arrangements to provide some sharing to resources to address the inequalities
that do exist across the UK, the aim must be to allow the Scottish Parliament
to fundamentally raise enough revenue to meet its spending requirements and
tailor those taxes to meet Scottish policy aims and specific Scottish concerns.
Too few powers and insufficient flexibility to apply those
powers make limited taxation powers a poisoned chalice. But as Scotland will be bound to the UK
currency and monetary policy, agreements are needed. The SNP seem to be happy to continue with no
real say – and thereby scant responsibility.
Greens and, via federalism LibDems, are more willing to engage.
But, with formal management arrangements and perhaps
ultimately federalism, the Green/LibDem axis here have a vision to move forward
in a way that is coherent and consistent.
Spending
The SNP argue that all the main spending areas except
defence and foreign affairs should be devolved.
The Greens see similar vision but would add pensions to that list.
The main argument is around welfare. The economic, social and housing state of
Scotland is different from especially southern England and therefore the
appropriate policies vary. Just as there
seems to be wide acceptance that the city-regions of England should gain more
powers of their economic futures, there should be wide acceptance that Scotland
should determine its own future.
Labour’s attempt to salami slice powers in this area seem muddled.
In this instance, I commend the SNP and Green
submissions.
Other Issues
Within this heading I include all the issues mentioned by
the submissions that do, of themselves, entail major spending implications. Where any of the submission have made the
case for devolving powers, then you should accept this.
In particular
- It seems perverse for Labour to argue against the devolution of powers relating to Health. I would hope that the Scottish Parliament would seek to retain the excellent services of the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The Scottish Parliament has shown itself attuned to these emerging realities.
- As a peripheral area within the UK and with a
much lower population density (outside the Central Belt), Scotland’s transport
needs differ from the UKs. The SNPs
submission on powers relating to Transport should be supported. perfectly
capable of considering sensitive and complex issues.
- As is illustrated by the current fuss over Leader’s debates for the UK General Election 2015, it is clear that current arrangements for broadcasting do not represent the legitimate concerns of the constituent parts of the UK. I therefore commend the suggestions of the SNP and Greens: we need a more plural view of broadcasting to reflect the realities as the differences between Britain and England sharpen. Consider: the Westminster remit for Health only applies to England and therefore (UK) Leader’s debates should avoid this issue. Repeat for all devolved matters and we get a very complex situation that would be better served by plurality with much more emphasis on the nations and regions and less on a London/Westminster centric model. The Greens suggestions are closely attuned to the emerging realities.
- Employment and Employability issues bring a welcome consensus between LibDems, the SNP and the Greens. These issues so closely relate to the local economic circumstances and elements of economic development and welfare, that they need to be seen as a coherent package with the Scottish Parliament.
I reserve the right to make a further submission(s),
particular if the Conservatives and Labour revisit their timid proposals in the
light of the new political realities, and of course will seek to comment on any
proposals you make.
Meanwhile I wish you success in hammering out a proposal
that meets the legitimate aspirations of the majority of the Scottish people.
Debra Storr
(contact details removed)