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As the second reading of the UK Government's Scotland Bill is undertaken in the House of Commons, Scottish Ministers have called for the Bill's 'significant failings' to be addressed.

Underlining the Scottish Government's concerns, the Minister for External Affairs has urged the UK Government to make vital improvements.

External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said:

"The Scotland Bill is a wasted opportunity as it does not give Scotland financial responsibility to grow the economy and, in its current form, poses a significant risk to the funding of public services.

"The level of devolution proposed offers no effective economic levers and none of the flexibility required to grow Scotland's economy. In fact, Scotland would only control 15 per cent of its tax revenues.

"There are fundamental problems with the financial proposals in the Bill. Had these measures been in place since the Scottish Parliament was re-established in 1999, Scotland's budget would have fallen by almost #8 billion over that period. Even the welcome powers on borrowing will be too late and too limited to help deliver the vital economic growth Scotland needs to support jobs.

"There are also serious flaws in the Bill's proposals which seek to take powers and responsibilities back to Westminster which have been exercised by the Scottish Parliament since 1999.

"This Government has provided constructive proposals and recommendations on how the Bill should and must be improved. We will continue to engage at all levels as the Bill is scrutinised."

The Scottish Government has previously published analysis on the financial provisions in the Bill.

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