I am happy to see that the direct relationship between accountability and revenue raising capacity (something I have argued for many years) is finally being acknowledged (officially) within the highest government circles.

However, I am doubtful that this apparent volte face will signal the step change in devolution policy formulation so desperately required across the entire UK.

Peter Davidson, Alderley Edge, NW.England 

A reply to Ken Waldron .....

Salmon is creating a crisis for his and the SNP benefit at the expense of Brown.  I am no supporter of Brown, likewise I am no supporter of Separatism, from any quarter, I see greater benefits in the Union.

I also see smoke and mirrors used skillfully by the likes of Salmon, to project a country (Scotland) oppressed by Westminster, when historically the oppression has been at the hands of its own nobility, whether landed gentry or Industrialists.  What is generally omitted from SNP's scurrilous propaganda are the benefits accrued by the general population over many decades of cooperation in Westminster for the benefit of all, labour laws that offer protection to the young for example. 

I hope that you do stay in the Union, it will annoy me not at all, what annoys me are the likes of Salmon gaining parochial political points at the expense of the whole, points gained from information presented as fact, disingenuous.

That would be the same Lib Dems who want a 4p cut in income tax, at the same time: ' ...to be offset by a new local income tax ( add on your 6p) that would replace council taxation '

which is... um a 2p rise?

So the SNP are trying to create 'crisis' with a 3p rise, because you think its far too low, but the Lib Dems are somehow the voice of sanity with... a 2p one?

As to the rest of your post, why don't people like you stop pontificating about what Scotland 'should do'. All that "decide- once-and-for-all-ary " makes me want to stay in the Union just to annoy the likes of you.

It was calculated by the Liberal Democrat's several years ago that to replace Council tax would require a LIT of approximately 6 pence in the pound across the United Kingdom.

Salmon and his colleges have set the LIT at 3 pence in the pound, what is the motive setting it so low, it must be to create a crisis, the only answer to the crisis is to cut the Scots free, December the 31st this year. It's what Salmon wants, make them the offer, give them a simple referendum, "in" or "out" of the Union, have the referendum on the last day of October.  It is time to ask the Scots to "Put Up or Shut Up", they have more than a fair share of the pot, it's time to consider the whole of the British Nation, not just the Scottish Nationalist Elite.

No bluffs, if they want it, cut them free, ask them if they would like Gordon "wimp" Brown while they are about it.

As I mentioned in my submission to the Calman Commission,
there is a problem for Gordon Brown in making the Scottish Parliament
more financially accountable. Theoretically, if Scotland funds its own
education system directly through taxes raised in Scotland, then the
taxes spent on education in England are minus any Scottish
contribution. Why, therefore, should a Scottish prime minister, or
indeed any MP from Scotland, have any say whatsoever in how those taxes
are spent?  It is a widening of the democratic deficit.

Obviously this is a matter of degrees because I expect that Westminster will want to partly fund the devolved portfolio, just to keep its hand in - but even so.

The CEP also submitted to the Calman Commission.  The fact that English people in England are permitted (and encouraged) to sumit makes a mockery of Jim Wallace's signature to the Scottish Claim of Right.