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A cross-party commission recommends that Scotland should have more fiscal autonomy

 
The group discussing Scottish devolution proposes that Scotland should have powers to take over direct control of half of the income tax · SNP calls for full fiscal autonomy to be implemented, and considers that an option to increase the Scottish Parliament's devolved powers may be included in an independence referendum.

The Calman Commission -set up by Scottish unionist parties to analyse the transfer of powers from London to Edinburgh- has issued this week its final report in which it is recommended that the Scottish government should have direct control of half of the income taxes, as well as other measures such as the devolution of road traffic regulation and airguns.

According to the report, which is backed by the Labour Party, the Tories and the LibDem, with such a move Scotland would take control of £9bn and "would cut UK taxpayer support for Scottish public services by nearly £5bn", informs guardian.co.uk. The commission also envisages devolution of powers to set Scotland's own stamp and air passenger duties, landfill taxes, the power to run Scottish elections and devolution of nature conservation regulation.

The Scottish government, currently run by the Scottish National Party, has expressed its support to further devolution of powers, but has remarked that the goal is to achieve complete fiscal autonomy. According to BBC, Scottish Government's constitution minister, Mike Russell, said that "full fiscal autonomy has the great benefit of allowing the Scottish Parliament to make its decisions based on a range of taxation -not just income tax."

According to Scotsman.com, Scotland's Prime Minister Alex Salmond has said that there is a "willingness" to put a question on the referendum's ballot paper covering proposals put forward yesterday by the Calman Commission. Salmond further added that the report was "fundamentally weak and flawed in a number of areas", but said that "If Calman is the option of the unionist parties then let's have that on the ballot paper" in the referendum the SNP is intending to hold in 2010.

Opinion polls show growing support for SNP
Scotsman.com reports today that a government poll shows SNP would win 52 seats instead of the 47 it holds now if elections were held today. The other pro-independence party, The Greens, would obtain 7 seats. That would leave the pro-independence option within touching distance (6 seats) of an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament.

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