MSPs call for financial devolution submissions

Holyrood's Finance Committee is calling for views from the public as it begins a new inquiry into the options for the further devolution of financial powers to Scotland.

Following the referendum, and the establishment of the Smith Commission, the inquiry will look at what general principles should apply to the devolution of further financial powers and what those powers should be. The inquiry will also consider the impact of any further financial powers on the block grant.

Issues to be considered include:

• What general principles should apply to the devolution of further financial powers to the Scottish Parliament?
• What further financial powers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and why?
• What further financial powers should not be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and why?
• To what extent could the Scottish Government be constrained in how it uses new tax powers, given the interaction with fiscal decisions at a UK level?
• What are the implications of further fiscal devolution for the block grant?
• What are the implications of further financial powers for the role of Revenue Scotland?

Committee convener Kenneth Gibson MSP said: "The Smith Commission is currently considering what further powers should be devolved to Scotland and key amongst these will be financial powers. It is only right that we contribute to this debate.

“Our inquiry will explore what powers should be devolved and the implications for Scotland’s funding. We want to hear a range of views about what this would mean for Scotland.”

Click here to view the call for evidence. The closing date for responses is Friday 14 November 2014.