Scotland Bill further amendments published

The UK Government has published the further amendments to the Scotland Bill to be moved at report stage in the House of Commons, prompting further arguments as to whether ministers have delivered on their promise to implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission.

After blocking opposition amendments during committee stage, the Government is now proposing, among other changes:

• a declaration that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government are "a permanent part of the United Kingdom's constitutional arrangements", and will not be abolished except on the basis of a decision of the Scottish people in a referendum;
• competence of the Scottish Parliament to legislate on abortion;
• further powers on benefits, including in relation to carers, and forms of non-financial assistance with a view to reducing maternity expenses, funeral expenses or expenses for heating in cold weather. 

An independent commission will be established to invstigate the impact of full fiscal autonomy; and a Joint Committee on Welfare Devolution will oversee the transition and implementation of transferred welfare powers.

A further clause entrenches the independence of local government from interference by national government in Scotland.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell commented to the BBC: "I would say that about half of [the amendments] are significant changes and half of them are technical. I think the most significant change is putting on the face of the bill that the Scottish Parliament will have the power to create new welfare benefits in devolved areas in accordance with clause 54 of the Smith Commission agreement."

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the new amendments still did not deliver in full the devolution promised by the Smith Commission. He cited concerns over the failure to codify the Sewel convention, constraints on the exercise of devolved powers over universal credit and social security discretionary payments; incomplete devolution of the Crown Estate, and "significant restrictions on employment support".

Mr Mundell has denied that the UK government has a "veto" over the Scottish Parliament's new welfare powers, but says he is proposing a "better wording" for how the governments could work together.

The House of Commons will debate the amendments next week.