Smith party representatives agree first principles

Further devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament should not be conditional on agreement on the constitutional future of other parts of the UK, members of the Smith Commission agreed yesterday.

At their first meeting, the representatives of the five largest Scottish political parties, meeting under Lord Smith of Kelvin to consider a new settlement in the wake of the independence referendum, agreed seven guiding principles for a new package.

Speaking afterwards, Lord Smith said he was pleased with the "constructive discussion", with "good people round the table, each with their own deeply held views, who have committed to work together to achieve a positive outcome to this process".

Members agreed that the Commission proposals, when taken together, should:

1. Form a substantial and cohesive package of powers, enabling the delivery of outcomes that are meaningful to the people of Scotland.
2. Strengthen the Scottish devolution settlement and the Scottish Parliament within the UK (including the Parliament’s levels of financial accountability).
3. Aim to bring about a durable but responsive democratic constitutional settlement, which maintains Scotland’s place in the UK and enhances mutual co-operation and partnership working.
4. Not be conditional on the conclusion of other political negotiations elsewhere in the UK.
5. Not cause detriment to the UK as a whole nor to any of its constituent parts.
6. Cause neither the UK Government nor the Scottish Government to gain or lose financially simply as a consequence of devolving a specific power.
7. Be implementable; be compatible with Scotland’s and the UK’s international obligations, including EU law; and be agreed with a broad understanding of the potential associated costs.

The meeting agreed a set of practical guidelines for cross-party talks, with party nominees committing to making no substantive comment on the talks until they have concluded and the final report has been published. Arrangements were also discussed for sharing the submissions from the general public and civic institutions.

The next full meeting has been scheduled for next Wednesday. Lord Smith does not expect to announce agreement on any specific areas until there has been an opportunity to consider fully the submissions from the public and civic institutions, the deadline for which is 31 October.

It is also expected that the agreement will be announced as one package closer to 30 November.

Click here for the "Have your say" form for submissions to the Commission.