23 May 2011
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has called for more powers for Holyrood in talks with Westminster Cabinet ministers.
The powers should be included in a revised Scotland Bill, Salmond said in a meeting with Chancellor George Osborne at the Treasury this morning. He wants the Scottish Government to be given greater borrowing powers than are currently planned, as well as responsibility for Corporation Tax and Excise Duty.
He also called for devolution of responsibility for land owned by the Crown Estate to promote renewables in Scotland, and changes to the windfall tax on North Sea oil.
Salmond will also meet Energy Secretary Chris Huhne today and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg tomorrow to build ‘a partnership of equals’.
The meetings follow Salmond’s swearing-in as first minister for a second term on May 19 after his Scottish National Party won a majority at the polls on May 5.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Salmond said he had ‘the overwhelming mandate of the Scottish people’ for greater devolution of economic powers.
‘I am keen that we make progress in improving the Scotland Bill, currently proceeding through Westminster, to give it real economic teeth. The people of Scotland voted for the Scottish Parliament to take on greater financial responsibility and new job-creating powers.’
He said that the increase in the tax levied on North Sea oil and gas producers from 20% to 33% – introduced in the Budget in March – would ‘damage’ the industry.
‘We must work to support investment in the energy sector rather than to put it at risk. I will offer alternative proposals which demonstrate how it could be possible to focus the tax increase on those who are taking excess profits out of the North Sea, while still incentivising those companies prepared to invest.’
