MSPs back Calman Commission over cross-border policy

A HOLYROOD committee has backed calls to bring governments closer together.

MSPs supported suggestions that the First Minister and Scottish Secretary should appear before each other's parliaments to discuss their legislative plans each year.

The idea was put forward in the Calman Commission, set up by the unionist parties to consider changes to devolution after ten years.

Holyrood's Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee looked at how the wider recommendations could be established.

The commission suggested the Scottish Secretary, who represents Scotland in the UK Government, should appear annually at Holyrood after the Queen's Speech and be available to a parliamentary committee.

It also called for the First Minister to appear before Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee to outline Scottish Government legislation.

The committee agreed there is no barrier, other than political differences, to prevent the move.

Committee convener Gill Paterson MSP said: "We take the view that Calman's proposal for the First Minister to appear each year before a House of Commons select committee, and the Secretary of State for Scotland to reciprocate, is more a matter for political agreement or protocol than one which requires procedural change.

"Similarly, our committee supports the recommendation that there should be dialogue between the First Minister and the Secretary of State about their legislative programmes, and highlights that such discussions should be informal and do not require changes to the Scottish Parliament's standing orders."

The UK Government plans to introduce a Bill on the proposals, which will also set out plans to make Holyrood more accountable for raising some taxes.