Government Statement on the Calman Recommendations

Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland, has announced the Government's plans for the next round of Scottish devolution. His statement to the Commons can be watched here and a transcript can be read here.

The White Paper "Scotland's Future in the United Kingdom" is available for download on the Scotland Office website.

During the debate on Scotland's Future in the United Kingdom, two MPs raised concerns about England's place in the Union.

Philip Davies: The biggest threat to the UK does not come from Scotland, but from England. If the Secretary of State does not do something to stop Scottish MPs voting on legislation that applies only to England whereas English MPs have no decision-making influence on Scotland, or something to make the funding formula fairer to England, the threat to the UK will come from England.

Alan Beith: Is the Secretary of State aware that the Constitutional Affairs Committee's report on devolution 10 years on is in line with the Calman recommendations, but warned that the stability of the Union was threatened by the fact that the governance of England had not been addressed and that it was still governed in a relatively centralised way by what is supposed to be the Government of the United Kingdom?

The Government have no plans to legislate on a new Scotland Bill during this Parliament, so there will be no action on the Calman recommendations until after the next general election. David Cameron has reiterated David Mundell's statement that this Government's plans will not bind an incoming Conservative Government.

We will not be bound by any White Paper produced by the present Government in the short time that remains before the election.

If the Conservatives win the next general election, we will produce our own White Paper and legislation to deal with the issues raised by Calman. - David Cameron (Telegraph, 25 Nov 2009