Speaking in the UK Parliament, John Lamont MP has said it is time for “real devolution” in Scotland.
Contributing to a lively Westminster Hall debate on the use of devolved powers in Scotland, the MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk said that too much power has been centralised to Holyrood.
He also made the point that too often the Scottish Government demanded greater powers, only to refuse to use them.
On the positives of devolution, John Lamont MP said: “Devolution has been a good thing for Scotland because it had the potential to bring power and decision makers closer to the people.”
However, he pointed out that many Scots don’t feel that decision making has been brought any closer to them because of the centralisation by the Scottish Government.
On this point, John said: “Scotland has become one of the most centralised countries in the Western world. The vast majority of economic decision making powers are kept by the Scottish Government and councils have been relegated to little more than service providers.
“Council oversight of policing has been all but destroyed by the creation of Police Scotland. Local Sheriff Courts have closed in Duns and Peebles, as have local police station counters.
He added: “The Scottish Government meddles in hundreds of planning decisions a year, overturning Council decisions half the time.”
John also strongly criticised the Scottish Government for failing to use the very powers they have demanded are devolved, citing control over welfare, women’s pensions and income tax as examples.
On this point, John said: “While the Scottish Government constantly say they want more devolution, it’s interesting to see what they do with that devolution. The answer is, increasingly, nothing. Time and time again, the SNP are failing Scotland because they fail to use the powers available to them.”
Ends
The full text of John’s speech was as follows
(Check against delivery):
I am delighted to take part in today’s debate and commend my honourable friend for bringing it forward.
As a whole, devolution has been a good thing for Scotland because it should have brought power and decision makers closer to the people.
And during this time, Holyrood has evolved to be one of the most powerful devolved Parliaments in the world.
I, for one welcome this process.
It means the Scottish Government must face the reality of spending within its means.
It means every time the SNP objects to a reduction in public spending they have a very simple solution – increase taxes to pay for what you are promising.
Devolution does not and should not stop at Holyrood.
What we have seen, particularly over the past ten years, is an increasingly powerful Scottish Parliament refusing to hand over any powers to local authorities. In fact, the reverse has often been the case and the current SNP administration in Holyrood has been the most centralising Government in recent years. Most people in Scotland don’t feel that decision making has been brought closer to them. In many cases, it’s just moved from Westminster to Holyrood.
Scotland has become one of the most centralised countries in the Western world.
The vast majority of economic decision making powers are kept by the Scottish Government and councils have been relegated to little more than service providers.
Council oversight of policing has been all but destroyed by the creation of Police Scotland.
Local Sheriff Courts have closed in Duns and Peebles, as have local police station counters.
The Scottish Government meddles in hundreds of planning decisions a year, overturning Council decisions half the time.
And the final point I would like to make is that while the Scottish Government constantly say they want more devolution, it’s interesting to see what they do with that devolution. The answer is, increasingly, nothing.
The Scottish Government always had the power to raise or lower income tax but chose not to use this power.
The Scottish Government has the power compensate women who have been affected by the changes to pension age, but they choose to do nothing apart from complain about it.
And most recently, after years of demanding control over welfare, what does the SNP do when they get power over welfare? They ask the DWP to remain in charge of payments for another three years because they are not ready for the responsibility.
Time and time again, the SNP are failing Scotland because they fail to use the powers available to them.