Swinney warns on 'scale of issues to be overcome' over funding talks
People ``should not underestimate the scale of the issues that have to be overcome'', Scotland's Deputy First Minister said as the latest round of crucial talks ended over how Scotland will be funded when new powers are devolved to Holyrood.
People should not underestimate the scale of the issues that have to be overcome'', Scotland's Deputy First Minister said as the latest round of crucial talks ended over how Scotland will be funded when new powers are devolved to Holyrood.
Greg Hands, the UK Chief Secretary to the Treasury, cleared his diary to travel north for a day of discussion with Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
The UK and Scottish governments have been have been locked in protracted negotiations over the fiscal framework for the Scotland Bill, which sets out how the block grant will be altered when MSPs get new tax raising powers.
The Scottish Government has set a deadline of Friday February 12 for a deal to be agreed but Scottish Secretary David Mundell has said he is confident an agreement can be reached.
Mr Swinney announced on Sunday that papers from the talks will be made public before March 23, the date when Holyrood is dissolved ahead of Scottish elections.
The Deputy First Minister said people had a right to see ''all the key documents'' and he would publish them.
Both Mr Swinney and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have warned they will pull the plug on the Scotland Bill by recommending MSPs veto the legislation if the two governments cannot strike a deal on the fiscal framework.
They insist they are ''not bluffing'', with the SNP claiming a bad deal could cost Scotland billions of pounds in the long-term.
After the latest talks ended in Edinburgh on Monday night, Mr Swinney said: We are working very hard to secure an agreement, but we should not underestimate the scale of the issues that we have to overcome.
The Scottish Government will put forward new proposals in light of today's discussion which will be rooted in the Smith Commission and ensure that neither Scotland, nor the UK, will be better or worse off as a consequence of the devolution of new powers. I am determined to get an agreement, but only one that is fair to Scotland.''
A UK Government spokesman said: Today's talks between the UK and Scottish governments have shown yet again our willingness to engage with and listen to the Scottish Government.
The UK government is absolutely committed to implementing the Smith agreement in full and will continue to speak with the Scottish government in the coming days.
Whilst there are still some difficult issues to resolve, we're at the business end of negotiations and remain confident that a deal can be reached that is fair to Scotland and fair to the rest of the UK, now and in the future.''
Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said it was deeply disappointing'' that there was still no agreement.
We need a deal that is fair to people in Scotland and that protects our public services now and into the future,'' he said.
Both Governments need to stay at the negotiating table until a deal is done, so that the Scottish Parliament can get on with using the new powers that are coming.
It is clear we need two things to happen now. Firstly, as we have been calling for, both sides need to be open about the issues under discussion, what is preventing agreement and the principles being followed.
Secondly, both John Swinney and Greg Hands need to clear their diaries until a deal is done. This deal is now all that stands between our politicians and the powers necessary to make Scotland fairer. We all agree on that - it's time to get on with it.''