0:00:14 > 0:00:18Hello and welcome to Politics Scotland. Coming up on the
0:00:18 > 0:00:21programme: Today's the day that MSPs are set to agree to the UK
0:00:21 > 0:00:27government's plans for the Scotland Bill with new tax and borrowing
0:00:27 > 0:00:31powers for Holyrood. Here at Westminster, MPs will be
0:00:31 > 0:00:40keeping a close eye on that, but a month on from the Budget the
0:00:40 > 0:00:43argument continues over the winners The number of Scots seeking work
0:00:43 > 0:00:46has fallen, according to figures out today. This was despite a
0:00:46 > 0:00:50contraction in the Scottish economy. Our business and economy editor,
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Douglas Fraser is here with all the facts and figures, along with our
0:00:52 > 0:00:59political commentator for the afternoon, Angus Macleod from the
0:00:59 > 0:01:05Times. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Better
0:01:05 > 0:01:09news for the Scottish economy today. Yes, it is fairly upbeat. It is
0:01:09 > 0:01:14beginning to come right for spring. You could look at it in several
0:01:14 > 0:01:21ways and most are looking fairly good. Both people in employment and
0:01:21 > 0:01:28those looking are better. Figure that this morning show that in
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Scotland it is down 12,000 so around a third of the fall we saw
0:01:32 > 0:01:37for the whole of the UK and it puts Scotland in a better employment
0:01:37 > 0:01:41position than the rest of the UK. It is still close to the UK average.
0:01:41 > 0:01:50Another way of looking at this is the number of people on jobseeker's
0:01:50 > 0:01:56allowance has got worse for the UK and Scotland, up by 900. They are
0:01:56 > 0:02:01the hard core of the unemployed and on benefit. We have... We have also
0:02:01 > 0:02:08seen other information for Scotland, haven't we? The growth figures
0:02:08 > 0:02:13which are quite old figures because they cover the 4th quarter, the end
0:02:13 > 0:02:19of last year and GDP, the measure of output in the economy. That
0:02:19 > 0:02:25contracted in the 4th quarter by 0.1%. UK figures are slightly worse
0:02:25 > 0:02:31but it is clearly not good news if you have a contracting economy. It
0:02:31 > 0:02:35is not a recession unless you get to quarters like that and in the
0:02:35 > 0:02:40first quarter, including the employment figures, suggest it will
0:02:40 > 0:02:45not be too quarters we are heading towards. The construction industry
0:02:45 > 0:02:50was worst affected by that. It had a bad year. The whole of the
0:02:50 > 0:02:56Scottish economy is growing by 0.5% and the UK economy is growing by
0:02:56 > 0:03:01slightly more. Destruction is a sector badly affected as is the
0:03:01 > 0:03:06retail sector. We've got figures today for that which are slightly
0:03:06 > 0:03:12up but only for food. Another statistic is about exports and that
0:03:12 > 0:03:17has been flat according to the most recent figures. Looking at all of
0:03:17 > 0:03:27these figures in total, you mentioned the UK, how can spot --
0:03:27 > 0:03:32Scotland's position be viewed as a comparison to the rest of the UK?
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Through the downturn, it has been in a better position and then got
0:03:36 > 0:03:42worse off. This latest set of figures put it into a better
0:03:42 > 0:03:47position but only by a narrow margin. In the past year, the
0:03:47 > 0:03:53unemployment figures of those seeking work, and particularly
0:03:54 > 0:03:58compared with the north-west of England which it looks really grim,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03Scotland has been performing pretty well after several months of some
0:04:03 > 0:04:06pretty bad figures compared to the rest of the UK. Angus MacLeod,
0:04:06 > 0:04:13Scotland is performing pretty well and that will be music to the
0:04:13 > 0:04:19Scottish government, won't it? there has been analysis about to
0:04:19 > 0:04:22who was to blame in the month-by- month increase in and cut -- and
0:04:22 > 0:04:27employment but today the language has changed and it is who gets the
0:04:27 > 0:04:34credit. The first Minister was quick to seize on these figures to
0:04:34 > 0:04:39say that Scotland was comparatively performing better than the rest of
0:04:39 > 0:04:46the UK. Actually, a lot of people would feel that it doesn't feel
0:04:46 > 0:04:51like that out there. They run major sources of worry with in these
0:04:51 > 0:04:55figures. Predominantly, youth unemployment figures are still
0:04:55 > 0:04:59horrendously high. The number of women who have found themselves out
0:04:59 > 0:05:06of work in Scotland and throughout the UK seems to be on the rise all
0:05:06 > 0:05:12the time. There are real areas and pockets of concern behind the
0:05:12 > 0:05:17headline figures of a better, marginally better picture, then
0:05:17 > 0:05:22this time last year. We will be hearing later about the Prime game
0:05:22 > 0:05:30in -- Prime Minister putting a positive spin on the UK figures but
0:05:30 > 0:05:35it is still a worrying time, is it? And for David Cameron's view, this
0:05:36 > 0:05:41is the best set of figures in a while. Quite honestly, no one
0:05:41 > 0:05:47should think that these figures that we are out of the woods though.
0:05:47 > 0:05:54200 N19 1000 people in Scotland out of work is still not a comfortable
0:05:54 > 0:05:57figure -- 219,000. Thanks very much. An MSP at the centre of domestic
0:05:57 > 0:06:00abuse allegations has said he's the victim of an "orchestrated smear
0:06:00 > 0:06:04campaign". Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has been expelled by the SNP
0:06:04 > 0:06:07after it emerged his three former wives had accused him of physical
0:06:07 > 0:06:15violence. For the latest on this, let's speak to our political
0:06:15 > 0:06:20correspondent Glenn Campbell. Good afternoon. First, can you
0:06:20 > 0:06:24remind us of the story behind this? Well, Parliament is back from the
0:06:24 > 0:06:30Easter break and Bill Walker remains a member of it although he
0:06:30 > 0:06:37has been expelled by the SNP. He does still sit as an independent
0:06:37 > 0:06:41nationalist although there is no sign of him at Holyrood today. He
0:06:41 > 0:06:46was expelled because of allegations which emerged from his three former
0:06:46 > 0:06:51wives that he had physically assaulted them. The allegations
0:06:51 > 0:06:57have emerged in historic court papers and, indeed, one of the
0:06:57 > 0:07:03women has given an interview to the BBC in which she alleges that Mr
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Walker and -- attacked her on several occasions. He denies this
0:07:07 > 0:07:11and has issued a statement saying the allegations have been so
0:07:11 > 0:07:16distressing he felt compelled to say something. He says he has never
0:07:16 > 0:07:24assaulted anyone and he claims to be the victim of an orchestrated
0:07:24 > 0:07:27smear campaign to which he says, "I shall not be succumbing".
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Thanks for that up date. The Prime Minister has acknowledged
0:07:30 > 0:07:33he's endured a "tough month" as Ed Miliband attacked the Budget
0:07:33 > 0:07:37"shambles", as he put it. The Labour leader attacked the decision
0:07:37 > 0:07:45to cut the 50p rate of income tax and freeze personal allowances for
0:07:45 > 0:07:48pensioners. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the
0:07:48 > 0:07:55result of all these tax changes from April, families with children
0:07:55 > 0:07:59will be over �500 a year worse off. I notice he has moved off the top
0:07:59 > 0:08:03rate of tax because he does not want to talk about it. I will ask
0:08:03 > 0:08:09him, he has to withdraw his amendment because it he is
0:08:09 > 0:08:14successful, he will give us a 40p tax rate. The other reason he
0:08:14 > 0:08:18doesn't want to talk about the top rate of tax is because he can't
0:08:18 > 0:08:24convinced Labour's candidate for the mayor of London to pay his
0:08:24 > 0:08:29taxes. When it comes to pensioners, what we have done is increase the
0:08:29 > 0:08:32basic state pension, we have kept the pensioner benefits and a freeze
0:08:32 > 0:08:38in age-related allowances means there will be no cash losses.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Compare that with a pathetic 75p increase for pensioners. We
0:08:43 > 0:08:48remember what their budget did. Will he stand up now and condemn
0:08:48 > 0:08:57Labour's candidate for mayor of London he will not pay his taxes?
0:08:57 > 0:09:02Mr Speaker, in case... He is very excited today! In case he has
0:09:02 > 0:09:09forgotten, it is Prime Minister's Questions, the clue is in the name.
0:09:09 > 0:09:16I ask the questions and he is supposed to answer them. No answer.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21No answer on pensioners, no answer on families. What about charities?
0:09:21 > 0:09:26The Prime Minister's big idea was the Big Society. Since the Budget,
0:09:26 > 0:09:34I don't know why he is taking advice from the Chancellor sitting
0:09:34 > 0:09:39next to him -- the apartheid Chancellor. What dark -- job is he
0:09:39 > 0:09:44doing today, Mr Speaker? Since the Budget, the government has managed
0:09:44 > 0:09:48to insult people who give to charity and he has insulted the
0:09:48 > 0:09:55charities themselves by implying they are bogus. The Prime Minister
0:09:55 > 0:10:00claimed he worked on the budget line by line. Did he know when he
0:10:00 > 0:10:04signed off the budget that it represented a hit of as much as
0:10:04 > 0:10:08�500 million on Britain's charities? The figures are
0:10:08 > 0:10:12completely wrong. Let me tell the right honourable gentleman, first
0:10:13 > 0:10:17of all, there is absolutely no defence of Ken Livingstone. What
0:10:17 > 0:10:26this is about is making sure the richest people in our country pay
0:10:26 > 0:10:30their taxes. Last year, there were over 300 people earning over �1
0:10:30 > 0:10:34million who paid a rate of tax of 10%. I don't think that is good
0:10:34 > 0:10:38enough and we have a Labour candidate for mayor of London who
0:10:38 > 0:10:46is paying less tax on his earnings than the person he cleans his
0:10:46 > 0:10:55office. I think that is disgraceful. Why won't he condemn it?
0:10:55 > 0:11:04Speaker,... Order. Order. They look -- usual level of August they can
0:11:04 > 0:11:09on the usual benches -- the usual level of orchestration. What a
0:11:09 > 0:11:13desperate Prime Minister who cannot justify his own budget. If he wants
0:11:13 > 0:11:18to talk about the mayor of London, we have a candidate who will cut
0:11:18 > 0:11:25Tube fares, who will make rates Faroes and he will bring back the
0:11:25 > 0:11:30educational maintenance allowance. He has a candidate who is out of
0:11:30 > 0:11:35cut -- touch and was arguing for a cut in the 50p tax rate. The
0:11:35 > 0:11:41reality on charities is that he is not making the rich worse off, he
0:11:41 > 0:11:47is making charities were job. We have seen a charity tax shambles,
0:11:47 > 0:11:57the church tax shamble, the caravan Tax shamble, and the pasty tax
0:11:57 > 0:12:01shamble all over the last month. Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker, we are all
0:12:01 > 0:12:06keen to hear the Prime Minister's view as to why he thinks that, for
0:12:06 > 0:12:13weeks on from the Budget, even people within Downing Street are
0:12:13 > 0:12:17calling it and "on many shambles" budget. We have a mayor who pays
0:12:17 > 0:12:23his taxes so nothing from him about unemployment or the rich needing to
0:12:23 > 0:12:28pay their taxes. Nothing about Ken Livingstone's responsibilities.
0:12:28 > 0:12:35This budget cut taxes for 24 million people, cut corporation tax,
0:12:35 > 0:12:42it made Britain co-operative -- competitive. Let us look at his
0:12:42 > 0:12:49last month. He lost the Bradford by-election. He has given one
0:12:49 > 0:12:53person a job opportunity, George Galloway. He lost the Bradford by-
0:12:53 > 0:12:58election, he showed complete a weakness when it came to the unite
0:12:58 > 0:13:05trade union and the fuel strike and he has a mayor of London who will
0:13:05 > 0:13:08not pay his taxes. That is his - my his last month. As ever, hopeless.
0:13:08 > 0:13:18Our Westminster David Porter was watching PMQs - a very lively first
0:13:18 > 0:13:20
0:13:20 > 0:13:23session after the recess. It was. Whoever coined the phrase, April
0:13:23 > 0:13:33showers, knew what they were talking about. The Coalition
0:13:33 > 0:13:37government here at Westminster has not had its problems, but it has
0:13:37 > 0:13:41had a real problems after the fall out of the Budget and it is still
0:13:41 > 0:13:46being mentioned in the House of Commons as we saw. Just to give
0:13:46 > 0:13:50some indication of how important that is and what problems it poses
0:13:50 > 0:13:55for the government, there was a know the story breaking as we talk
0:13:55 > 0:13:58which will pose significant problems. Cast our minds back to
0:13:58 > 0:14:04yesterday when Theresa May came to the House of Commons and said that
0:14:04 > 0:14:10the radical preacher, Abu Qatada, had been arrested and they would
0:14:10 > 0:14:14put deportation proceedings against him which went through an Appeals
0:14:14 > 0:14:19immigration court yesterday and she said they were guarantees from
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Jordan that he could stand trial there. It seems someone from the
0:14:22 > 0:14:25home of his got their timing wrong and an appeal has been made to the
0:14:25 > 0:14:31European Court of Human justice and the Grand chamber to try to get the
0:14:31 > 0:14:38case looked at. The upshot of that is that the deportation proposals
0:14:38 > 0:14:41cannot go ahead while that case is considered. Senior judges at the
0:14:41 > 0:14:47European Court will now consider whether this will go to a full
0:14:47 > 0:14:50hearing in their highest court, the Grand chamber. If they decide not
0:14:50 > 0:14:56to, a deportation proceedings can go ahead but if they decide that
0:14:56 > 0:15:00they want to have a full hearing, that, at the least, could delay the
0:15:01 > 0:15:06deportation by a number of months. It is hugely embarrassing for the
0:15:06 > 0:15:10Home Office and the Home Secretary. It is devastating, in deed, for the
0:15:10 > 0:15:17Home Office and I suppose the Conservatives have been trying to
0:15:17 > 0:15:21look tough on this issue? Yes, most MPs say they believe that Abu
0:15:21 > 0:15:28Qatada or potentially poses a threat to the people of Britain and
0:15:28 > 0:15:33he was once called by a judge Al- Qaeda's main lieutenant and Osama
0:15:33 > 0:15:41Bin Laden's right hand man in Europe and most people believe he
0:15:41 > 0:15:44should be deported to Jordan to face trial there. Others say it has
0:15:44 > 0:15:48to be done within the law. Reports are just coming in that the Home
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Office jumped the gun and thought the deadline for appealing to the
0:15:52 > 0:15:59so-called grand chamber had gone on Monday night. In fact, the deadline
0:15:59 > 0:16:02was last night. Just before the deadline expired, lawyers for Abu
0:16:02 > 0:16:08Qatada it made it known to the court they would want to go through
0:16:08 > 0:16:14that process of Appeal so, at least, it will delay proceedings. You may
0:16:14 > 0:16:17have a situation whereby Abu Qatada or's lawyer's go to the immigration
0:16:17 > 0:16:22authorities and immigration court and say it this changes things and
0:16:22 > 0:16:28we would like him released on Beale, albeit with stringent conditions.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32If that happens, it will just heap more problems on what has happened
0:16:32 > 0:16:36and will cause further problems for Theresa May. I would be surprised
0:16:37 > 0:16:41if the opposition parties do not call for Theresa May to come to the
0:16:41 > 0:16:50House of Commons to explain what has and has not happened in an
0:16:50 > 0:16:55I am joined in the studio by Angus Macleod once again. We can pick up
0:16:55 > 0:16:58on that breaking news that David was bringing us. Unbelievably
0:16:58 > 0:17:04damaging for the Government. They must be thinking, when will this
0:17:04 > 0:17:08problem be resolved? I spoke about the self-inflicted injuries this
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Government seems to be hell-bent on inflicting on itself. And here is
0:17:14 > 0:17:20another one. Teresa May will argue that once again she is in the hands
0:17:20 > 0:17:24of Kosovo servants, officials, officials advise, ministers decide,
0:17:24 > 0:17:29but there seems to be a certain amount of trumpeting yesterday by
0:17:29 > 0:17:36the Government over the deportation of Abu Qatada, which was premature,
0:17:36 > 0:17:42to say the least. This has blown up in their faces. Accidents do happen
0:17:42 > 0:17:47to Governments, but Governments should try to see these coming and
0:17:47 > 0:17:50again they have abjectly failed. Miliband tried to bring that out at
0:17:50 > 0:17:56Prime Minister's Questions. His main theme was to say that the
0:17:56 > 0:18:05Government is out of touch with the ball. The actor is the thing. --
0:18:06 > 0:18:09out of touch with people. -- this is the thing. You get things like
0:18:09 > 0:18:13the pasty tax and the granny tax coming up to hit you, and the key
0:18:13 > 0:18:18element of the coalition is to keep that coalition together, but we
0:18:19 > 0:18:23have been hearing for more than a year that the political touch of
0:18:23 > 0:18:29the Conservatives at Westminster is second to none, especially George
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Osborne, the great master strategist. People are having to
0:18:32 > 0:18:36revisit that do because it seems that his main mistake was to
0:18:36 > 0:18:41completely underestimate the impact of some of the measures in their
0:18:41 > 0:18:46budget on the public consciousness, and he is being a heavy price for
0:18:46 > 0:18:50that, as is the Prime Minister. Prime Minister came back at Ed
0:18:50 > 0:19:00Miliband and pointed out that amazing by-election victory for
0:19:00 > 0:19:00
0:19:00 > 0:19:07George Galloway, and we also saw him speaking in the Commons. Yes,
0:19:07 > 0:19:12we also saw George Galloway glaring at the Prime Minister! David
0:19:12 > 0:19:16Cameron it was able to go on the attack, and then Ed Miliband went
0:19:16 > 0:19:21on the attack about the problems the coalition have had, then we had
0:19:21 > 0:19:24that appalling result for Labour in Bradford West. That is an
0:19:24 > 0:19:30indication of just the way that politics in Westminster is running
0:19:30 > 0:19:33at the moment. We have had a couple of opinion polls showing Labour
0:19:33 > 0:19:38building a substantial lead. Whether it will last very long is a
0:19:38 > 0:19:42good question but it takes the immediate pressure off Ed Miliband.
0:19:42 > 0:19:48That is very important for political leaders, that they can
0:19:48 > 0:19:53operate without unnecessary pressure. Back to Orly route, where
0:19:53 > 0:19:57MSPs have been debating Ofgem's review into the cost of supplying
0:19:57 > 0:20:00electricity the National Grid. There is concern the Scottish our
0:20:00 > 0:20:06than Speyside charges and that could put them in an uncompetitive
0:20:06 > 0:20:13position as they try to capitalise on renewable energy. We can hear
0:20:13 > 0:20:17from the Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing. One is at stake is the
0:20:17 > 0:20:23development of renewable energy in the Western and Northern Isles of
0:20:23 > 0:20:28Scotland. We hope to have read -- renewable energy as an engine for
0:20:28 > 0:20:32economic growth, able to deliver jobs, inward investment and direct
0:20:32 > 0:20:36and lasting benefits to communities, especially the most fragile
0:20:36 > 0:20:41communities we have, those on our Islands, where clean energy
0:20:41 > 0:20:45resources are at their most abundant. But we have a charging
0:20:45 > 0:20:49regime that discourages the deployment of renewable energy
0:20:49 > 0:20:54projects in those areas of finest the source goes up having
0:20:54 > 0:20:58previously recognised our concerns, it is highly disappointing that the
0:20:58 > 0:21:08new proposals for charging that of Jim have put forward would continue
0:21:08 > 0:21:16
0:21:16 > 0:21:20to discriminate -- of GM -- OfGem. They we see charges of one poem per
0:21:21 > 0:21:26kilowatt for connection to the grid in the South West of England, but
0:21:26 > 0:21:36six the grounds for all be, 67 bound for Schiller, �77 for the
0:21:36 > 0:21:38
0:21:38 > 0:21:44Western Isles. -- for Shetland. Why, then, put him forward? This is an
0:21:44 > 0:21:54extraordinary way to proceed and it begs the question about the process
0:21:54 > 0:21:56
0:21:57 > 0:22:01of of change and commitment to it. OfGem Must proceed on the basis
0:22:01 > 0:22:06that be fairer deal for these islands remains a necessity. As a
0:22:06 > 0:22:13Government we must make it clear to Ofgem that leaving the islands in
0:22:13 > 0:22:15the "to do have a gold" box is not an option. The scale of large
0:22:15 > 0:22:19renewable businesses and other parts of the UK are arguing against
0:22:20 > 0:22:23any reform to this process, a process that could assist
0:22:23 > 0:22:27renewables development in the northern and Western Isles. What is
0:22:27 > 0:22:33his best measure for dealing with those other companies were arguing
0:22:33 > 0:22:38with Ofgem about the change that we need to see happen? Companies will
0:22:38 > 0:22:45be affected in different ways, but what I hope to do is to make sure
0:22:45 > 0:22:49that all parties in this chamber is to argue that when Ofgem's board
0:22:49 > 0:22:53meets to consider the proposals it must consider the anomalous
0:22:53 > 0:22:57proposals of considering accepting the draft proposals which
0:22:57 > 0:23:03discriminate against the island's, in the way that I have set out.
0:23:03 > 0:23:09There are pressures on of gem. I recognise that. But to put forward
0:23:09 > 0:23:15a proposal where the island's would be subject to 77 times greater than
0:23:15 > 0:23:20part of the UK is, to me, quite an astonishing proposition, and one
0:23:20 > 0:23:25that I hope all parties in this chamber can unite behind. I wanted
0:23:26 > 0:23:30to depart from the script, to say that I welcome the support and
0:23:30 > 0:23:35engagement of all parties in connection with these matters.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39good news is that we have come up with a fairer charging system that
0:23:39 > 0:23:43will benefit renewables, do for Scotland. It is not an entirely
0:23:44 > 0:23:47flat system, not the postage-stamp approach that some would like to
0:23:47 > 0:23:51see, but for mainland Scotland at least it is a huge step in the
0:23:51 > 0:23:54right direction. Neil Stuart of Scotties vehicles described the
0:23:54 > 0:23:58proposals as a move towards dearer charges for projects on the
0:23:58 > 0:24:04Scottish mainland and said the reforms would encourage rather than
0:24:04 > 0:24:08block investment in renewable energy in Scotland. Unfortunately,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11project transmit does not appear to have concluded that the same
0:24:11 > 0:24:16argument for mainland Scotland and even for the Isle of Skye should
0:24:16 > 0:24:23apply to Scotland's Islands, in particular to Orkney, Shetland and
0:24:23 > 0:24:28the Western Isles. The network has not been extended to the evidence
0:24:28 > 0:24:32which are treated as exceptions. Quoting will Stuart from Scottish
0:24:32 > 0:24:39renewables, he estimates that under the proposals, a wind farm in the
0:24:39 > 0:24:44Western Isles would be �77,000 for every megawatt capacity, compared
0:24:44 > 0:24:47to 2,000 capacity -- �2,000 for a similar wind farm in the South West
0:24:48 > 0:24:54of England. This could effectively scupper many proposed developments
0:24:54 > 0:25:02and it will have a direct impact on small scale, community-owned
0:25:02 > 0:25:06renewables. The airlines and opt may have led the way in micro and
0:25:06 > 0:25:10community electricity generation. The issue for the small-scale
0:25:10 > 0:25:14projects is the basic problem of connecting to the network. There
0:25:14 > 0:25:18are very few cables and wires across these remote areas, and I
0:25:18 > 0:25:24would hope that all of us would want to see a new charging system
0:25:24 > 0:25:31that would improve access rather than rhetoric entirely economic --
0:25:31 > 0:25:38than render it entirely uneconomic. We need to promote security of
0:25:38 > 0:25:43supply and facilitate the move to low carbon future. I was therefore
0:25:43 > 0:25:48surprised that the SNP motion today does not mention consumer bills,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52but it favours the flat-rate charging known as socialising. I
0:25:52 > 0:25:59cannot understand why, given that Ofgem rules this out on the basis,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03and I quote "average bills would rise more in than of the Scotland,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07where fuel poverty is highest, at least in London, where fuel poverty
0:26:07 > 0:26:12is lowest." Scottish nationalists proposing higher bills for
0:26:12 > 0:26:21Scotland? And lower bills for London? This approach would cost at
0:26:21 > 0:26:30least another �30 per household in the not the Scotland. The SNP's new
0:26:30 > 0:26:34Highlands and they then stacks. cannot accept the costings has made
0:26:34 > 0:26:40by Ofgem to justify the refusal to accept the postage-stamp model. We
0:26:40 > 0:26:43do not accept these are valid. However, the motion refers to the
0:26:43 > 0:26:47postage-stamp option but you are free to vote for it and not
0:26:47 > 0:26:53committed to it. We simply point out that there are strong arguments
0:26:53 > 0:26:58for it. We hope that you will unite and support the islands of Scotland.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I certainly will not be uniting to support, as a Highlands and Islands
0:27:03 > 0:27:09MSP, to support an extra �30 on the bills are people in the knot of
0:27:09 > 0:27:18Scotland and nothing or the bills of people in London. We SNP motion
0:27:18 > 0:27:22welcomes their emerging outcomes of the ICRP. This can only be done
0:27:22 > 0:27:28with full consultation with industry partners, which could take
0:27:28 > 0:27:35some months. So the SNP favours full and proper consultation.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Surely they would then favour the industry panel - I have taken long
0:27:37 > 0:27:42enough interventions are so far - rather than rushing them through
0:27:42 > 0:27:52and worrying about problems later. Mary Scanlon from the Conservatives,
0:27:52 > 0:27:59there. I am joined by energy analyst David Hunter. Can you recap
0:27:59 > 0:28:03and explain about transmission charges? The transmission charges
0:28:03 > 0:28:07today relate to how much it costs to connect a wind farm to the
0:28:07 > 0:28:12National Grid across the UK. The reality is that, due to the
0:28:12 > 0:28:19infrastructure of the national Grid, it costs a different about of money
0:28:19 > 0:28:26depending on how remote the area where the wind farmers. -- where
0:28:26 > 0:28:32the wind farm is. We saw some concerns there about bills. Mary
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Scanlon spoke about �30 extra energy bills for people in that the
0:28:35 > 0:28:41knot of Scotland. What sort of course there were looking at end
0:28:41 > 0:28:48people's bills? Over the next decade across the UK, we could be
0:28:48 > 0:28:54talking in the terms of billions in terms of overall additional cost.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59But just why has, but you power stations and so on, by Twenty20, of
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Gen bullies who will have to introduce new infrastructure worth
0:29:01 > 0:29:06�200 billion. Project transmit looks like being a important part
0:29:06 > 0:29:10of that. It depends how much we are prepared to pay to have renewables
0:29:10 > 0:29:14right through the UK. Is it right to suppose that public money is
0:29:14 > 0:29:20used to fund that, when I suppose there are other renewable projects
0:29:20 > 0:29:26in England which might not receive such a subsidy, the Severn tidal
0:29:26 > 0:29:30barrier, for example? It is an argument people would put forward.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34If the new boss were a good thing they and a good thing regardless of
0:29:34 > 0:29:39their location. The competitive advantage that Scotland has is in
0:29:39 > 0:29:43the wind power, the way one tidal power that we have naturally at our
0:29:43 > 0:29:48disposal. That should make it attractive to have generation up
0:29:48 > 0:29:52here, but the problem is, the grid does not physically cope with the
0:29:52 > 0:29:56level of connection that we're looking to put in place and, who
0:29:56 > 0:30:00should pay for that at this level of charges? Should it be spread
0:30:00 > 0:30:06across consumers across the UK, or should that the charges on the wind
0:30:06 > 0:30:09farms in Shetland, themselves? we take away from the competitive
0:30:09 > 0:30:15advantage and make companies not that keen to please renewable
0:30:15 > 0:30:19energy projects in those areas? -- to place. That is specifically a
0:30:19 > 0:30:23problem for places like Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, less
0:30:23 > 0:30:28all in the Scottish mainland, but does that just come down to
0:30:28 > 0:30:32economics and what makes sense? So, those who argue against the
0:30:32 > 0:30:39socialisation model that we have just heard about would say, really,
0:30:39 > 0:30:49it is not cost-reflective, and it is it the best way to deliver a low
0:30:49 > 0:30:53
0:30:53 > 0:31:01What is the way forward? How do you think things might be resolved?
0:31:01 > 0:31:07socialisation model and the equally -- equal postage stamp all it
0:31:07 > 0:31:12system is unlikely to happen. There are additional costs in that model.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16We are more likely to see an amended version of the proposals
0:31:16 > 0:31:20that have been put forward which give some concessions but the
0:31:20 > 0:31:25biggest difficulty will be for the Northern Western Isles and that
0:31:26 > 0:31:30will be an ongoing difficulty. you do have wind project's in those
0:31:30 > 0:31:35areas which are not running sometimes, it will they have a
0:31:35 > 0:31:41higher cost than perhaps waved project which can run all the time?
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Absolutely. If you look at, conversely a nuclear plant, the
0:31:45 > 0:31:52availability factor and the percentage of time that it will be
0:31:52 > 0:31:56generating - 80 or 90%, whereas wind is below that, that is
0:31:56 > 0:32:00something we have to bear in mind the generally within these cost
0:32:00 > 0:32:03structures. Thanks very much New powers for the Scottish Parliament,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06including greater control of taxation, will take a big step
0:32:06 > 0:32:09forward today. Later this afternoon at Holyrood, MSPs are expected to
0:32:09 > 0:32:15endorse the overall package of the Scotland Bill, giving Westminster
0:32:15 > 0:32:23the go-ahead to introduce the reforms.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27Under the New Deal, 10p of income tax will be devolved. MSPs can
0:32:28 > 0:32:33increase tax or cut tax and have more to spend all they can leave
0:32:33 > 0:32:40well alone. For the first time, Holyrood will be able to borrow
0:32:40 > 0:32:43within Treasury limits and that will be spread over a longer period.
0:32:43 > 0:32:49There will be a consultation whether they can issue their own
0:32:49 > 0:32:52bombs. The drink-drive and national speed limits are now over the
0:32:52 > 0:32:58aggregates Levy. Plans to shift some powers back to Westminster
0:32:58 > 0:33:01have been dropped. There was a new procedure for
0:33:01 > 0:33:05Scottish criminal cases that go to the UK Supreme Court. Let us get
0:33:05 > 0:33:10some thoughts on this from our Westminster Correspondent, David
0:33:10 > 0:33:15Porter, who is on College Green. Thank you. As we have just heard,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19There are some pretty significant powers that are going from
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Westminster up to Holyrood if the Bill goes through and everyone says
0:33:23 > 0:33:28that is what they want to happen. One man who probably knows better
0:33:29 > 0:33:33than most of us what is in the bill is the man who had to put it
0:33:33 > 0:33:38through the House. David Mundell, you and your colleagues are always
0:33:38 > 0:33:44telling us that this is the biggest transfer of fiscal powers to
0:33:44 > 0:33:51Holyrood since the Act of Union in 17 07. Your opponents would say it
0:33:51 > 0:33:55is a start but it doesn't go far enough. The report which is set out
0:33:55 > 0:33:59in the Scotland Bill is a significant devolution development.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03We have a transfer of fiscal powers which will mean the Scottish
0:34:03 > 0:34:08Parliament will raise about their third of its income and will be
0:34:08 > 0:34:12financially accountable. That is what everyone recognised was the
0:34:12 > 0:34:16deficit in the existing devolution settlement. Other important powers
0:34:16 > 0:34:21are being transferred such as the regulation of a guns or speeding
0:34:21 > 0:34:26and drink-drive limits. There are significant powers and the ones
0:34:27 > 0:34:31there was a consensus around. What is important now if we get their
0:34:31 > 0:34:39legislative consent, is to implement those powers and think
0:34:39 > 0:34:42how to do that. Some people might say that with the independence
0:34:42 > 0:34:46referendum on the constitutional debate, the Scotland Bill is now
0:34:46 > 0:34:51irrelevant and things have moved on. We are now dealing with far more
0:34:51 > 0:34:56than anything the Scotland Bill could give. The Scotland Bill is
0:34:56 > 0:35:01certainly not irrelevant. It is the biggest shift in financial powers
0:35:01 > 0:35:05in 300 years. It will bring financial accountability to the
0:35:05 > 0:35:10Scottish Parliament and it will have the power to set the Scottish
0:35:10 > 0:35:14rate of income tax. They are very significant developments. The
0:35:14 > 0:35:18referendum about independence is a separate matter. It is a matter
0:35:18 > 0:35:21about whether the people of Scotland want to be part of Britain
0:35:21 > 0:35:25or they want Scotland to be separate. We want to get on with
0:35:25 > 0:35:29that referendum, answer that question, and then there will be
0:35:29 > 0:35:33scared to discuss the devolution settlement going forward but first
0:35:33 > 0:35:39we need to know if people in Scotland want to be part of Britain
0:35:39 > 0:35:43or separate. So, to coin a phrase, the Scotland Bill could be part of
0:35:43 > 0:35:48a process and not a line in the sand? It has always been the
0:35:48 > 0:35:56Government's view and I think most people in realpolitik in Scotland
0:35:56 > 0:36:01think that devolution is a process and not an event. The review will
0:36:01 > 0:36:06not be the last review. But we have to ensure that we know where the
0:36:06 > 0:36:11people in Scotland one to be in Britain or not, because there is no
0:36:11 > 0:36:16point talking about powers if people don't want to be in Britain.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20That is why it is important to get on with the referendum, find the
0:36:20 > 0:36:26answer to that question and then other debates can follow after that.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30On a different topic, some rather worrying developments for the UK
0:36:30 > 0:36:34government on the Abu Qatada case where by the European Court of
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Human rates say they may want to consider it further and the British
0:36:38 > 0:36:45Government will not be able to continue with deportation
0:36:45 > 0:36:49proceedings and that will slow things down, won't it? A lawyer's
0:36:49 > 0:36:57view is that the appeal he proposes to make cannot be made but the
0:36:57 > 0:37:00lawyers will resolve that. The British Government is clear. The
0:37:00 > 0:37:08British -- he is not wanted in this country and we male make sure we
0:37:08 > 0:37:14take the necessary steps to ensure that. Thank you very much. We will
0:37:14 > 0:37:20be talking far more about those topics later.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26Let as head to Holyrood where Linda Fabiani of the S MP, James Kelly
0:37:26 > 0:37:35from Labour and Willie Rennie is there. Thank you for joining me --
0:37:35 > 0:37:42SNP. First of all, Linda Fabiani, why have you discarded to support
0:37:42 > 0:37:45the Scotland Bill -- decided? has been substantial changes to the
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Scotland Bill since it first came out in 2010, the main one being
0:37:50 > 0:37:53that the harm that could be done to Scotland by the calculations in the
0:37:53 > 0:38:00block grant has been removed. We have agreement there will be a
0:38:00 > 0:38:05joint agreement between the two governments before they can beat
0:38:05 > 0:38:10any implementation of the tax power. I think it has moved quite a way.
0:38:10 > 0:38:17There is no harm to Scotland and that is why we will support it.
0:38:17 > 0:38:23have to accept it, don't you? It would look bizarre if you didn't
0:38:23 > 0:38:27want to accept more powers for the Scottish government? Of course,
0:38:27 > 0:38:32there were things there we wanted but the bottom line for the SNP is
0:38:32 > 0:38:37that if it caused harm to Scotland we could not have supported it. In
0:38:37 > 0:38:40its original form, it was capable of that. There have been
0:38:40 > 0:38:46concessions made by the UK government and that is why we will
0:38:46 > 0:38:51move on. We will like to see more powers -- would like to see more
0:38:51 > 0:38:56powers and some capital projects starting now, for example. James
0:38:56 > 0:39:03Kelly, the Labour were in the foreground in promoting the
0:39:03 > 0:39:09Scotland Bill. Is it really just a sop to independence? Not at all. It
0:39:09 > 0:39:14is an excellent day where we see a substantial package of measures
0:39:14 > 0:39:20being agreed. We not only see a tax-raising power being granted,
0:39:20 > 0:39:25but other powers like laws over speeds and substantial borrowing
0:39:25 > 0:39:29powers being given to the parliament. That gives greater
0:39:29 > 0:39:33advantage in terms of being able to attract capital investment and
0:39:33 > 0:39:39tackle unemployment at a time of recession. These are positive
0:39:39 > 0:39:48measures. We have also seen a massive climbdown from the SNP who,
0:39:48 > 0:39:55in December, threatened not to back the Scotland Bill. A that is the
0:39:55 > 0:40:01legislative consent bail. The new taxation powers and the 10p in the
0:40:01 > 0:40:05variable rates and so on, but who is going to use that? Of Scottish
0:40:05 > 0:40:10Labour going to put taxes up and will they use this rate, do you
0:40:10 > 0:40:18think? It is about the Scottish Parliament having more
0:40:18 > 0:40:21responsibility for that money we raise. 13 years down the line as a
0:40:21 > 0:40:26parliament and it we have to move to a situation where we are not
0:40:26 > 0:40:30simply handed a block grant from London but we take some
0:40:30 > 0:40:34responsibility for some money raised and coupled with the
0:40:34 > 0:40:41borrowing powers, that gives us a substantial opportunity to make a
0:40:41 > 0:40:44positive impact on the Scottish economy. Willie Rennie, your
0:40:44 > 0:40:48colleague the Secretary of State for Scotland without lining the new
0:40:48 > 0:40:56proposals in the House of Commons to day but do you think they are
0:40:56 > 0:41:00just passed -- part of the past and the debate has moved on? He know,
0:41:00 > 0:41:04these are substantial powers. One of the biggest transfers of
0:41:04 > 0:41:09financial powers probably ever to the Scottish Parliament so that is
0:41:09 > 0:41:16a major step forward. I have to give credit to Linda for trying to
0:41:16 > 0:41:24explain away the massive climbdown. Last May, they made six big demands.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28They also, in the committee, the majority, asked for full fiscal
0:41:28 > 0:41:32autonomy and they said the Scotland Bill was a poison pill. This is an
0:41:32 > 0:41:39amazing change of heart and it just shows you that all the hype and
0:41:39 > 0:41:46bluster from the SNP often doesn't come too much. Do you not accept
0:41:46 > 0:41:52the Secretary of State made some contentions -- concessions? There
0:41:52 > 0:41:55was actually nothing dangers or poisonous about the bail. There
0:41:55 > 0:41:59were two reviews and a change of letters. There were no substantial
0:41:59 > 0:42:04changes. They are trying to guess it up as being something more than
0:42:04 > 0:42:08it was but what it delivers is a transfer of financial powers and
0:42:08 > 0:42:14controls over speed and weapons. It should give the Scottish Parliament
0:42:14 > 0:42:19much more responsibility over its own affairs. It is a good day.
0:42:19 > 0:42:25just went to get your views over the unemployment figures today.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30Better news? It is that There are still 219,000 people unemployed in
0:42:30 > 0:42:36Scotland. There is no room for complacency. Perhaps it shows that
0:42:36 > 0:42:41the economic and financial strategy is beginning to pay some dividend
0:42:41 > 0:42:46but is is really important for the UK and Scottish government So to
0:42:46 > 0:42:50work closely together on things like the UK use contract which will
0:42:50 > 0:42:54invest �1 billion in subsidised wages for use opportunities. There
0:42:54 > 0:43:00is no room for complacency because there are so many people unemployed
0:43:00 > 0:43:06in Scotland. James Kelly, why could not Ed Miliband be big enough at
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Prime Minister's Questions and congratulate the Prime Minister on
0:43:10 > 0:43:15the unemployment figures? There are still serious issues around
0:43:15 > 0:43:21unemployment and a great deal of fun and -- of concern about youth
0:43:21 > 0:43:25unemployment and women. These will be the focus of attention in the
0:43:25 > 0:43:29forthcoming council elections and from our point of view, I welcome
0:43:29 > 0:43:36initiatives like North Lanarkshire council putting aside money to
0:43:36 > 0:43:46promote the creation of 5000 jobs. That is what council -- councils
0:43:46 > 0:43:47
0:43:47 > 0:43:52have got to do. Linda Fabiani, I am sure Mr Swinney and the first
0:43:53 > 0:43:57minister breathed a sigh of relief. They criticised the UK government
0:43:57 > 0:44:00last month for the rise in unemployment. It looks better for
0:44:00 > 0:44:03Scotland when you look at the figures today and a lot of that is
0:44:03 > 0:44:11to do with good management of the Scottish government but more could
0:44:11 > 0:44:14be done. The UK economic policies... We have projects that could boost
0:44:14 > 0:44:20construction in all the council areas of Scotland and that should
0:44:20 > 0:44:26go-ahead to make a difference. We are ready to do that and we think
0:44:26 > 0:44:34it should be done because we want to boost Scotland. One final issue
0:44:34 > 0:44:40and Bill Walker, your former MSP, did not appear in Parliament today.
0:44:40 > 0:44:45Do you think he should step down? It is for him to examine his own
0:44:45 > 0:44:51conscience and his actions whatever they have been an to make up his
0:44:51 > 0:44:56mind what is best for voters in his constituency. James Kelly, I think
0:44:56 > 0:45:00Labour's view has been pretty clear on this, hasn't it? Do you think he
0:45:00 > 0:45:06should stay? I think the information coming into the public
0:45:06 > 0:45:08domain about Bill Walker is very concerning. Being a member of the
0:45:08 > 0:45:15Scottish Parliament is a very responsible position and he must
0:45:15 > 0:45:20look at that seriously and consider resigning. OK. Finally to you
0:45:20 > 0:45:23Willie Rennie. This raises the subject of the power of recall
0:45:23 > 0:45:28which was in the Coalition agreement to which there Liberal
0:45:28 > 0:45:31Democrats are quite keen to have the power of recall. A white paper
0:45:31 > 0:45:35has been published by the UK government but no such thing in
0:45:35 > 0:45:45Scotland. What is your position on Bill Walker and the position of
0:45:45 > 0:45:50We have the rule of law in this country, not more the rule, we need
0:45:50 > 0:45:54to go through a process that, and we are to remove MSPs or call on
0:45:54 > 0:45:58them to resign, that there is rock solid evidence and the prosecution
0:45:58 > 0:46:03before the do that. We do need the power of we call in the Scottish
0:46:03 > 0:46:06Parliament. There are issues around the list system in the Scottish
0:46:06 > 0:46:09Parliament, but we need to make sure these are rock-solid proposals
0:46:09 > 0:46:19that work effectively because we cannot have more role in this
0:46:19 > 0:46:23
0:46:23 > 0:46:28country. -- mob rule. Thank you for joining us. Sometime all thoughts
0:46:28 > 0:46:32from Angus MacLeod, our political commentator. Picking up on that
0:46:32 > 0:46:39situation with Bill Walker, there is no power of recall in the
0:46:39 > 0:46:46Scottish Parliament, but you want to avoid any more rule situation.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50Should constituents be able to recall their MSP? We do not have it
0:46:51 > 0:46:55at Westminster yet, although there has been talk about it, there has
0:46:55 > 0:46:59been a white paper. But there is a big gap between a white paper and
0:46:59 > 0:47:05reality. The point about power of recall is that it is one of these
0:47:05 > 0:47:12things that in theory, sounds right, proper and sensible but, you could
0:47:12 > 0:47:17get situations where politicians are record, and what does the power
0:47:17 > 0:47:20of recall mean? It means that the person has to go, for be reason
0:47:20 > 0:47:25that might not be connected with their personal or political conduct,
0:47:25 > 0:47:31but simply because people do not like their political views, then we
0:47:31 > 0:47:37get into very dangerous water. On the subject of Bill Walker, this is
0:47:37 > 0:47:41still in the area of allegations. Sometimes I feel that if the
0:47:41 > 0:47:46Watters gets a job before a politician, maybe it is just as
0:47:46 > 0:47:52well for that politician to get, to decide, this is going to haunt me,
0:47:52 > 0:47:58and it would be better, for myself on for the Parliament, that by step
0:47:59 > 0:48:02down. But that is a decision for per locker, himself up. It was
0:48:02 > 0:48:08quite procedural today, but it is quite significant, on the Scotland
0:48:08 > 0:48:12Bill. Of course, there has been a lot of political positioning a row
0:48:12 > 0:48:15in this. It was based on the Coleman commission. It never
0:48:16 > 0:48:20claimed that was the final word on Scottish devolution. I agree with
0:48:20 > 0:48:27those who say that the Carman commission and the Scotland Bill
0:48:27 > 0:48:32have been overtaken by the reality of the SNP majority at Holyrood.
0:48:32 > 0:48:40Thank you for that, Angus. That is all that we have got time for.