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Proceeding contribution from Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 21 March 2012. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Scotland Bill.


Scotland Bill

I tried to note down a phrase that my noble friend used: ““We are determined to resolve this question””. We are determined to resolve this question. The noble Lord, Lord Browne, said that there was little room for manoeuvre. The Scottish Government have tried to describe the issues that we have set out to ensure a legal, fair and decisive referendum as having strings attached. We are not attaching strings. We are seeking provisions, such as in any other referendum, that ensures that it is delivered successfully, and where all sides agree that it has been a success and a decisive referendum. The manifesto commitment of the Scottish National Party was to have a referendum on independence, not devo-max. Therefore, if we say that we support a single question, we are actually seeking to give legal substance, a legal basis, for something that that party put in its manifesto. That is why our position is very strong as we go forward in seeking to achieve a Section 30 order.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
736 c995-6 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Accountability Devolution Aggregates levy Block grant Electoral Commission Legislative competence Excise duties Legislation Powers Referendums Parliamentary scrutiny Public finance Scotland Tax allowances Scottish Parliament Taxation Tax rates and bands Shetland Orkney Rockall Scottish Government Legislative consent motions
Legislation
Scotland Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk