Government's Legislative Programme (Scotland)

Thursday 5th June 2014 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alistair Carmichael)]

Nine of the 11 new Bills mentioned in the Queen’s Speech for this Session of Parliament contain provisions that apply in Scotland, either in full or in part.

In this legislative Session we will take measures that will help build a fairer society and a stronger economy across the United Kingdom.

Thousands of working families in Scotland will benefit from help to meet child care costs. The speech also outlines the reforms to the pensions system, giving savers greater discretion over the use of their retirement funds.

The Government will also help hard-pressed small businesses with measures to help them more easily secure the vital finances that they need to grow.

We will maximise North sea resources, helping to ensure future energy supply by implementing recommendations of the Wood review. We will also take forward proposals to give communities the right to buy a stake in their local renewable electricity scheme and gain a greater share in the associated financial benefits.

We will also legislate to ensure that armed forces charities are able to receive Government payments under the commitments of the armed forces covenant and we will increase the accountability of Members of Parliament by introducing a mechanism for the recall of Members where serious wrongdoing has occurred.

Other measures will help tackle serious crime across the UK including in Scotland, for example in clamping down on drug-cutting agents, and we will work with the Scottish Government on various measures including extending the use of serious crime prevention orders to Scotland and bringing forward amendments to the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005 to help crack down on that abominable crime.

The speech also reiterated the commitment of the Government to making the case for Scotland staying in the United Kingdom in 2014. The Government will fight for a secure Scotland within a strong and prosperous United Kingdom and will continue to work to help create a stronger economy and a fairer society both in Scotland and the United Kingdom.

During this Session we will also reaffirm our commitment to strengthening devolution by commencing vital provisions of the Scotland Act 2012. From April 2015, UK stamp duty land tax and landfill tax will be switched off in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament will introduce new Scottish taxes to replace them. Scottish Ministers will also have enhanced borrowing powers and access to a cash reserve to manage revenues from the two taxes. This will increase the accountability of the Scottish Government and Parliament for raising funds as well as taking decisions about how they spend them.

From April 2016, a Scottish rate of income tax will also be introduced, giving the Scottish Parliament additional flexibility in how it raises funds for devolved spending.

This statement provides a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its application to Scotland. It does not include draft Bills.

The Government are committed to the principles of the Sewel convention, and we will continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government to secure consent for Bills that contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

The Bills listed in section 1 will apply to Scotland, either in full or in part, on introduction. Section 2 details Bills that will not apply in Scotland at introduction.

Section 1—Legislation applying to the United Kingdom, including Scotland (either in full or in part):

Armed Forces (Service Complaints And Financial Assistance)

Childcare Payments

Infrastructure

National Insurance Contributions

Pensions Tax

Private Pensions

Recall Of Members Of Parliament

Serious Crime

Small Business, Enterprise And Employment

Section 2—Legislation that will not apply in Scotland:

Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism

Modern Slavery