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Former Scottish secretary’s ‘springboard to separation’ warning under fresh devolution plans

Lord Ian Lang of Monkton.
Lord Ian Lang of Monkton.

A former Scottish secretary has warned against Scotland being offered a “springboard to separation” under fresh devolution plans.

Tory Lord Lang of Monkton said the new proposals to give Holyrood more powers amounted to the “third enduring settlement offered in the last 17 years” to strengthen the union through devolution.

At question time in the Lords, Lord Lang said three of the signatories to the Smith Commission were using its recommendations as a “stepping stone to demand further change”.

He added: “Not so much an enduring settlement is what is on offer, as a springboard to separation.”

Lord Lang told ministers the issue had not been properly debated in the “UK context” and the “UK’s interest” must be put to the fore in future talks at Westminster.

Lords deputy leader Lord Wallace of Tankerness said no one had accepted that devolution changes implemented in 1998 were “the final word,” adding: “There was clearly more that was needed to be done to ensure financial accountability.”

He agreed the issues should be debated by the UK Parliament and said all three major parties were committed to a Bill after the general election, allowing time for ample debate.

Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit asked if it was credible to put forward a policy “that we will make our government of this country more effective by having more layers of government, more members of various parliaments, councils and other stratas of government, and more officials.

“Surely that doesn’t quite make sense, does it?” he added.

Lord Wallace said there was nothing in the Smith Commission proposals which would add another layer of government “so the premise of your question is wrong”.