The Scottish Government will be able to control a third of its budget as the UK government announces the devolution of further financial powers to Scotland.

The Scotland Bill, published by the UK government on St Andrew's Day, will give Scotland more tax and borrowing powers.

From 2015, Scotland will be able to control a third of its budget, with the other two thirds still being controlled directly from London.

The Bill also gives Scotland limited borrowing powers of up to £2.7billion.

Other powers to be devolved include control over air guns, speed limits and drink-drive laws, stamp duty and landfill tax.

The Bill also allows the Scottish Parliament to introduce further Scotland-specific taxes, subject to London's approval.

The pro-independence parties said the Bill's fiscal powers are too limited, but the unionist parties welcomed the Bill and said that more than a decade after Devolution, the time was right to give further powers to Scotland.


The Scotland Bill
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/115/11115.pdf

The Scottish Government's commentary on the Bill
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/919/0108413.pdf