Calman Report

Calman Report
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Name	Calman Report
Author	Commission on Scottish Devolution
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Subject	Devolution, Governance
Published	2009

Calman Report

The Calman Report was the 2009 report by the Commission on Scottish Devolution that examined powers of the Scottish Parliament and proposed adjustments to fiscal and constitutional arrangements. The report influenced debates among Scottish and British political figures including Gordon Brown, Alex Salmond, David Cameron, Tony Blair and institutions such as the Scottish Parliament, UK Parliament, Scottish Government and Treasury (United Kingdom). It intersected with prior and subsequent documents and events including the Scotland Act 1998, the Scotland Act 2012, the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the Barnett formula and discussions in the House of Commons.

Background and context

The report emerged amid ongoing disputes rooted in the Scotland Act 1998, the 1999 reconvening of the Scottish Parliament, and fiscal tensions involving the Barnett formula, the Office for Budget Responsibility, the Department for Work and Pensions and the HM Treasury. Public debates following electoral contests such as the 2007 Scottish Parliament election and the 2010 United Kingdom general election intensified calls for reviews similar to earlier inquiries like the Kilbrandon Commission and the McCrone report. The report was framed by pan-UK pressures including discussions at the G8 summit, reactions in the House of Lords, comparisons with devolved arrangements in Wales, Northern Ireland, and federations such as Canada, Australia and Germany.

Commission and authorship

The Commission on Scottish Devolution was chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman and comprised commissioners drawn from political, legal and academic backgrounds including figures associated with institutions like the University of Glasgow, the Scottish Law Commission, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Commissioners consulted stakeholders from civic organisations such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, unions represented by the Trades Union Congress, business groups like the Confederation of British Industry, and think tanks including the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Adam Smith Institute. The commission held evidence sessions with officials from the Treasury (United Kingdom), academics from the London School of Economics, and representatives of parties such as the Labour Party (UK), Scottish National Party, Conservative Party (UK), and Liberal Democrats (UK).

Key recommendations

The report recommended increasing tax-varying and tax-raising powers for the Scottish Parliament, proposing assignments and adjustments to the Barnett formula and fiscal frameworks administered by the HM Treasury and monitored by offices like the Office for Budget Responsibility. It proposed specific measures such as devolving a share of income tax powers, introducing block grant adjustments, and clarifying reserved matters listed alongside statutes like the Scotland Act 1998 and potential amendments akin to the later Scotland Act 2012. Recommendations addressed intergovernmental mechanisms involving the Joint Ministerial Committee, dispute resolution similar to arrangements in Westminster, and accountability measures comparable to practices in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Reactions and political impact

The report provoked immediate responses from cabinet offices led by figures such as Alistair Darling, Michael Moore, John Swinney and opposition figures like Annabel Goldie and Menzies Campbell. Political parties issued competing interpretations during campaigns including the 2010 United Kingdom general election and the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, while civic organisations such as the Royal Society of Edinburgh and media outlets like the BBC and The Scotsman analysed implications for public finance and constitutional law. Debates extended to legal commentators citing precedents in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, discussions in the House of Commons, and commentary in academic journals published by presses like the Oxford University Press.

Implementation and outcomes

Elements of the report informed legislation culminating in the Scotland Act 2012, implementing measures on income tax powers, adjustments to the block grant, and new fiscal frameworks involving the HM Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility. The implementation involved negotiations between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom government under leaders including Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and later Theresa May. Outcomes influenced fiscal policy debates during the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and subsequent statutory changes debated in the House of Lords and enacted by the UK Parliament.

Criticism and controversies

Critics from the Scottish National Party, academics at institutions like the University of Edinburgh and advocacy groups including Yes Scotland argued the report fell short of full fiscal autonomy and cited comparative constitutional models from Canada and Norway. Opponents in the Conservative Party (UK) and commentators in publications such as The Daily Telegraph criticised aspects that increased devolved tax powers, while legal scholars referenced tensions with precedents from the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and potential impacts on intergovernmental dispute resolution. Contentious debates included claims about democratic accountability raised by organisations like the Scottish Trades Union Congress and economic forecasts debated by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Category:Reports on the United Kingdom