Scottish independence:
UK leaders pledge parliament powers
4 Oct BBC
The Scottish Parliament would be granted more powers over tax and
social security if voters rejected independence, David Cameron, Ed
Miliband and Nick Clegg have said.
The leaders have published a joint declaration backing the
"strengthening" of the Scottish Parliament.
A spokeswoman for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the vow
was a "rehash" of old promises.
The Scottish referendum on independence is to be held on 18
September.It comes as Mr Salmond and Alistair Darling, the chairman of
pro-UK Better Together campaign, are due to go head to head in a
televised referendum debate later.
The formal declaration which has been signed by the Prime Minister Mr
Cameron, deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader Mr Clegg and
Labour leader Mr Miliband - vows to strengthen the Scottish Parliament's
powers over "fiscal responsibility and social security".
It sets out plans to increase the powers of Holyrood "as swiftly as
possible" after next year's general election - if Scotland votes to stay
within the UK.
The declaration says: "We support a strong Scottish Parliament in a
strong United Kingdom and we support the further strengthening of the
parliament's powers."
"The Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist
Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have each produced our own
visions of the new powers which the Scottish Parliament needs."
We shall put those visions before the Scottish people at the next
general election and all three parties guarantee to start delivering
more powers for the Scottish Parliament as swiftly as possible in
2015."This commitment will deliver a stronger Scottish Parliament in a
stronger United Kingdom."
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