Conservatives Offer Scotland Power Over Income Tax
Should Scottish voters reject independence when the referendum is held this September, the Conservatives have offered to give Scotland greater power over the matter of income tax. Edinburgh, they say, would be given full control over all issues relating to income tax.
The government have conducted a review, led by Lord Strathclyde, about the devolution of further powers to the Scottish parliament should Scotland remain with the UK. The full results of this review are yet to be published, but Lord Strathclyde also recommended giving Scotland responsibility for 40% of revenue spending.
Scotland were already given limited income tax powers along with power over land tax in 2012. The Scottish Parliament intends to establish a specialised tax agency, Revenue Scotland, to “serve the needs of the people of Scotland at a lower cost than the UK set-up.”