SNP MSP for Glasgow, Bob Doris, today pledged to work with other parties to improve the contents of the new Scotland Bill which was unveiled by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore this week. But Mr Doris has exposed a tax cash grab for Scotland's budget contained within the plans, and which would have cost Scotland £8 billion since devolution began in 1999. Glasgow’s share of this extra burden would have been approximately £944 million.

"The tax provisions within the Scotland Bill stack up as a Tory tax grab on our nation without passing any of the benefit back to Scotland when the economy grows.

"For example, if Scotland borrows money to create jobs, the UK Treasury will save around £10,000 for every person we take off benefit and will then claw back over half the income tax paid, all of the National Insurance, as well as getting additional revenue from VAT and corporation tax. The Treasury will benefit but the Scottish Government will carry the burden.

"The new Scotland Bill is a missed opportunity to get substantial new powers to benefit Glasgow and Scotland. However, the SNP will try to work constructively to improve the Bill as it makes its progress through parliament.

"I do welcome some of the borrowing powers contained within the Bill but limiting Scotland's tax take to well under half of income tax revenue has real dangers. Indeed the Scottish Parliament will only get around 15% of all taxes raised in Scotland under these proposals.

"Some additional provisions are welcome such as being able to determine our own speed limits, but the provision is only intended to cover cars, not lorries or buses. Indeed not even for cars if towing caravans.

"The SNP will support positive attempts to improve the Scotland Bill, although no amount of tinkering around the edges will substitute the powers an independent country would enjoy.”