The SNP today said the Scotland Bill was back in the UK Government’s court, and that Westminster coalition should return to the respect agenda after the Parliament’s Scotland Bill Committee finished its scrutiny of the UK Government’s proposals.

The report calls for the Scotland Bill, which is now considerably out of date, to have greater economic teeth to boost economic growth and jobs, and unanimously recommends further devolution of the Crown Estate – which Scottish Secretary Michael Moore rejected yesterday, before even reading the report.

The report also makes clear that the bill must not harm the Scottish economy and that to ensure it does not the Scottish Parliament should have joint approval over the timing of the tax powers in the bill.

Speaking at the launch of the Committee’s report Mr Maxwell said

“The ball is now back in the UK Government’s court, and I trust that they will respond positively to this constructive report. This is their legislation, and they now have an opportunity to act on Michael Moore’s promise to consider its findings ‘with great care’, and giving it ‘due care and attention’.

“The UK Government must now decide if it respects the views of this Parliament, and the verdict of the Scottish people in May’s election.

“The UK Government needs to return to its own respect agenda.

“The Committee has unanimously called for further devolution of the Crown Estate. Yesterday Michael Moore copied Cameron and sought to use his veto over Scottish control of the Crown Estate, but today his own party and his Tory partners have joined the SNP, Greens and Labour in calling for further devolution of the Crown Estate. Michael Moore must reflect long and hard on that.

“And this Bill must have real economic teeth. At present the Scotland Bill contains tax powers that risk doing economic harm instead of bringing economic growth. When we are working hard to deal with the cuts coming from London, it is the powers to generate growth that we need most.

“The Scotland Bill as it stands simply tweaks the edges of devolution. The people of Scotland and this Parliament have moved on since it was introduced, and it is time for the UK Government to catch up. The priority now for the UK Government must be considering this Committee’s report and bringing their bill up to the aspirations of the people and parliament of Scotland.”