Scottish Secretary David Mundell visited Helensburgh today, saying that more power needed to be devolved to local councils.
Mr Mundell met Argyll and Bute Council leaders at the authority’s newly refurbished offices on East Clyde Street, before saying that the Scotland Bill, which is in its final stages of scrutiny in the UK Parliament, would bring in new powers to make the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.
He said that the issue now for debate is how those powers are used, with local authorities like Argyll and Bute set to be the winners if they are used well.
The new powers include a raft of measures on tax, spending and welfare, which will be transferred from Westminster to Holyrood and Scottish Government ministers.
Mr Mundell said: “I was very pleased to meet Argyll and Bute Council today, and hear about their ambitious economic development plans.
“Earlier this week we agreed a financial deal with the Scottish Government which will allow significant new powers to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
“It will see a huge increase in its financial accountability to the people of Scotland.
“The major new powers of tax, welfare and other matters will give added weight and effectiveness to the powers it already has, making it one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.
“Used properly, these new powers will make a huge difference to people’s lives. The debate is now truly about how the new powers will be used to improve the lives of people in Argyll and Bute, and Scotland as a whole.”
Mr Mundell also reiterated his call for more powers to be devolved from Holyrood to local authorities.
He said: “We have a huge amount of power devolved to Holyrood, but we now need the Scottish Government to distribute more power to rural local authorities like Argyll and Bute.
“We have seen services lost in this area because they have been centralised – it’s time that process was reversed. I want to see more power in the hands of our local communities, as recommended by the Smith Commission.”
Mr Mundell met council leader Dick Walsh and Helensburgh councillors Aileen Morton and Gary Mulvaney.
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