David Maddox: Breaking news on Calman (don't hold your breath)

Just received this from the Scotland Office on the joint steering group chaired by Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and made up of Holyrood (Unionist) party leaders and Westminster spokesmen on Scotland which is looking at the recommendations of the Calman Commission on devolution (remember that?):

The joint steering group convened by the Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy met at the Scotland Office today (Monday 7 September).
A joint statement was issued following the meeting:
"The steering group met to review progress over the summer in considering the Calman recommendations.
"The group met with Professor Anton Muscatelli and discussed issues around the implementation of the Commission's recommendations on finance.
"The group reviewed the Commission's recommendations on strengthening relations. They endorsed the Commission's recommendation that mutual respect should be the guiding principle in all relations between the administrations and institutions at UK and Scottish level.
"They welcomed plans to remit the recommendations about inter-governmental working to the Joint Ministerial Committee; and agreed to work with colleagues in the UK and Scottish Parliaments on the Commission's recommendations to strengthen inter-parliamentary working, including pursuing early discussion with and between the respective Parliamentary authorities."

Which says so little that it makes you wonder why they issued a statement at all. If I were keen on taking devolution forward I think I would be investing in a heavy duty mower to cut down the long grass.

David Maddox: Is it an omen?

A researcher in Holyrood was trying to download a copy of the Calman Commission report on devolution and got this response:

For those of you without microscopic eyesight, it reads: "The file is damaged and could not be repaired."

Which by strange coincidence seems to be the opinion of many people on the Calman Report now that the three unionist parties have started arguing among themselves about it.

David Maddox: This constitutional stuff is really interesting...

Or maybe not, as this picture of Labour's Cathy Jamieson listening to her colleague John Park in this morning's debate on the Calman Commission proposals shows. Thanks to a contact in the MSP tower with a quick camera trigger finger for his TV screen.

David Maddox: Whinging Scottish MPs or a constitutional conundrum?

We all knew how disgruntled Scottish MPs, particularly the Labour variety of the species, are with the Scottish Parliament, not least because it keeps on raising questions about what they do and whether they are worth their £64,000 odd a year salary plus (generous) expenses.

But now it seems that they believe it is MSPs who are straying on to their territory and "treading on their toes."

In tomorrow's (Thursday May 21) Scotsman on our Government and Public Affairs pages I will analyse the responses some of the Scottish MPs gave to the Calman Commission's chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman (pictured) review of devolution.

Unhappy does not get near their feelings.

Feel free to comment on this here after you have read the piece tomorrow (or before if you really want to).

David Maddox: Sir Ken vs Wee Eck

After the distinctly unimpressed reception that Holyrood's press pack have given to Sir Kenneth Calman and his Commission's interim report on what should happen to devolution, Labour spindoctors have felt the need to ride to Sir Ken's defence.
They have put out a little comparison between the Calman Commission (CC) and the SNP government's rival National Conversation (NC) - known to critics as the chatroom for cybernats - just to show why Sir Ken and his friends are apparently doing a much better job.

Written consultation:
NC: 1 consultation paper
CC: 2 consultation exercises

Responses to written consultation:
NC: Short comments on the blog
CC:Yes: all submissions on website

Academic evidence:
NC: No
CC: Yes - UCL and IEG

Formal oral evidence:
NC: No
CC: Yes: 38 sessions in public, webcast for most, transcript on website

Informal oral evidence:
NC: Unknown
CC: Yes - agreed notes available online

Direct public engagement:
NC: 4 ticketed events: focus on speeches, mixed feedback, footage and summaries on website
CC: 7 open public events: focus on listening, excellent feedback, summaries to be added to website this week Event with school in Dundee

Website:
NC: Separate statistics for the national conversation pages not published
CC: 70,000 over 5 months

Questionnaire:
NC: No
CC: Yes - popular on website, completed at public engagement events, public have requested hard copy questionnaires in response to leaflets and returned completed forms

Other e-activity:
NC: Audio visual of launch
CC: Webcast of formal oral evidence sessions, Video message, Facebook

Non e-activity:
NC: None
CC: Leaflet distributed across Scotland: positive take-up of leaflet

Papers:
NC: No
CC: Minutes and relevant papers all on website

Tom Peterkin - the Calman Commission

Much of the political reaction to the publication of the Calman Commission's interim report was predictable. "A substantial and serious body of work" said Iain Gray, the Labour leader. "A damp squip...a constitutional mouse," was the SNP's response. Easily the shortest statement came from Tavish Scott who suggested that a more radical approach is required.
"This report is where Scotland is now," Scott said. "Liberal Democrats want a strengthened Scottish Parliament with the United Kingdom - a real home rule settlement. Calman must now produce a blue print for the future."
More to come from the Lib Dems on this one, methinks.