Message from the Chairman, Sir Kenneth Calman

Ten years on from the passage of the Scotland Act – the founding statute for the Scottish Parliament – it is a good time to review the workings of devolution in Scotland. The Parliament, now in its third session, has built up a solid track record as a legislature and debating forum, and established itself at the heart of Scottish political life.

But things have moved on since the Scottish people voted to support the creation of the Parliament in the 1997 referendum. They have now had the experience of seeing the Parliament in action. Politics, and the issues dominating the news, have moved on. The Scotland Act itself has been amended through subsequent legislation, and various conventions and administrative structures have been built up around its provisions. And, over the years, some big questions have been asked – does the Parliament need greater fiscal powers, has devolution led to better government in Scotland, are the mechanisms for managing relations between Holyrood and Whitehall working as intended?

Over the rest of 2008, the Commission on Scottish Devolution will be taking a broad look at all these issues – to review how the Parliament has worked in practice, and how the position of devolution within the overall framework of the United Kingdom could be strengthened. It does so on the basis of a clear mandate from the Scottish Parliament and with the support of the UK Government.

I am privileged to have been asked to lead this work, and I am delighted at the experience and commitment that my fellow Commission members are bringing to the task. But we can't do this challenging and important job alone – it will require the input and the expertise of many people throughout Scotland and beyond. I hope you will find this website a useful resource in learning about our work and – better still – in contributing to it.