By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE COMMISSION set up seven months ago to look at the future of Scottish devolution published its interim report yesterday—without making any positive proposals.

Chairman Sir Kenneth Calman, a former chief medical officer, described the 118-page document as a “staging post.”

“It sets out how far we have come in the last seven months, and sets out the agenda for discussion of Scotland’s constitutional future and the next phase of our work,” he said.

Sir Kenneth would not be drawn as to when the commission—which is funded by £500,000 of taxpayers’ money—would produce its final report, saying only that it would be “sometime in 2009.”

At a press conference at Holyrood yesterday Sir Kenneth was asked bluntly, “You have had seven months and all you have come up with is an agenda for discussion.

“What have you been doing for seven months?”

Sir Kenneth said, “We have not been wasting our time I think. This is a very serious deliberation of issues.”

The commission was established with the support of the pro-unionist Labour, Tory and Lib Dem parties at the Scottish Parliament with a remit to look at the devolution settlement but not to consider independence.

Over the last seven months the commission has taken evidence around the country, including Dundee.

The interim report points to a number of areas of future consideration, but does rule out full fiscal autonomy for Scotland as an option.

Areas including defence, national security, international representation, an integrated single market, the monarchy, foreign affairs, currency and coinage were also ruled out.

The administration of elections, broadcasting, energy policy, animal health, firearms and mis-use of drugs are among the areas the commission will be focusing on in the second phase of its work.

In their submission to the commission, almost every Whitehall department said they saw no need to change the current constitutional arrangements.

Yesterday’s report does question the “informal” relationship between the Scottish Government and Westminster.

“The essentially informal means of managing relationships between the parliaments and governments—although largely successful so far—is not likely to be sustainable in the years ahead,” added Sir Kenneth.

“There is a legitimate expectation that the parliaments, assemblies and governments of the UK should work together in the common interests of the UK citizens even though there will be political differences between them—and mechanisms should exist to allow for this.”

The Scottish Government’s minister for parliamentary business Bruce Crawford claimed, “Scotland needs the economic and financial powers to build a lion economy.

“Unfortunately, after more than a year, what the Calman commission has produced is a constitutional mouse.

“The Calman report knows what it is against, but no idea what it is for—at a time when the vast majority of people in Scotland want substantial new responsibilities for our parliament, so that we can maximise our opportunities and respond swiftly to the challenges we face as a nation.

“When Calman was first set up by the London parties, it vetoed any consideration of independence and equality for Scotland. And now in its interim report, it rejects financial autonomy.

“Calman fails to meet the needs of our times, and will be greeted with huge disappointment by all those who want Holyrood to have real economic and financial teeth—including borrowing powers, so that we can develop a comprehensive economic strategy for Scotland.”

SNP Ochil MSP Keith Brown said, “After half a million pounds of public money, 12 months and two party leaders there is nothing new in this report.

“This commission has been a complete damp squib.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scottish said, “This report is where Scotland is now.

“Liberal Democrats want a strengthened Scottish Parliament within the United Kingdom—a real home rule settlement.

“Calman must now produce a blueprint for this future.”

Scottish labour leader Iain Gray said, “It is a serious attempt to look at how we can improve devolution and make it more effective while at the same time working in co-operation and harmony with Westminster.

“Devolution has been a success but this should not prevent us ten years on from looking at ways in which we provide a more effective service to the people of Scotland.”

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said, “The commission is the only constitutional game in town.

“Scottish Conservatives will carefully consider the whole work of the commission, including the final report, before coming to any concluded view.”