The Principal and Vice Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, Professor Anton Muscatelli, will chair an independent expert group convened to inform the work of the Commission on Scottish Devolution, chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman.

The group will provide impartial advice and evidence specifically to support the Commission’s work on how the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament might be improved. It is comprised of experienced and pre-eminent academics and practitioners from relevant disciplines both from the UK and also, from Europe and the United States of America.

Professor Muscatelli said:

"I am very excited to have been asked by Sir Kenneth Calman to convene this group which has enabled me to bring together expertise from Scotland, the rest of the UK, Europe and the United States.

"Sir Kenneth has specifically asked me to advise on the strengths and weaknesses of the present system of financing devolved expenditure, and any alternative fiscal options. He has also tasked me with considering the potential costs and benefits to Scotland of any alternative system, and the issues of equity and the economic and fiscal consequences for Scotland and to the UK as a whole."

"My group brings a range of skills and knowledge and we will deliver independent advice and analysis of the highest standard that will not only inform Sir Kenneth and his Commissioners, but also be relevant to a wider audience interested in issues surrounding financial accountability and equity in devolved administrations in Scotland, the UK and throughout the world."

Commenting on the formation of Professor Muscatelli’s expert group, Sir Kenneth Calman said:

"My Commission has a remit which includes considering ways of improving the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament. This is a highly complex area, and therefore I am delighted that Professor Muscatelli has been able to recruit a team of this calibre to provide independent expert advice and analysis."

Notes to Editors

1) The current membership of the group to be chaired by Professor Muscatelli is:

• John Aldridge, former Finance Director at the Scottish Executive
• Professor David Bell, Professor of Economics, Stirling University
• Professor Julia Darby, Professor of Economics, University of Strathclyde
• Dr Sandra Eden, Senior lecturer in Tax Law, Edinburgh University
• Professor Charlie Jeffery, Professor of Politics, Edinburgh University
• Iain McLean, Official Fellow in Politics, Nuffield College, Oxford, and Professor of Politics, University of Oxford
• Jeremy Peat; Director of the David Hume Institute; former Group Chief Economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland and a former economic adviser at HM Treasury and the Scottish Office
• David Ulph, Professor and Head of School of Economics and Finance, St Andrews University Professor Clemens Fuest, Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne; Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the German Federal Ministry of Finance
• Professor Andrew Hughes-Hallett Professor of Economics and Public Policy, George Mason University, Virginia, USA; Visiting Professor St.Andrews University

2) The remit of the independent expert group is:

To provide expert advice to the Commission on Scottish Devolution on improving the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament in terms of the Commission’s overall remit:

"To review the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 in the light of experience and to recommend any changes to the present constitutional arrangements that would enable the Scottish Parliament to serve the people of Scotland better, that would improve the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament and that would continue to secure the position of Scotland within the United Kingdom."

To assess the strengths and weaknesses of the present system of financing devolved expenditure (in respect of financial accountability and otherwise), and any alternative fiscal options which might provide improved financial accountability.

In particular, this includes considering the potential costs and benefits to Scotland of any alternative system, and the issues of equity and the economic and fiscal consequences for Scotland and to the UK as a whole.

3) A working relationship between the independent expert group and the Commission on Scottish Devolution has been agreed which confirms its independence and impartiality. Specifically, it has been confirmed that:

The Expert Group - as the provider of impartial advice and evidence - is independent from the Commission itself.

It may subsequently publish work completed for the Commission although it is anticipated that much of the work of the expert group will draw on existing research in this area and hence would already be in the public domain.

The expert group may submit advice and evidence on matters it considers to be relevant to its agreed remit, in addition to meeting the stated informational requirements of the Commission as expressed by its Financial Accountability Task Group.

4) Members of both the Commission on Scottish Devolution and the Independent Expert Group are unpaid.