5 Conclusion
44. In this Report we have set out key elements of
the Committee's work over the 2010-15 Parliament. We have had
some important achievements. In our blacklisting inquiry we placed
powerful companies and individuals under the spotlight and our
continued scrutiny raised the profile of this issue. Our work
facilitated the creation of a compensation scheme for workers
affected by the shameful activity and we have continued to make
recommendations as to how the recognisably inadequate scheme could
be improved. Our Crown Estate in Scotland inquiry resulted in
specific rights being passed from the Crown Estate Commissioners
to the Scottish Government, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
accepted the central recommendation of our Report The video
games industry in Scotland -subsequently introducing a corporate
tax relief to provide support to the sector.[32]
45. Throughout the Parliament we have repeatedly
returned to issues, in some instances, such as the inquiries into
the Crown Estate and Land Reform, it has been to ensure that promises
to accept our recommendations have been acted upon, while in others,
such as the inquiries into the Bedroom tax and Blacklisting, it
has been to maintain pressure for a change in policy and to continue
to push for redress for those affected. We believe that it is
crucial that select committees follow up their work and do not
simply see the publication of a report as the end of the process
of scrutiny. Our work has directly benefitted from such an approach
and we hope that it is adopted by our successor Committee.
46. Scrutiny should not end with the Dissolution
of Parliament. There is much that our successors could take forward
in the next Parliament should they wish to do so. The matter of
redress for those affected by blacklisting demands continued scrutiny;
the problems associated with insecure employment in Scotland remain,
and much more needs to be done to reform the highly concentrated
nature of land ownership in Scotland.
47. The fundamental question of Scotland's relationship
with the rest of the UK provides the constitutional and political
context for all of these issues. The Scottish Government was clear
that the 2014 referendum on independence would be a "once
in a generation" event,[33]
but that does not mean that the relationship between Scotland
and the rest of the United Kingdom will remain unchanged. The
recommendations of the Smith Agreement will be implemented during
the course of the next Parliament. This major package of legislation,
and the revised fiscal framework that will accompany it, will
require careful and detailed scrutiny, as will any proposals to
go further than the Smith Commission envisaged.
48. Throughout our work we have aimed to inform Parliament
and the people of Scotland about key issues facing Scotland today,
and to hold those responsible to account. We are grateful to everyone
who has assisted us: those who have contributed at our formal
and informal meetings, and provided us with written material,
our specialist advisors, and the many people who have helped facilitate
our visits to Scotland. Our work would have been much poorer without
their support and we thank them for it.
32 See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/video-games-tax-relief-passes-final-hurdle
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33
BBC News online, Salmond: 'Referendum is a once in a generation opportunity',
14 September 2014 Back
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