Mohammed Sarwar: Political will needed to improve relations. Pic: © STV
Politicians must work harder to improve relations between Holyrood and Westminster, they have been warned.
Members of Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee have said political will is needed if the level of co-operation between the administrations is to be improved.
In a report looking at the recommendations made by the Calman Commission, issued on Thursday, the committee report said there were areas where improved co-operation between the two governments and parliaments was a "welcome goal".
The MPs on the committee specifically considered the part of the Calman report that looked at how to strengthen relationships between the UK and Scottish administrations.
While they made a number of recommendations on how improve co-operation between Holyrood and Westminster, chairman Mohammad Sarwar said: "This will only become a reality if supported by genuine political will."
The committee considered the issue after the Calman Commission published a report last summer recommending a number of ways of improving co-operation and fostering "mutual respect" between the two governments.
The Commission said Westminster should drop its practice of not debating devolved matters and the Commons should stage regular "state of Scotland" debates.
It added that Scottish and Westminster ministers should respond "positively" to requests to appear before committees of each other's parliament, that the Secretary of State for Scotland should appear annually before a Holyrood committee and that the First Minister should be invited to appear before the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee.
The Scottish Affairs Committee has now recommended that the UK Government should provide time for a regular "state of Scotland" debate - which would extend to devolved matters.
MPs also called for changes to be made to allow the Scottish Affairs Committee to invite members of Holyrood committees to its meetings in a non-voting capacity.
