Salmond announces new legislation – battle lines drawn on local income tax and teenage drinking

In announcing fifteen new bills today for the forthcoming Holyrood legislation, First Minister Alex Salmond underlined the limitations in economic controls available under devolution to the Scottish Government. With Scotland’s economy currently more robust than the rest of the UK and predicted by economic analysts at HBOS to continue this trend until 2009, constraints on action by the Scottish Covernment to protect its economy are clear points for debate.

Two bills introduced by Mr Salmond are likely in different ways to be hotly disputed by different oppositions.

The bill to abolish Council Tax (the rebranded Thatcherite Poll Tax) and replace it with a local income tax of three pence in the pound, has long been signalled by the Government. All parties agree in their opposition to Council Tax but only the Lib Dems support the idea of a local income tax – although not the version proposed by the Government.

The bill to ban under-21s from buying alcohol at off-licences is aimed directly at the serious personal and social problem of teenage binge drinking which is a feature of life across the UK, not only in Scotland. This bill will be fiercely opposed by the drinks industry and its energetic lobbyists.

As a minority administration, the Scottish Government’s progress with these bills will be closely observed. The First Minister’s famed strategic negotiating abilities will be put to the test. Also tested will be the new leaders of two of the other main parties, Tavish Scott for the Lib Dems and AN Other for Scottish Labour.