SCOTTISH Secretary Michael Moore has been warned that time is running out for changes to the Scotland Bill wanted by Holyrood if it is to be backed in the Scottish Parliament.
Linda Fabiani, the convener of Holyrood's Scotland Bill committee, said yesterday she was "seriously concerned" that Westminster had failed to respond to the 45 recommendations made by the committee when it published its report on the legislation in December.
With just days to go before First Minister Alex Salmond is due to reveal the contents of the Scottish Government's consultation document on the independence referendum, the delay adds to the tensions between Holyrood and Westminster.
The committee stage of the Bill is scheduled to start in the House of Lords on Thursday and Ms Fabiani said that was where she expected most of any Bill revisions would be considered.
In a letter to Mr Moore she said that since her committee had not received a formal response from the UK Government she was "seriously concerned that you will be unable to lodge the amendments necessary to gain the Scottish Parliament's legislative consent in time for the Bill to complete its passage before the end of the parliamentary year at Westminster".
Ms Fabiani, an SNP MSP, also reminded Mr Moore that most of the recommendations were agreed by more than one party represented in the Scottish Parliament and some were agreed to unanimously by all five political parties represented on the committee.
She added: "You will also recall the unambiguous conclusion of the committee that it was unable to recommend that the Parliament approve a Legislative Consent Motion on the Scotland Bill unless it is amended in line with the Committee's conclusions and recommendations."
Ms Fabiani said she was not aware of any substantive amendments being lodged by the UK Government and the only response she could find to the committee's report was on the Scotland Office's website stating Mr Moore would "consider the committee's report carefully".
One of the key recommendations is full fiscal autonomy while others cover Government borrowing limits and control of alcohol duties, firearms regulation, speed limits, Scottish elections and welfare and benefits.
A Scotland Office spokesman said: "Amendments can be tabled at Committee, Report or Third Reading stages in the Lords. We are unlikely to reach the final stages of the Bill in the Lords until well into March."
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "Careful scrutiny of any Government legislation is important, but it is important this is not politicised."
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