It is the end of the beginning - the beginning of the process of bringing government closer to the people. Power should not be a monopoly hoarded in Whitehall and Westminster. Nor indeed, in Holyrood. In Wales, in London and with good fortune in Northern Ireland, the passage of power from the centre is gathering momentum. It is a means of strengthening our unity through the recognition of our diversity.
Devolution is about sharing power.
It is about tolerance for the views of others. That means working in partnership to achieve the greatest benefits for Scotland as whole. The role of the Secretary of State for Scotland and that of the First Minister in the Scottish Executive are complementary and I look forward to working closely with Donald Dewar in the months and years ahead to ensure that the needs of Scotland s people are met. I hope all of us here tonight will be prepared to work in that same spirit of partnership in order to ensure that devolution brings the benefits the people of Scotland want and which I am sure devolution can deliver. Let us cherish and nurture it in the years ahead.