Policy paper

Twelve of the faults in the Scottish 바카라 사이트's independence white paper

Published 27 January 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Exactly two months on from publication, the Scottish 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 White Paper has already developed many faults and been described by Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael as 바카라 사이트榤ore of a black mark than a blueprint바카라 사이트�.

What was described as the most detailed blueprint ever for independence has been shown to be completely inadequate as proposals have either proven to be wrong, beyond the power of an independent Scotland alone or already achievable under devolution.

At least 12 of the white paper바카라 사이트檚 claims have already unravelled, including:

Wrong바카라 사이트� inaccurate proposals

• Fiscal 바카라 사이트� the forecasts for Scotland바카라 사이트檚 fiscal position in 2016-17 fail to take into account any transition costs and are based on forecasts for North Sea oil revenues that were shown to be completely over-optimistic by the independent OBR바카라 사이트檚 Autumn Statement forecasts.

• Immigration 바카라 사이트� the Scotland Analysis paper on Borders and Citizenship makes clear that an independent Scotland could not have a very different immigration policy from the continuing UK and also be part of a Common Travel Area with the continuing UK.

• UK Pound 바카라 사이트� it is not correct to say that a currency union between an independent Scotland and the continuing UK would automatically be in the interests of both. The UK 바카라 사이트 has said that a currency union is 바카라 사이트榟ighly unlikely바카라 사이트�. And a currency union is not the same as the UK Pound we have now.

The UK pound is one area where the White Paper has been found to be inaccurate.

• EU membership 바카라 사이트� the Scottish 바카라 사이트 assert that an independent Scotland would not have to apply to join the EU, and could have 바카라 사이트渃ontinued membership바카라 사이트� just by amending the existing EU treaties. This is wrong, it has never been done before and the EU Commission and the Spanish Prime Minister have ruled it out.

• Tuition fees 바카라 사이트� experts including academics, former EU Commissioners and politicians have all said it is wrong to say that an independent Scotland could still charge students from the continuing UK. The Scotland Analysis paper on EU and International confirmed this proposal is contrary to EU law.

• EU Rebate 바카라 사이트� the Scottish 바카라 사이트 propose to share the UK바카라 사이트檚 EU rebate but that is impossible. If Scotland leaves the UK, the UK바카라 사이트檚 rebate will be recalculated and there will be no Scottish share left. Indeed, like other Member States, an independent Scotland would need to help fund the UK바카라 사이트檚 rebate were it to join the EU.

• Scotland바카라 사이트檚 economic growth in recent decades 바카라 사이트� the Scottish 바카라 사이트 claims that Scotland바카라 사이트檚 economy has grown more slowly than other comparable independent European countries in recent decades were undermined by the admission they had airbrushed 2008 out of their analysis. They said the financial crisis of 2008 was too volatile and should not be included, but this is exactly the volatility that a smaller Scottish economy would be even more exposed to under independence.

Wanted 바카라 사이트� White Paper proposals that needs the agreement of other states

• UK Public bodies - the Scottish 바카라 사이트 have said they want to keep using a third of the UK바카라 사이트檚 institutions, including bodies like the Bank of England and the National Lottery. That바카라 사이트檚 not up to them to decide.

• Extra CAP payments 바카라 사이트� what an independent Scotland would receive in direct EU payments would depend on what accession terms it negotiated with 28 Member States. If, after independence, we did not immediately become a EU member state then CAP payments would be suspended.

• UK Research Councils - and White Paper wants to maintain the existing system of the UK Research councils and the funding they provide. However, the Scotland Analysis paper on Science and Research states that in the event of a vote in favour of independence, the UK바카라 사이트檚 current research and innovation system would operate in the continuing UK. Although Research Councils do support international projects, they generally only provide funding to researchers in UK institutions taking part in collaborations with international partners. It would be up to an independent Scotland to fund any partners from Scottish institutions.

• UK warship contracts 바카라 사이트� after independence the Scottish 바카라 사이트 would like to have the continuing UK place warship contracts in Scotland. The UK 바카라 사이트 has made it clear that it does not place contracts for complex warships with other states. Other than procurement activity undertaken during the World Wars, no complex warships for the Royal Navy were constructed outside the UK in the 20th century, and the UK 바카라 사이트 remains committed to utilising the strengths of UK industry in this specialist area.

Why wait - White Paper proposals the Scottish 바카라 사이트 already has the power to deliver

• Childcare plans 바카라 사이트� it has been widely accepted that the centre-piece childcare proposals from the Scottish 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 White Paper are already a devolved responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.