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| Scottish independence: Defence budget post-Yes to be £2.5bn, minister Brown says | Scottish independence: Defence budget post-Yes to be £2.5bn, minister Brown says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scottish minister Keith Brown tells a committee of MPs that the budget for defence in the event of a yes to independence would be £2.5bn per year. | Scottish minister Keith Brown tells a committee of MPs that the budget for defence in the event of a yes to independence would be £2.5bn per year. |
| The SNP politician revealed the figure in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. | The SNP politician revealed the figure in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. |
| Electors in Scotland will vote in an independence referendum on 18 September, 2014. | Electors in Scotland will vote in an independence referendum on 18 September, 2014. |
| They will be asked the simple yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | They will be asked the simple yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
| The Veterans' Minister urged UK ministers to enter into discussions now on defence matter. However, he said that would not be the equivalent of pre-independence negotiations. | |
| Mr Brown told the committee that after independence there would be "early, safe removal" of Trident from its current base at Faslane on the Clyde. | |
| In a BBC Scotland news webcast this week, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it might take up to two years before Scotland could be rid of the nuclear weapons. | |
| She made clear in the interview that removing Trident from Scotland was a matter of principle for the SNP. | |
| Mr Brown informed the committee that a newly-independent Scotland would want a proportionate slice of the £92bn in defence assets which the UK has. | |
| He mentioned that some commentators had identified that Trident itself was an asset. | |
| The Holyrood minister told the MPs that a new Scottish defence force would total about 15,000 personnel. | |
| He added that an attractive offer could be made to new recruits resulting in the figure being achieved post-Yes. | |
| Mr Brown was asked how close to the border a Scottish army would patrol. | |
| In response, he said: "We will not be amassing an army on the border - that won't be necessary." |