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| Scottish independence: Post-Yes defence 'will put burden' on public finances | Scottish independence: Post-Yes defence 'will put burden' on public finances |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The UK government believes that establishing a Scottish military in the event of independence would put a substantial burden on public finances. | The UK government believes that establishing a Scottish military in the event of independence would put a substantial burden on public finances. |
| The claim appeared in the latest Coalition analysis paper prepared by UK civil servants. | The claim appeared in the latest Coalition analysis paper prepared by UK civil servants. |
| The Scottish government proposes a £2.5bn defence force if there is a "yes" vote next September. | The Scottish government proposes a £2.5bn defence force if there is a "yes" vote next September. |
| A spokesman said an independent Scotland would have first-class conventional forces. | A spokesman said an independent Scotland would have first-class conventional forces. |
| Meanwhile the BBC has seen an internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) briefing document on Scottish independence. | Meanwhile the BBC has seen an internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) briefing document on Scottish independence. |
| It raised concerns about the effect a "yes" vote would have on England, Wales and Northern Ireland, saying the debate matters because of the potential effect of Scottish independence on "our politics, our economy, our standing" - referring to the rest of UK. | It raised concerns about the effect a "yes" vote would have on England, Wales and Northern Ireland, saying the debate matters because of the potential effect of Scottish independence on "our politics, our economy, our standing" - referring to the rest of UK. |
| The document also suggested that about 500,000 votes could "swing the result" of the referendum "either way". | The document also suggested that about 500,000 votes could "swing the result" of the referendum "either way". |
| Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has been promoting the UK's current defence set-up during a speech in Edinburgh. | Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has been promoting the UK's current defence set-up during a speech in Edinburgh. |
| Ahead of that address, he spoke to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme during which he said current British military staff based in Scotland may not want to join a Scottish Defence Force in the event of independence. | Ahead of that address, he spoke to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme during which he said current British military staff based in Scotland may not want to join a Scottish Defence Force in the event of independence. |
| He added: "Neither the Scottish or UK governments can compel individuals who serve in these regiments to become part of a Scottish defence force. | He added: "Neither the Scottish or UK governments can compel individuals who serve in these regiments to become part of a Scottish defence force. |
| "Those young men and women join the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, they join because of its size, its capability, the opportunity for overseas services and training, its reputation in the world. | "Those young men and women join the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, they join because of its size, its capability, the opportunity for overseas services and training, its reputation in the world. |
| "Many of these men and women may choose not to join a Scottish defence force whose avowed purpose is primarily home defence." | "Many of these men and women may choose not to join a Scottish defence force whose avowed purpose is primarily home defence." |
| The Scottish government's Veterans' Minister Keith Brown was also interviewed on Good Morning Scotland. | The Scottish government's Veterans' Minister Keith Brown was also interviewed on Good Morning Scotland. |
| He told the programme that Scotland's defence personnel numbers were at an all-time low and that an independent Scotland should have 15,000 regular armed forces with 5,000 reservists. | He told the programme that Scotland's defence personnel numbers were at an all-time low and that an independent Scotland should have 15,000 regular armed forces with 5,000 reservists. |
| Mr Brown added: "Some of the people will be employed doing different things. We have a different set of needs, for example we have no capability now in terms of the maritime patrols, we don't have a major Royal Navy surface vessel in Scotland any more. | |
| "We no longer have the patrol that we should have for Nato purposes and otherwise on the northern flank of Scotland or in the air, so we would have different requirements, there is no doubt about that." | "We no longer have the patrol that we should have for Nato purposes and otherwise on the northern flank of Scotland or in the air, so we would have different requirements, there is no doubt about that." |
| The UK government's 86-page analysis paper was published after MPs on the Commons Defence Committee said it would be "remiss" of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) not to consider the implications of independence, including the future of Trident at the Faslane base. | The UK government's 86-page analysis paper was published after MPs on the Commons Defence Committee said it would be "remiss" of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) not to consider the implications of independence, including the future of Trident at the Faslane base. |
| The document focussed on funding, jobs and the problems involved in splitting up an integrated military. | The document focussed on funding, jobs and the problems involved in splitting up an integrated military. |
| The report concludes that the transition to an independent force would be complex. | The report concludes that the transition to an independent force would be complex. |
| One extract from the analysis says: "Adapting the functions of Scotland's defence footprint would result in a substantial burden on the public finances of an independent Scottish state during establishment, and duplication of costs thereafter for the essential services currently provided on a UK-wide basis. | One extract from the analysis says: "Adapting the functions of Scotland's defence footprint would result in a substantial burden on the public finances of an independent Scottish state during establishment, and duplication of costs thereafter for the essential services currently provided on a UK-wide basis. |
| "It is difficult to predict how long the establishment phase would last, but given the complex, integrated nature of the UK armed forces and the absence of command and control structures and other essential components in Scotland, this would not be an easy process. | "It is difficult to predict how long the establishment phase would last, but given the complex, integrated nature of the UK armed forces and the absence of command and control structures and other essential components in Scotland, this would not be an easy process. |
| "Even basic re-design of military bases is a costly undertaking requiring substantial investment to cater for different operational needs." | "Even basic re-design of military bases is a costly undertaking requiring substantial investment to cater for different operational needs." |
| It added that negotiations over assets and liabilities such as equipment, basing and other infrastructure "would be difficult". | It added that negotiations over assets and liabilities such as equipment, basing and other infrastructure "would be difficult". |
| The report also said that the issue of personnel would present an "extremely difficult challenge to overcome". | The report also said that the issue of personnel would present an "extremely difficult challenge to overcome". |
| However, the MoD said picking the UK military apart "would not be impossible". | However, the MoD said picking the UK military apart "would not be impossible". |
| A Scottish government spokesman said he welcomed the "important acknowledgement" from the UK government that an independent Scotland would stand to "inherit a fair share of current UK defence assets". | A Scottish government spokesman said he welcomed the "important acknowledgement" from the UK government that an independent Scotland would stand to "inherit a fair share of current UK defence assets". |
| He added: "An independent Scotland will have first-class conventional forces which will play a full role in defending the country and co-operating with international partners - but we will not waste billions of pounds on Trident nuclear weapons. | He added: "An independent Scotland will have first-class conventional forces which will play a full role in defending the country and co-operating with international partners - but we will not waste billions of pounds on Trident nuclear weapons. |
| "We have also been clear that we will retain all current defence bases, including Faslane, which will be Scotland's main conventional naval facility, and our long-term commitment will ensure continued support for jobs and local economies in all the communities around Scotland that are home to military bases." | "We have also been clear that we will retain all current defence bases, including Faslane, which will be Scotland's main conventional naval facility, and our long-term commitment will ensure continued support for jobs and local economies in all the communities around Scotland that are home to military bases." |