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Scottish independence: Holyrood to debate White Paper Scottish independence: Holyrood to debate White Paper
(about 5 hours later)
A debate on the Scottish government's independence White Paper is to be held at Holyrood later.A debate on the Scottish government's independence White Paper is to be held at Holyrood later.
The debate will gave members of the Scottish Parliament a chance to examine the 670-page document in more detail.The debate will gave members of the Scottish Parliament a chance to examine the 670-page document in more detail.
First Minister Alex Salmond described the White Paper as the "most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published".First Minister Alex Salmond described the White Paper as the "most comprehensive blueprint for an independent country ever published".
But the pro-Union campaign has claimed it was "full of meaningless assertions". But Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont suggested the document's projections were "not credible".
A referendum on Scottish independence will be held on 18 September next year, with voters being asked the straight yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"A referendum on Scottish independence will be held on 18 September next year, with voters being asked the straight yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
The White Paper, which contains the arguments in favour of independence and is intended as a guide to what might happen if it is achieved, was launched by Mr Salmond at Glasgow's Science Centre on Tuesday morning.The White Paper, which contains the arguments in favour of independence and is intended as a guide to what might happen if it is achieved, was launched by Mr Salmond at Glasgow's Science Centre on Tuesday morning.
National debate 'Arithmetic of politics'
It has been titled Scotland's Future: Your guide to an independent Scotland, and states that Scotland would become independent on 24 March 2016 if there is a 'Yes' vote in the referendum. Speaking ahead of the parliamentary debate, Ms Lamont questioned whether independence would bring the benefits claimed by the Scottish government.
Interviewed on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "The assumption that simply by Scotland going it alone we will somehow be more radical, more progressive, is simply not true.
"We will still have to deal with the arithmetic of politics which is you have to fund things.
"What we seem to be getting from the Scottish government now is that we will cut taxes and at the same time we'll improve services - that's not credible."
The White Paper is titled Scotland's Future: Your guide to an independent Scotland, and states that Scotland would become independent on 24 March 2016 if there is a Yes vote in the referendum.
The first minister is due to open Wednesday afternoon's debate for the Scottish government.The first minister is due to open Wednesday afternoon's debate for the Scottish government.
He will argue that "it is better for everyone in Scotland if decisions about the country's future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, the people who live and work here".He will argue that "it is better for everyone in Scotland if decisions about the country's future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, the people who live and work here".
Mr Salmond will also say he looks forward to a positive national debate on independence for Scotland, with contributions from all perspectives and from all sectors of Scottish society, before next September's historic vote.Mr Salmond will also say he looks forward to a positive national debate on independence for Scotland, with contributions from all perspectives and from all sectors of Scottish society, before next September's historic vote.
But Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont will contend that Scotland currently enjoys the best of both worlds, with a strong Scottish Parliament in a strong UK.
She will state that she looks forward to a debate over the next year that "reflects the priorities of the people and strengthens the position of Scotland as a partner in the UK rather than as a separate state."
The White Paper confirmed that Scotland would seek to secure a Sterling currency union with the remainder of the UK after independence, and asserted that the country would negotiate for a smooth transition to EU and Nato membership.The White Paper confirmed that Scotland would seek to secure a Sterling currency union with the remainder of the UK after independence, and asserted that the country would negotiate for a smooth transition to EU and Nato membership.
Child careChild care
The document also makes a series of pledges to be fulfilled if the SNP forms the first government in a newly-independent Scotland.The document also makes a series of pledges to be fulfilled if the SNP forms the first government in a newly-independent Scotland.
These included:These included:
Speaking at the document's launch, Mr Salmond said it was a "mission statement and a prospectus for the kind of country we should be and which this government believes we can be".Speaking at the document's launch, Mr Salmond said it was a "mission statement and a prospectus for the kind of country we should be and which this government believes we can be".
But former UK chancellor Alistair Darling, who leads the pro-UK Better Together campaign, accused the Scottish government of having "ducked the opportunity to answer the big questions about Scotland's future", and said the White Paper was "thick with false promises and meaningless assertions."But former UK chancellor Alistair Darling, who leads the pro-UK Better Together campaign, accused the Scottish government of having "ducked the opportunity to answer the big questions about Scotland's future", and said the White Paper was "thick with false promises and meaningless assertions."