This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28952197

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Scottish independence: Cameron says UK supports million Scottish jobs Scottish independence: Cameron says staying in the UK is 'the right choice'
(about 4 hours later)
The UK is "an economy of opportunity" which supports one million Scottish jobs, David Cameron is to tell business leaders. Voting to stay a part of the UK is "the right choice" for Scotland's businesses and its people, David Cameron has said.
The prime minister will address the CBI conference later, calling the UK one of the "most successful single markets". The prime minister said the UK gave businesses "the scale to make a difference on a world stage".
The speech takes place in the final weeks of the referendum campaign. Mr Cameron will address the CBI conference later, as the referendum campaign enters its final weeks.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond challenged Mr Cameron to name a single job-creating power certain to come after a "No" vote.Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond challenged Mr Cameron to name a single job-creating power certain to come after a "No" vote.
In his address to the employers' organisation, Mr Cameron is expected to say: "This is one of the oldest and most successful single markets in the world. The prime minister told BBC political editor Nick Robinson: "The right choice for business, the right choice for Scotland's economy and the right choice for Scotland's people is to stay within the United Kingdom.
'Domestic market' "It gives Scottish business the opportunity of trading throughout the United Kingdom and the single European market.
"Scotland does twice as much trade with the rest of the UK than with the rest of the world put together - trade that helps to support one million Scottish jobs." "It gives you the scale to make a difference on a world stage.
"But also you have the certainty, the knowledge that you keep the pound as your currency, you keep your markets open, you keep your business opportunities as you have them today."
Responding to Mr Salmond, he argued that the Scottish Parliament already had powers to create jobs and further "fiscal devolution" planned by the Conservatives would provide further opportunities.
He added: "One of the many questions Alex Salmond hasn't been able to answer is what would Scotland's position be if people vote for separation.
"People in Scotland don't know what currency they would be using, they don't know how long they would have to queue up to get back into the European Union, they don't know what the position would be with borders and tariffs and everything else."
In his address to the CBI, Mr Cameron is expected to say: "Scotland does twice as much trade with the rest of the UK than with the rest of the world put together - trade that helps to support one million Scottish jobs."
He will add: "This success doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of the skill of people in Scotland and the opportunities that come from being part of something bigger.He will add: "This success doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of the skill of people in Scotland and the opportunities that come from being part of something bigger.
"A large domestic market, underpinned by a common currency, common taxes, common rules and regulations, with no borders, no transaction costs, no restrictions on the flow of goods, investment or people. Ours really is an economy of opportunity.""A large domestic market, underpinned by a common currency, common taxes, common rules and regulations, with no borders, no transaction costs, no restrictions on the flow of goods, investment or people. Ours really is an economy of opportunity."
The Electoral Commission has met senior staff at the CBI to seek further information on its campaign activities, including the annual dinner which the prime minister is to address. Meanwhile, Mr Salmond has set out six job-creating powers for Scotland that he said were guaranteed with a "Yes" vote in the referendum:
During their televised BBC debate on Monday, Mr Salmond had challenged Better Together head Alistair Darling to name three job-creating powers that were being offered to the Scottish Parliament by the pro-UK parties in the event of a "No" vote.
Speaking ahead of Mr Cameron's CBI speech, the first minister issued a similar challenge to the prime minister.
Mr Salmond told the BBC: "I think the prime minister is the 'No' campaign incarnate - 'let me run Scotland from London and I'll pay the occasional site visit to see how you're getting on'.
"Alistair Darling seems to have been shoved aside now - he's not even allowed on to the phone-ins, he's been replaced by (Labour MP) Douglas Alexander this morning - now he's been replaced, effectively, by David Cameron.
"The problem is, when is David Cameron going to have the guts to do what Alistair Darling has done, and that's to have a debate?"
Dinner spending
In another development, the Electoral Commission has asked the CBI for further information on its campaign activities, including the annual dinner which the prime minister is to address.
The CBI is not required to register as a formal campaigner if it spends less than £10,000 under the the spending rules for the referendum.The CBI is not required to register as a formal campaigner if it spends less than £10,000 under the the spending rules for the referendum.
The elections watchdog has ruled that the dinner does constitute campaigning but said it had been assured that the cost will be within the spending limit.The elections watchdog has ruled that the dinner does constitute campaigning but said it had been assured that the cost will be within the spending limit.
In a letter to the pro-independence campaign group Business for Scotland, it said: "Information supplied to the Commission shows that the scale of the event is significantly reduced from previous years and from their original plan for this year, including a smaller guest list and lower catering."In a letter to the pro-independence campaign group Business for Scotland, it said: "Information supplied to the Commission shows that the scale of the event is significantly reduced from previous years and from their original plan for this year, including a smaller guest list and lower catering."
A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: "We will continue to monitor their activities to ensure that this remains the case and we will be obtaining from the CBI the final costs of the dinner after it has been held."A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: "We will continue to monitor their activities to ensure that this remains the case and we will be obtaining from the CBI the final costs of the dinner after it has been held."
A CBI spokesman, asked if the business group had to rescind invitations to reduce the scale of the event, said: "All guests who had booked for the CBI dinner have had their tickets honoured."A CBI spokesman, asked if the business group had to rescind invitations to reduce the scale of the event, said: "All guests who had booked for the CBI dinner have had their tickets honoured."
Earlier this year, the CBI registered as a formal campaigner in the referendum, and then withdrew after the move prompted more than a dozen members to resign or suspend their membership of the organisation.Earlier this year, the CBI registered as a formal campaigner in the referendum, and then withdrew after the move prompted more than a dozen members to resign or suspend their membership of the organisation.
'Job powers'
Meanwhile, Mr Salmond has set out six job-creating powers for Scotland that he said were guaranteed with a "Yes" vote in the referendum:
During their televised BBC debate on Monday, Mr Salmond had challenged Better Together head Alistair Darling to name three job-creating powers that were being offered to the Scottish Parliament by the pro-UK parties in the event of a "No" vote.
Issuing a similar challenge to the prime minister, Mr Salmond said: "The PM must use his visit to Scotland to say what powers Westminster is guaranteeing, to allow the job-creating businesses of Scotland to boost employment and the economy.
"And if he fails to do so, the choice is clear - a Yes vote which guarantees the powers Scotland's companies and entrepreneurs need to create jobs and opportunities for future generations of Scots, or a No vote which will deliver absolutely nothing.
"Independence isn't a magic wand but with a diverse economy, huge natural resources and a highly-educated workforce we have firm foundations on which to build a more prosperous country and fairer society."