Heres Some info I think youll quite like to know! CITIZENSHIP CULTURE CURRENCY DEFENCE ECONOMY EDUCATION EUROPE GOVT & POLITICS HEALTH OIL & ENERGY PENSIONS PERSONAL FINANCE TAXATION WELFARE Would Scottish University students still get free education? Yes. The Scottish Parliament has full control of education policy. Access to higher education in Scotland is based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. Historically the Scottish education system is very different from that of the other countries in the United Kingdom. This is why we have been able to take a different path from England and Wales. For example, we have abolished tuition fees which are up to £9,000 annually. Postgraduate study will also be supported with no change after independence. The current Scottish Government is committed to maintaining free tuition. Independence would make it easier to keep this policy because Westminster cuts the budget every year, as they continue on their cost saving austerity programme. What will happen to the BBC and the other TV channels? The current Scottish Government intends to use BBC Scotland’s resources to build a dedicated Scottish Broadcasting Service funded by licence fee, set at the current BBC level. Older Scots will continue to receive their TV licence for free. The existing BBC charter expires on 31 December 2016, and the SBS will begin broadcasting on TV, radio and online on 1 January 2017. The SBS will work in partnership with the BBC so that viewers in Scotland will be able to watch the same range of BBC programmes, in addition to new Scottish programmes. We would, of course, be able to buy in programming from other broadcasters, including the BBC. All existing TV channels will continue with their current operating licences and therefore we’ll still have STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, as well as Freeview and any channels you watch through your satellite or cable service. Is Scotland’s economy dependent on oil? What else does Scotland have? Even without oil and gas, Scotland’s wealth per head of population is 99% of that of the UK’s, and ranks behind only London and the South East of England on this measure. We have many other strong industries on which Scotland can build. We have: 25% of the EU’s offshore tidal and wind energy potential, worth up to £14 billion per year A food and drink industry worth £10 billion Whisky exports alone which are worth £4.2 billion, a quarter of UK food and drink exports. We export 40 bottles of whisky per second A tourism industry that is worth £10 billion A construction industry worth £21.4 billion Creative industries worth £2.8 billion Agriculture industry worth £2.7 billion A manufacturing industry worth £15 billion “By international standards Scotland is a wealthy and productive country. There is no doubt that Scotland has the potential to be a successful independent nation”. The Scottish Government’s Fiscal Commission Working Group (which includes two Nobel Prize winning economists) Will I still get my state pension? Yes. The Scottish Government has guaranteed to continue to pay every state pension after independence including all the rights you have built up to enhanced pensions such as through Serps. The Department for Work & Pensions has confirmed that UK pensions will continue to be paid in full, even if Scotland becomes independent. Will we still have the pound? Yes, we will keep the pound Sterling. The preferred way is through a currency union with the UK. If this is not agreed by the UK government then Scotland could use the UK pound without a formal agreement. In February 2014, Nicola Sturgeon suggested that the Scottish pound would “shadow” the UK pound without a formal monetary union. There are similar arrangements in Europe. Denmark has its own currency, which is pegged to the euro, and has one of the most advanced economies in Europe. Norway has its own currency, which floats against the dollar and euro. The UK pound, the dollar, euro and other currencies are described as “Fully Tradeable” which means that any country can use them. There are 18 other countries who use the UK pound. Will we still get the NHS? Yes, the National Health Service is currently run by the Scottish Parliament and government and will remain so. In terms of health policy, Scotland is already effectively independent. The Scottish government will continue to fund all the health services it currently provides, including cross-border services. Medical experts have already made clear that the contracts currently in place to provide for cross-border treatment would carry on in exactly the same way. EU Directives protect our access to cross-border treatment, and there are also separate agreements in place with countries outwith Europe. Won’t we get more powers anyway if we vote no? The only way for Scotland to get all the powers needed to make Scotland a better place is through independence. The main three parties are now talking about extra powers if we say no to independence but: The only extra ‘powers’ being presented are tax raising; no control of welfare, defence, or increased representation in Europe. David Cameron has warned Scots that a substantial increase in financial powers is not an option. Sources close to the Prime Minister have said devo max is “inconsistent” with staying in the UK. They cannot agree on to what levels this tax will be increased. There is no provision for Scotland to change or create government policies to raise income – except through increased taxes. The Conservative and Labour parties are both committed to a FURTHER £25 billion cuts. Cutting public spending in the UK will lead to further cuts in Scotland’s block grant. The Scottish parties cannot even make promises. Only the UK parliament can ‘gift’ us extra powers. It is a gift because it can be taken away at any time. Any change sanctioned by the UK parliament would only be after extensive debate in a hostile environment. The Conservatives’ recent swing to the right and the popularity of UKIP will almost certainly mean cuts in devolution, not increases. History tells us that as soon as the threat of independence is over, Scotland experiences cutbacks, not more powers. After the referendum in 1979 when powers were promised, the next parliamentary session discussed Scottish affairs for 2 MINUTES. A Panelbase poll in August 2013 found that 67% of Scottish voters think that a no vote in the referendum will see no new powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament, or powers being taken back by Westminster “Westminster won’t devolve further power in the result of a No vote, for the simple reason that it won’t have to. Cameron fought to remove devo-max from the ballot for a reason. At the moment, the threat of independence is the only bargaining chip Scotland possesses, the only thing which prevents, for example, a lowering of our block grant….Westminster promised treats if we voted against devolution in 1979. What happened? Thatcherism.” Alan Bissett, author and playwright Will UK passports still be valid? Yes. Both the Scottish and UK Governments have confirmed that existing passports will remain valid until their normal expiry dates. Additionally, anyone who qualifies for both Scottish and UK citizenship shall be allowed dual citizenship in either Scotland or the rest of the UK. Will I pay more tax after independence? No, there is no requirement to increase income tax or national Insurance. We can afford to pay for every service we have with the taxes we currently collect. Income tax rates and bands will not change as a result of independence. What will happen to the bedroom tax? The current Scottish Government is committed to abolishing the Bedroom Tax. This deeply unpopular UK Government measure affects the most needy in society. 80% of households affected by the bedroom tax have a person living with a disability. Will my mortgage rate be affected? Banks base their mortgages on the interest rate set independently by the Bank of England, which in a sterling zone would be exactly the same for Scotland as for the rest of the UK, just as it is now. What defence will an Independent Scotland have? Scotland would have its own Scottish Defence Force (SDF), designed to ensure that Scotland can: Secure its borders, land, air space and sea Deter attacks and protect its citizens and assets Make a contribution to peace keeping under the auspices of the United Nations The current Scottish Government proposes: A phased build up of personnel to some 15,000 (an increase of 4,000 on current numbers) regular and 5,000 reserve personnel across land, air and maritime forces over ten years. Naval forces would be built up to two squadrons with around 2,400 regular and at least 270 reserve personnel. The army would incorporate an HQ function and an All-Arms brigade, with three infantry/marine units, supported by a number of specialist units and special forces. This would entail around 4,700 regular and at least 1,110 reserve personnel. Air forces will include an Air Force HQ function which would require 3,250 regular personnel and around 300 reserve personnel. This would consist of: Air Command and Control systems Quick Reaction Alert squadron Tactical air transport squadron Flight training and establishment Airborne maritime patrol capability Land and property inherited by the proposed Scottish Defence Force would include the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, the Leuchars and Lossiemouth RAF bases. The Scottish Government’s defence plan includes taking two Type 23 frigates, four minesweepers, and 16 Typhoon fighter jets. There’s a chasm between an independent Scotland’s approach to defence and Westminster’s approach. It is inconceivable that a Scottish Government would take our people into an illegal war. Will we be in Europe? Yes. We have been in the European Union for over 40 years. There is no mechanism in the European Constitution to expel 5.25 million citizens. The new European Commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker is “sympathetic” to an independent Scotland joining the EU. A high-ranking EU official stated that Junker “would not want Scotland to be kept out” and “he’d be sympathetic as someone who is from a smaller country as he’ll understand the obstacles that can be put in the way of less powerful member states.” An independent Scotland’s potential membership would be treated as a “special and separate case” to nations wanting to join from regions such as the Balkans that have yet to satisfy all the rules, a senior EU source stated. Scotland would be “exempt” (from the new member application process) as it is already a signatory to core requirements for nation states in areas such as employment rights and equality legislation because of its 40-year membership of the EU as part of the UK. Howard Merritt Martin Crossan Johnnie McAleer Linda McAleer Alan Tonner Brian Millar Robert McCleneghen Steven Ayre Andy Gray James McLaren James Crainie Welliam Claxton
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 12:59:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015