26/11/2013 Reporting Scotland

That is all from BBC News At Six, I will be back with more from

Edinburgh at ten. Good evening from Edinburgh and to a

special edition of Reporting Scotland. This White Paper is the

most details group meant that any people have been offered anywhere in

the world. Alex Salmond launches his blueprint for independence saying

that it will deliver a fairer, more prosperous country for all. We'll be

joined live by the First Minister to ask him about these plans. Fear not

- it might be a document stretching to 670 pages but our political and

business editors will be on hand to guide us through what all this means

for you. When you have a big decision to make about the future,

sometimes it helps to reflect on the past. Today we have met up with some

teenagers who at the moment do not know how they will vote in the

referendum. We will, of course, be right across the country hearing

from you and what effect today will have on how you choose to vote. We

will bring you reactions from Imams and dads, senior citizens and

business owners. We've long had the coulds and the

shoulds regarding independence. Today we got the how - 670 pages of

"how" to be precise. This is the weighty White Paper the SNP hopes

will be enough to win a referendum and create an independent Scotland.

It describes its contents as a game changer. The unionist opposition

says it contains nothing new. Over the next hour, with input from our

experts as well as hearing live from the First Minister and from the

leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, you can

begin to form your own view. First our political editor Brian Taylor

joins me. Brian, a long-awaited publication. Do the contents live up

to the promises? It does two things. It entrenches that argument, the

debate about why, issues about the currency and the EU but it also

opens a new front which is on the issue of the policies that could be

implemented by an independent parliament, issues like welfare

changes. We will have more on that in this programme, we will have the

contention and controversy. What people want to hear first ball is

what is in the White Paper. It is a vision of a new Scotland or it is a

ruinous nightmare. You choose. Either way, this is the prospectus

for independence. Scotland would run her own economy, defence and

security with the Queen remaining head of state. And varnished, here

is the offer. An independent Scotland would keep the pound in a

UK Sterling zone. Ministers seen only to increase taxes. To boost

growth they would cut corporation tax by 3% and halve air passenger

due to. Pensions will be paid in full and on time. From 2016, new

pensioners would get ?160 a week. And ministers are against increasing

the pension age to 67. And welfare it has scrapped the bedroom tax and

hold the roll-out of universal credit and personal independent

payments. They maintain free higher education but the big idea, a

significant increase in early learning and childcare, partly to

encourage mothers back to work. On defence they would move Trident out

of Scottish waters within the first independent parliament. They would

join the NATO alliance as a non-nuclear member. Scotland would

be a member of the European Union, negotiating terms. British citizens

in Scotland and Scots born citizens elsewhere would be entitled to a

Scottish passport. Scotland would have 70 - 90 embassies. Scots would

not face a border travelling to England or Ireland. Scotland would

welcome more income is willing to work. We would have our own James

Bond, our own security and intelligence agency. There will be

an energy fund to store up for the revenue and a 5% cut in fuel bills

with direct funding of green levies. Finally there would be a Scottish

broadcasting service but linked to the BBC so that you would still see

Doctor Who and other hit shows. You will be detailed negotiations

between Edinburgh and London and alongside that, with the EU and

NATO. Scottish ministers said that could be wrapped up by March 2016.

The first election into an independent Scotland would be on the

5th of May 2016. It is a vision, a nightmare. The best of times the

worst of times. It is your choice. The day began with the launch of the

White Paper in Glasgow and ended here at the parliament in Edinburgh.

Glenn Campbell followed its progress.

In the weeks before Christmas you may not have been dreaming about I

White Paper, but if you are interested in a blueprint for

independent Scotland, copies are available. 20,000 have been

printed, over 670 pages, ministers set out how they think an

independent Scotland would work in the policies they would like to

pursue. Scotland's future is now in Scotland's hands. The first Minister

and his deputy face questions from home and abroad. Some Westminster

-based correspondence ( link move their status. In reality, Mr Salmond

knows he still has much work to do to win over a majority of voters.

People will look at what we are saying about the reality of modern

Scotland, how we can change the fundamental tea of childcare, then

the bedroom tax and they will see the reason for voting for an

independent Scotland. This guide is available online way you can search

for answers. But take currency. The Scottish government sets out reasons

why the rest of the UK would want to continue to share the pound but it

would not say what would happen if the rest of the UK said no. Much

would depend more detailed negotiation after the referendum.

Those campaigning for Scotland to stay in the UK are unimpressed. If

it were proper, it would have the price list that comes with the wish

list. You talk about cuts in corporation tax but that means money

has to come from somewhere else. In parliament, opposition leaders

questioned the SNP's commitment to better childcare. Children denied

the chance of proper care unless their parents vote the way the SNP

want them to. If the Deputy first minister wants to prove this is not

retail politics, can she tell us how much this policy would cost? The

deputy first minister said expanding free childcare would eventually pay

for itself. It is an ambitious, transformational policy that

independence gives us the ability to do. The Queen is said independence

would give Hollywood the chance to choose its priorities. I would love

to find a childcare revolution by scrapping the weapons of war rather

than cutting public services. The referendum will be held next year,

18 months before the Scottish government's proposed date for

independence. Voters have a forest of argument and analysis as they

decide what direction Scotland should take. It is a big decision

and the outcome either way is for keeps. Not just for Christmas.

The Scottish government said today independence would make Scotland a

stronger, fairer society. But can they convince voters they're right?

Here's our business correspondent David Henderson.

It is families like this one who will decide Scotland's future. Three

generations with a vote in next year 's referendum so what issues are on

their minds? I am looking to find out how much taxation will stay the

same, will we pay extra for the services? Interest rates. Lots of

questions. Today the Scottish government said voters would be

better off in an independent Scotland. But that claim has been

challenged. North Sea oil and gas would produce billions in revenue

each year. But its future strength is in dispute. The Scottish

government have a different view from the Institute of fiscal studies

about how much money would be derived from the North Sea and ?4

billion is about the margin. Today's paper is designed to appeal to Scots

living up and down the country. In it the SMP government makes the case

for transformational change but at the same time, it is looking to keep

many of the popular things which voters might not want to give up.

That is a hard balance to strike. So caution is a watchword for the SNP

not least on a key plank of public spending, the welfare budget. Will

be state pension be OK? Betty is retired and relies on her state

pension. The SNP, says she will receive a more generous pension if

Scotland votes for independence and it wants to scrap changes to the

welfare system brought in by Westminster. If we look at what the

Scottish government is saying, its language and its aspirations may

read the aspirations of the UK government. If there is a point in

being independent, it is surely to try to establish new principles and

strike out in new directions. The SNP is hoping what they have offered

is the right mix of baldness and caution but we will wait ten months

before we know if that suits voters tastes.

Let's look in a bit more detail at the contents of the White Paper.

Joined again by Brian Taylor and our business and economy editor Douglas

Fraser. Was there anything new today? It is a tumour nation of the

16 policies -- cumulation. The issue of childcare stands out. That is

open to criticism by others. Rivals will say that Alex Salmond is in

charge of that issue now and could get on with it if he wants by

enhancing it with in a devolved Scotland rather than wait for

independence but the objective is to attract more people, not more

mothers back to work and enhance the tax takings. At the moment they

flood the way to the UK Treasury rather than coming to Scotland. In

terms of the policies, many will not happen until not only is their

independence but the real election of a SNP government. These are

conditional policies and some are saying there should not be the

equivalent of SNP intentions set out in the paper. People do not just

want to hear about the issues of the structure of the how of

independence. They want to hear what might happen for them. Within those

terms, there is reasonable, as long as the paper stresses that Iraq

alternatives available and that it is about the powers available to the

people of Scotland to choose. But there will be huge arguments about

this childcare offer. We hear the economy is the number-1 issue. Did

they do enough within the paper to win that battle? They have to do

three things. One is to figure out the public finances and whether they

are safe in Scotland. The performance of the Scottish economy

is no less bad as the UK as a whole and could stand alone therefore.

They need to set how these powers could Bruce growth.

They need to set how these powers also need to prove they are getting

the economic fundamentals right, the access to trade within the EU and

the currency issue. That is the issue from which they are receiving

the most sustained questioning. The crucial thing they are trying to get

through is reassurance that it will be OK. Lots of promises. Do the sums

add up? We have had an illustration of that. They juggled money around a

bit. They cut back on defence. Not as much as they could. They are

promising to spend more on childcare as well. The crucial element in all

of this would be oil and gas. They need to keep that sustained. Even

their own advisers are telling them that may not be possible in the long

term. Not to depend on oil and gas coming in at the same levels. And

there is a pressure from the demographic change, and ageing

population. Gentlemen, thank you very much.

We'll be back in a few minutes where I'll be speaking to the First

Minister Alex Salmond. But let's now get a summary of the rest of the

news with Sally McNair in Glasgow. Thank you.

Three teenagers who died in a car crash near North Berwick in East

Lothian last night have been named. They were 16-year-old Josh

James-Stewart, 15-year-old David Armstrong and Jenna Barbour who was

18. A fourth teenager, 16-year-old Robbie Gemmell, remains in a serious

condition in hospital. Lisa Summers reports.

Fragments of metal and plastic thrown into the nearby field.

Supporting wall partially demolished. The only signs of last

night's crash. 18-year-old Jenna Barbour, 15-year-old Josh

James-Stewart, 16-year-old David Armstrong or died at the scene.

16-year-old Robbie Gemmell remains in hospital with serious injuries.

The Peugeot 206 appears to have lost control and swerved into the wall.

There was an investigation carried out last night. And we are piecing

together all the evidence that we have, the condition of the vehicle,

a mechanical investigation of the vehicle, witness statements. The

three boys were students at Dunbar Grammar School. Jenna Barbour left

in the summer. There are people crying and hugging each other.

Others are putting a brave face on. But there is real devastation and

shock in the school. This is a long, straight stretch of road. It is not

clear what caused the car to veer out of control. Police will be

looking at whether the weather was a factor in this accident that led to

the loss of three young lives. The families of those involved must now

deal with the tragic consequences of this crash.

Police say a gun was deliberately fired at a building in Ratho Station

around 9.30 last night. No-one was injured. The main A8 route into

Edinburgh from the airport was sealed off in both directions

overnight and this morning while a forensic examination was carried

out, leading to long traffic tailbacks there and other major

roads in the surrounding area. A new warning system to alert

Stonehaven residents to flooding dangers has been launched. Dozens of

homes were evacuated and properties damaged after the River Carron burst

its banks last December. The new system will be operated by the

Scottish Environment Protection Agency and will take data from a

variety of sources, including Met Office forecasts.

Now, a big night for Celtic. Let's get the latest on tonight's

Champions League match, and the rest of the sport, from Rhona. Good

evening. Celtic must beat Italian club AC

Milan tonight to have any chance of reaching the next round of the

Champions League. The Celtic manager Neil Lennon says his players will be

tense, but not nervous, going into the must win match. But can they

they do it? David Currie has been gathering opinion.

With one win in four matches, Celtic are bottom of their champions league

group. Tonight's match will determine if they have a future in

this year's competition. I am sure there are many people here debating

the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence. But others

have other matters on their mind. They are asking if Celtic can do it

tonight? Let's gather some opinion. Definitely. They have been pushing

hard this year and trying hard. They are playing for pride. I think they

will definitely do it. It is win or bust for us in terms of

qualification. That may give the players are bit of extra oomph.

At the moment, it is difficult for AC Milan. There are albums inside

and outside the club. -- there are problems. A little bit tense. But

this could be a big motivation for us. Unlike the outcome of next's

referendum, your opinions do not count here. It is all down to the

players. Those questions answered with all

the build-up and commentary live on sports owned. -- Sportsound, Radio

Scotland 810 medium wave, the guys are already on air. Plus live text

on the BBC Sport Scotland website. Now, a look at what else is

happening across Scottish sport. The Alloa manager Paul Hartley will hold

talks with Inverness Caledonian Thistle about their vacant manager's

position. But he's not the only candidate Caley Thistle will be

talking to. The Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne

has revealed talks have re-opened with the city council about a move

to a new stadium at Loirston Loch near Cove.

Team Muirhead maintain their 100 per cent record with six wins out of six

in the round robin stages of the European Championships. Earlier

today they beat Italy. The Scots are joint top of the table with

Switzerland. The former Ryder Cup player and

captain Bernard Gallacher is to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement

award at the Scottish Golf Awards in February.

Andy Murray is the overwhelming bookies' favourite to win the BBC

Sports personality of the year. The short list for this year's title

will be revealed at seven o'clock. And there are more sports stories

plus all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC Sport Scotland's website.

And that is the White Paper of today's sport.

Thank you. Let's get the latest on the weather.

Good evening. It has been a mild day across the country. We will see some

patchy rain or drizzle across western areas. We are already seeing

that at the moment. Fairly misty conditions here. Holding onto.

Conditions across the Northern Isles. It will be quite breezy

across northern Scotland and the West Coast as well. Further inland,

lighter winds and temperatures on them mild side. In eastern Scotland,

a dip in temperatures. Tomorrow starts off on a dull, damp note

across western Scotland, it's an pieces of rain around. But in the

east, driver some brightness coming through. Ivy afternoon, we should

see some brighter PDFs for the West. -- greater periods. It will brighten

up across the far north-west and Northern Isles. Those temperatures

staying in double figures everywhere. The sunshine coming

through but the Grampian area, Angus and across Fife and the Edinburgh

area. Holding onto those mild temperatures. As we head into the

evening, we start to lose the rain and drizzle across western areas. We

are looking at the drying out for much of the country with even a

touch of frost. This weather front crosses the country on Thursday,

introducing some rain. Another one pulls in, introducing cold air.

Those states are striped with some brightness. -- Thursday starts dry.

Thank you. Welcome back. Today, the SNP launched their long-awaited

White Paper on independence. Over the next half hour or so, we'll

learn more about its contents, we'll speak live to Alistair Darling, the

former Chancellor, who's leading the unionists' campaign, we'll get the

view from across the border and we'll go round the country to get

your first impressions about what is on offer - everything from pensions,

childcare to business and beyond. But first, I'm joined by the First

Minister Alex Salmond. Mr Salmond you described today as a

game change in the independence debate.

If you had to pick out one policy from that White Paper that

encapsulates that, what would it be? The transformation on childcare on

offer in the White Paper. That gets the debate on how you get to

independence, but what you do with that independence, what you can do

for pensioners, for childcare, getting the Scottish economy moving.

That is the game changer. What we can do for Scotland with

independence. But you can offer that in childcare. It is an issue you are

in control of. It is already in your gift. We have gone from 400 hours to

600 hours in the current bill. But to go to that transformation, we

need access to the additional revenues it will generate. It could

generate an extra 700 million -- ?700 million a year. If we were

operating at Swedish levels. Under the current system, that would

disappear down to London. Under independence, it comes into the

Scottish Exchequer. Two key issues. You say you will keep the pound and

there will be seamless entry into the EU. Downing Street say you can

forget about keeping the pound, and any new country would have to

reapply for European neighbour ship. -- membership. They are arguments

that keeping our pound, which is our currency as well as London's, is

good for Scotland and the rest of the UK. It is good for Scotland and

the rest of the UK. That quotation from the European Commissioner does

not contradict what is enough White Paper. -- what is in the White

Paper. I think they can be secure about Scotland's position in Europe.

There is a question about Europe. The Tories say they will have an in

out referendum after the next general election. The yes campaign

has been trailing in the polls, have you done enough today to overturn

that? We were 9% behind at the weekend. It is not just about

today. It is about what you do with the White Paper. How do we take that

message to the streets of Scotland. How we articulate that vision. The

thing I have learned is up in a positive campaign comes up against a

negative campaign, the positive campaign will win. Today, we have

got down to the issues that matter to Scots. Childcare, pensions, but

positively -- that positive vision of the future that will win it.

Thank you. You're watching an extended edition

of Reporting Scotland. As we've just heard, the First Minister says that

independence will change Scotland for the better. In a moment, we'll

hear from the man who says that this prospectus is nothing more than a

wish list. And what of the voters? The referendum next September will

give 16-year-olds a vote on Scotland's future. Our reporter

Aileen Clarke has been talking to five teenagers who will be casting

their ballot, but who are unsure as yet how they will vote. With the

White Paper launch taking over the futuristic Science Centre, they met

up down the road at Glasgow's oldest museum.

When making big decisions about the future it's often helpful to reflect

on the past, so we're here at Kelvingrove Museum to meet some

teenagers who, so far, don't know which way they will vote in

September. He was King of Scotland. He fought for independence. But he

did not win. Questions. How much will we have to pay off? We do not

want to start a new country with debt. Health care and education,

will that still be free? On state pensions, how will that work?

Hot from the White Paper launch, some cramming for these students.

Lots of points about how we could stay independent because of trade. I

feel that they have been vague and what they have told us. A

constitution about how we want things to run, but the Queen would

still be head of state. They would like to see over 1000 hours being

given out a year in childcare, free of charge. I thought that was an

interesting initiative. It does make me doubt it because it is so

positive. You think, what is the negative because they don't mention

it a lot. Has today's paper help them form their views on that

referendum vote next year? I am still undecided. Even though it was

positive, it has not changed my mind. I am more towards the no side.

One key area was the defence and how they would cut that. That will have

an economic strain. A lot of things reassured me and I am leaning

towards the yes vote. I feel the White Paper has swayed my decision

towards no because of the aspects of nuclear weapons. There is that

constant doubt in my mind. This explains it so you understand why

people have those opinions. It has helped me. Our teenagers arrived

undecided and they have left they say better informed but they still

do not know how they will cast their vote in September. They are

promising to do lots more reading before then.

One man who has awaited the publication of the White Paper

almost as eagerly as Alex Salmon is the leader of the Better Together

campaign, former Chancellor Alistair Darling who's with me now. The

central plank of the White Paper is Scotland keeps the pound. What would

be wrong with that? It would depend on whether you could negotiate with

the rest of the UK. They would have to agree whether they would pull

your sovereignty, the tow your budget and you have to agree the

terms and conditions, for example, how could you vary and economic

policy north and south of the border. We have a lot of economic

integration within the EU which is calling for more political

integration. When we speak to viewers, one of the biggest

criticisms is they say they cannot get a clear answer, clear response

from either party. So far on the pound from the Better Together

group, they say it is unlikely. If it will not happen, why can't you

save the pound, not a chance. It would depend on the position. At the

moment we have a UK government. If you vote for independence you will

have two separate governments. They will be doing the negotiation and

they have to decide whether they will enter an agreement whereby they

pull their sovereignty and each has to agree their own budgets and all

the terms and conditions. It is a nonstarter because I cannot see why

either side would want to enter into a straitjacket which would mean they

would be locked into each other as economic policies without a

political union. It would be up to those then independent governments

coming to agreement. Why throw away what we have at the moment with the

opportunities that come from firms that can sell south of the border

without impediment. They have the single currency, single market, why

throw that away? What can you offer people who are unhappy with the

status quo? They want something more. I don't want a Tory

government, coalition government but what I am certain about when I look

at what is good for Scotland, is the opportunities that come from having

a larger market for firms, businesses, that is what creates

jobs. The opportunities and securities that come from being a

larger country. Like the fact we know we have to make the cost of a

rising elderly population at a time when North Sea oil revenues are

going down. You can spread that burden over a larger population. We

are throwing that away. Is not the problem with disparate groups within

Better Together is they do not speak with a single voice. You are not

offering a message. What ever felt happens next year is not the status

code but Better Together is not a political party. The Nationalists

are putting forward a proposition that says we should leave the UK and

they have promised today everything you want but at the same time they

are saying nothing about those changes. We are saying we are

entitled to question that possibly should -- proposition because we do

not believe it. Yes in terms of the politics, what the political parties

offer at elections subsequent to that, they do have differences but

on this one issue, are we Better Together as part of the UK, then I

think the answer is yes. Thank you. It's early days but what do people

around Scotland think about what's been set out today? First we go to

Inverness and Craig Anderson who's been talking to pensioners.

The fact is that Scots are getting older. But the proportion of elderly

people within the population is actually increasing so today, I took

myself off to a senior citizens group to hear their hopes and fears

on the day the White paper was published. Our own parliament is

being sympathetic to pensioners so I have no worries that way because we

seem to get more than pensioners in England. I cannot see how they can

afford to pay pensions at the same level they are doing now. Things

will carry on the same as they are just now with the free home care and

for their medication. I wonder about the pension, whether it has been

thought into. Where we have our own money, own passports? Scotland can

afford anything it wants to do but it has to make its own decision to

do that. There we have the difference of views here in

Inverness, but that is the picture as pensioners see it here.

More provision of childcare in an independent Scotland is one of the

central pledges outlined today. Our reporter Steven Duff has been to a

nursery in Aberdeen to find out what parents think.

Playtime at the rocking horse nursery in Aberdeen. The Scottish

government 's White Paper not on the minds of these children. Childcare

is a costly business. I work full-time, my husband works as well.

He is a bit more flexible which allows us to send the kids to

nursery in the morning but it forces us to only send them in the morning

because the cost is prohibitive. My wife works, she is a professional,

works 30 hours a week. Pretty much her salary is wiped out by the cost

of childcare. The White Paper sets out how by the end of the second

Parliament in an independent Scotland, close to full-time free

childcare would be in place. Does that mean more taxes? On an

individual level it is a lot of money so the benefits of that money

gets returned to the economy. In Norway, Sweden, Finland, childcare

and encouraging both parents to work is a priority and those are

societies where family is protected. The Better Together

campaign points out the Scottish government already has the power to

increase free childcare provision. Let's turn our attention to business

now and particularly the proposals for Scotland's small and

medium-sized companies. The White Paper outlines ways in which their

costs might be cut along with a reduction in red tape. Andrew

Anderson joins us now from Dundee where he's been seeking reaction.

There is a specific section in the White Paper aimed at small and

medium businesses. It talks about continuing the small business

bonus, a scheme that reduces or eliminates business rates for some

companies. There is also talk of looking at the juicing employers

National Insurance contribution. I have been speaking to the owners of

three small companies for their reaction. It is something that has

to be studied in detail. It is made to look attractive to as wide a base

as possible but everything has to be looked at in detail. On the face of

it, with regards to small businesses, it looks attractive. I

believe there will be less burden on us as far as demands from the

government. This will be very beneficial. The red tape, we have to

pay others to deal with that. My job as a hairdresser. Can the country

afforded? I have lived in Norway and it is a wonderful place as long as

you have lots of money but not everyone does. I am scared that

either as a business owner or resident, it will cost us a fortune

and I want more answers. The White Paper also makes a commitment to

increasing the minimum wage by at least the rate of inflation and that

would impact on employers payroll but the companies I spoke to said

they had no problem with that, although one did say he would expect

youngsters to make a full contribution in the workplace from

day one. But all told me they would study the White Paper in detail in

the coming days. One of the main aims of today's White Paper is to

win over the "don't knows". Polls have consistently suggested the

unionist campaign has a substantial lead. John Curtice is Professor of

Politics at Strathclyde University. What did this White Paper have to

do? There were two things. The first was to try to dispel the uncertainty

that seems to surround the independence project so fell. They

have not said what will happen as a result and almost say to themselves

this seems too much as a risk. This white paper needed to create a sense

of certainty. The second was to try to persuade Scots that independence

would not -- would result in a strong and stronger Scotland. So far

opinion polls are saying this seems to be the thing that matters to

voters and however those who are pessimistic about the consequences

of independence, economically, outnumbered those who are

optimistic. It has not achieved those aims. Certainly on the

economy, yes the White Paper does tell us that Scotland would over the

longer run the stronger economically but there is also in this and

acknowledgement that although Scotland might be relatively better

off in terms of its public finances in the short-term, it would still be

in deficit, we would still spend more than we are getting in terms of

taxes. This paper is very conservative in what it offers

voters. Yes it offers childcare and pensions but there was not much on

public services. There isn't any offer to the ordinary voter of a tax

cut. It is not clear that in the short run the Scottish government is

going to give voters more money in their pockets and therefore it is

not clear that people will say they are better off. The problem the

government faces is that when we read this paper, much of what it

would like to do relies on the cooperation of the UK government. It

is the currency you have been talking about, Scotland's membership

of the EU. How universities are funded, how the National dealt is

handled. The Scottish government has to come to negotiations with either

the UK and EU. It might force the UK government to be more frank but the

truth is, because the answers are not entirely in the gift of the

Scottish government to give on these issues, I am not sure that the

uncertainty will be displayed. What does the no campaign have to do? The

first thing they have to watch is they have to avoid being accused of

being deliberately obfuscated dash of free skating. -- obfuscating. I

have heard Alistair Darling not give quite clear answers today. Next

year, in conferences, Unionist parties have to be more clear about

what Scotland might be offered post the referendum vote. At the moment,

I think the weakness of the no side is that it is not clear to Scotland

what a no vote would mean. The no argument is arguably less clear than

the yes argument. We've heard so far about the

potential implications of independence for Scotland and for

Scots, but what about the implications for England? Although

voters south of the border don't have a say in next year's

referendum, it will impact on them. Our Westminster correspondent Tim

Reid has been to Runnymede in Surrey to gauge opinion.

A tranquil piece of English countryside set in the heart of the

busiest commuter belt in Britain. But this is not any old spot. It was

public meetings here which paved the way the England's 13th century

parliament. In 1215, King John signed the Mike Carter -- Magna

Carta. A perfect setting . I feel the Scots will have problems

economically. I think we would all be weaker for it. The pooling of

talents of the whole of the United Kingdom is important for our

success. The Scots have been successful in a lot of areas. 500

years after the Magna Carta If you've just come in or

I do not know whether it would make massive difference to England as

such. I just think it is a sad thing that after being united for a so

long, it becomes fragmented. I think it is up to the Scottish people. It

is up to them. People here were concerned about the economic and

practical implications of a break-up of the union. What the rest of the

United Kingdom would be called and what would happen to the union flag.

There are military issues, the harbours and submarine bases up

north. North Sea oil. It is hugely complex. I would think the average

Scot, how will they know what proportion of the national debt are

they going to take on? Those are all questions which politicians will

seek to query and answer between now and polling day. But do English

voters really care? English indifference to the union is

probably the greatest threat to the union. Not directly because English

people do not have a vote. File voters living in Scotland get to

choose their nation state, those in England have to watch and wait and

do with any potential consequences for the rest of the United Kingdom

after that. If you've just come in or you'd like

to take your time digesting today's events, you can get full details of

the Scottish Government's White Paper on Independence, including a

summary of each area by BBC experts, by visiting our website.

Julie Peacock can tell us more. At 680 pages long, not everyone will

want to read this from cover to cover. But our online team have been

crunching the details day. The redder the story, the more popular

it is. There has been more than 1 million hits to the BBC website

today. Elsewhere online, this is proving a big story. The web page

where you can get these has had a huge amount of traffic, of people

trying to download their own versions. If you want the latest

news and analysis, remember to come here.

And for some final thoughts we're now joined by two political

commentators, our very own Brian Taylor, and Nick Robinson.

What is your analysis, Brian? It is striking that it opens up a new

front in this debate. We have had a structural debate about issues like

the currency, we will certainly have that again, it is germane and

salient debate. There is this new issue, and enhanced issue of the

offer of what they would do with regard to welfare. Particularly this

offer on childcare. This opens up the debate on two France. On

childcare, if -- on two fronts. Alex Salmond is arguing that the tax

revenues , if they were to do this now, would go to Westminster. Can it

be afforded? Could the money be found? That opens up into the wider

economy. Alex Salmond believes the welfare of is the way of going over

their heads of his opponents to the issues that concern the voters. And

if you from the international press? I came over domestic media badge,

but some of my colleagues were given international media badge is. What I

have noticed is the town. There was the chance that this would feel like

the birth of a new nation, or the first looked at us can be new baby.

-- first look at the scan. But it was a low-key, corporate sales job.

Almost a rebranding exercise. It was as much about reassurance to

voters. I think all sides in this argument now that there is a group

that have made up their minds in favour, or against it, and there is

a very a group in the middle. What Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon are

seeing is that we have the answers, being reassuring. In one sense,

everything changes, but on the other hand, all those things you might

worry about, will the Queen still be there? Will EastEnders still be

there? Don't worry, it will Steve the same. The debate now is whether

the Better Together campaign can pull that apart. What about the

thinking in Downing Street? There is as much chance of you hearing

tonight from an English conservative, Southern voice from

Downing Street as of me playing the bagpipes. They do not want to see a

single word. They want this to be a Scottish debate. They know that it

suits Scottish -- it suits Alex Salmond if he is portrayed in any

other way. But that appeal on welfare, I agree with Brian on that.

Is the ball now in the Court of the Better Together campaign? The better

together campaign will be casting doubt on the offer on welfare, can

it be afforded? The offer of joining the European Union, but what would

happen if there were objections? Reassurance comes from the Scottish

government. Alex Salmond could paint his face blue, cry Freedom and with

a kilt, but would only attract a certain section of the audience that

are already committed. What he has to have is a pragmatic campaign as

well as one about passion. For many, the idea of Scottish

independence is a given. What he has to do is make the economic,

pragmatic argument and address those concerns, and those concerns are

real. They are down to earth economic concerns. Not concerns

about the European Union. They are concerns about welfare, pensions.

The opposition may feel that it is bogus, in I get it -- in accurate,

but I think they are concerned that it may be populist. It is a battle

between two agendas. I thought it was very striking that when the

first minister was being asked about big issues, he wanted to talk about

jobs and childcare. It will be a tussle between the two agendas as

both sides try to say we are talking about the thing that really matters.

In the end, if you had a hope that he would get all the answers here,

you were always going to be disappointed. This is a debate and

there are answers on both sides. And you can see an extended

interview with the First Minister on Newsnight Scotland tonight on BBC

Two at 11 o'clock. And that's all from Holyrood on yet another

significant milestone on the road to the referendum. If you haven't yet

made up your mind, the good news is you still have another 295 days left

to do so. From everyone on the Reporting Scotland team around the