:00:00. > :00:00.That is all from BBC News At Six, I will be back with more from
:00:00. > :00:19.Edinburgh at ten. Good evening from Edinburgh and to a
:00:20. > :00:32.special edition of Reporting Scotland. This White Paper is the
:00:33. > :00:35.most details group meant that any people have been offered anywhere in
:00:36. > :00:38.the world. Alex Salmond launches his blueprint for independence saying
:00:39. > :00:42.that it will deliver a fairer, more prosperous country for all. We'll be
:00:43. > :00:46.joined live by the First Minister to ask him about these plans. Fear not
:00:47. > :00:50.- it might be a document stretching to 670 pages but our political and
:00:51. > :00:59.business editors will be on hand to guide us through what all this means
:01:00. > :01:03.for you. When you have a big decision to make about the future,
:01:04. > :01:09.sometimes it helps to reflect on the past. Today we have met up with some
:01:10. > :01:16.teenagers who at the moment do not know how they will vote in the
:01:17. > :01:17.referendum. We will, of course, be right across the country hearing
:01:18. > :01:25.from you and what effect today will have on how you choose to vote. We
:01:26. > :01:29.will bring you reactions from Imams and dads, senior citizens and
:01:30. > :01:33.business owners. We've long had the coulds and the
:01:34. > :01:37.shoulds regarding independence. Today we got the how - 670 pages of
:01:38. > :01:41."how" to be precise. This is the weighty White Paper the SNP hopes
:01:42. > :01:44.will be enough to win a referendum and create an independent Scotland.
:01:45. > :01:47.It describes its contents as a game changer. The unionist opposition
:01:48. > :01:51.says it contains nothing new. Over the next hour, with input from our
:01:52. > :01:54.experts as well as hearing live from the First Minister and from the
:01:55. > :01:58.leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, you can
:01:59. > :02:00.begin to form your own view. First our political editor Brian Taylor
:02:01. > :02:10.joins me. Brian, a long-awaited publication. Do the contents live up
:02:11. > :02:18.to the promises? It does two things. It entrenches that argument, the
:02:19. > :02:25.debate about why, issues about the currency and the EU but it also
:02:26. > :02:29.opens a new front which is on the issue of the policies that could be
:02:30. > :02:35.implemented by an independent parliament, issues like welfare
:02:36. > :02:39.changes. We will have more on that in this programme, we will have the
:02:40. > :02:47.contention and controversy. What people want to hear first ball is
:02:48. > :02:53.what is in the White Paper. It is a vision of a new Scotland or it is a
:02:54. > :02:58.ruinous nightmare. You choose. Either way, this is the prospectus
:02:59. > :03:02.for independence. Scotland would run her own economy, defence and
:03:03. > :03:06.security with the Queen remaining head of state. And varnished, here
:03:07. > :03:12.is the offer. An independent Scotland would keep the pound in a
:03:13. > :03:18.UK Sterling zone. Ministers seen only to increase taxes. To boost
:03:19. > :03:24.growth they would cut corporation tax by 3% and halve air passenger
:03:25. > :03:33.due to. Pensions will be paid in full and on time. From 2016, new
:03:34. > :03:39.pensioners would get ?160 a week. And ministers are against increasing
:03:40. > :03:43.the pension age to 67. And welfare it has scrapped the bedroom tax and
:03:44. > :03:47.hold the roll-out of universal credit and personal independent
:03:48. > :03:53.payments. They maintain free higher education but the big idea, a
:03:54. > :03:57.significant increase in early learning and childcare, partly to
:03:58. > :04:01.encourage mothers back to work. On defence they would move Trident out
:04:02. > :04:07.of Scottish waters within the first independent parliament. They would
:04:08. > :04:12.join the NATO alliance as a non-nuclear member. Scotland would
:04:13. > :04:17.be a member of the European Union, negotiating terms. British citizens
:04:18. > :04:24.in Scotland and Scots born citizens elsewhere would be entitled to a
:04:25. > :04:30.Scottish passport. Scotland would have 70 - 90 embassies. Scots would
:04:31. > :04:33.not face a border travelling to England or Ireland. Scotland would
:04:34. > :04:38.welcome more income is willing to work. We would have our own James
:04:39. > :04:43.Bond, our own security and intelligence agency. There will be
:04:44. > :04:48.an energy fund to store up for the revenue and a 5% cut in fuel bills
:04:49. > :04:53.with direct funding of green levies. Finally there would be a Scottish
:04:54. > :05:07.broadcasting service but linked to the BBC so that you would still see
:05:08. > :05:09.Doctor Who and other hit shows. You will be detailed negotiations
:05:10. > :05:14.between Edinburgh and London and alongside that, with the EU and
:05:15. > :05:22.NATO. Scottish ministers said that could be wrapped up by March 2016.
:05:23. > :05:27.The first election into an independent Scotland would be on the
:05:28. > :05:36.5th of May 2016. It is a vision, a nightmare. The best of times the
:05:37. > :05:40.worst of times. It is your choice. The day began with the launch of the
:05:41. > :05:42.White Paper in Glasgow and ended here at the parliament in Edinburgh.
:05:43. > :05:48.Glenn Campbell followed its progress.
:05:49. > :05:53.In the weeks before Christmas you may not have been dreaming about I
:05:54. > :05:57.White Paper, but if you are interested in a blueprint for
:05:58. > :06:05.independent Scotland, copies are available. 20,000 have been
:06:06. > :06:09.printed, over 670 pages, ministers set out how they think an
:06:10. > :06:14.independent Scotland would work in the policies they would like to
:06:15. > :06:21.pursue. Scotland's future is now in Scotland's hands. The first Minister
:06:22. > :06:27.and his deputy face questions from home and abroad. Some Westminster
:06:28. > :06:38.-based correspondence ( link move their status. In reality, Mr Salmond
:06:39. > :06:44.knows he still has much work to do to win over a majority of voters.
:06:45. > :06:50.People will look at what we are saying about the reality of modern
:06:51. > :06:54.Scotland, how we can change the fundamental tea of childcare, then
:06:55. > :07:00.the bedroom tax and they will see the reason for voting for an
:07:01. > :07:07.independent Scotland. This guide is available online way you can search
:07:08. > :07:13.for answers. But take currency. The Scottish government sets out reasons
:07:14. > :07:16.why the rest of the UK would want to continue to share the pound but it
:07:17. > :07:22.would not say what would happen if the rest of the UK said no. Much
:07:23. > :07:26.would depend more detailed negotiation after the referendum.
:07:27. > :07:32.Those campaigning for Scotland to stay in the UK are unimpressed. If
:07:33. > :07:38.it were proper, it would have the price list that comes with the wish
:07:39. > :07:45.list. You talk about cuts in corporation tax but that means money
:07:46. > :07:49.has to come from somewhere else. In parliament, opposition leaders
:07:50. > :07:57.questioned the SNP's commitment to better childcare. Children denied
:07:58. > :08:03.the chance of proper care unless their parents vote the way the SNP
:08:04. > :08:09.want them to. If the Deputy first minister wants to prove this is not
:08:10. > :08:15.retail politics, can she tell us how much this policy would cost? The
:08:16. > :08:24.deputy first minister said expanding free childcare would eventually pay
:08:25. > :08:26.for itself. It is an ambitious, transformational policy that
:08:27. > :08:38.independence gives us the ability to do. The Queen is said independence
:08:39. > :08:44.would give Hollywood the chance to choose its priorities. I would love
:08:45. > :08:48.to find a childcare revolution by scrapping the weapons of war rather
:08:49. > :08:55.than cutting public services. The referendum will be held next year,
:08:56. > :08:59.18 months before the Scottish government's proposed date for
:09:00. > :09:05.independence. Voters have a forest of argument and analysis as they
:09:06. > :09:11.decide what direction Scotland should take. It is a big decision
:09:12. > :09:18.and the outcome either way is for keeps. Not just for Christmas.
:09:19. > :09:21.The Scottish government said today independence would make Scotland a
:09:22. > :09:23.stronger, fairer society. But can they convince voters they're right?
:09:24. > :09:35.Here's our business correspondent David Henderson.
:09:36. > :09:40.It is families like this one who will decide Scotland's future. Three
:09:41. > :09:46.generations with a vote in next year 's referendum so what issues are on
:09:47. > :09:52.their minds? I am looking to find out how much taxation will stay the
:09:53. > :10:00.same, will we pay extra for the services? Interest rates. Lots of
:10:01. > :10:04.questions. Today the Scottish government said voters would be
:10:05. > :10:09.better off in an independent Scotland. But that claim has been
:10:10. > :10:14.challenged. North Sea oil and gas would produce billions in revenue
:10:15. > :10:19.each year. But its future strength is in dispute. The Scottish
:10:20. > :10:23.government have a different view from the Institute of fiscal studies
:10:24. > :10:31.about how much money would be derived from the North Sea and ?4
:10:32. > :10:36.billion is about the margin. Today's paper is designed to appeal to Scots
:10:37. > :10:40.living up and down the country. In it the SMP government makes the case
:10:41. > :10:44.for transformational change but at the same time, it is looking to keep
:10:45. > :10:52.many of the popular things which voters might not want to give up.
:10:53. > :10:56.That is a hard balance to strike. So caution is a watchword for the SNP
:10:57. > :11:06.not least on a key plank of public spending, the welfare budget. Will
:11:07. > :11:13.be state pension be OK? Betty is retired and relies on her state
:11:14. > :11:17.pension. The SNP, says she will receive a more generous pension if
:11:18. > :11:22.Scotland votes for independence and it wants to scrap changes to the
:11:23. > :11:26.welfare system brought in by Westminster. If we look at what the
:11:27. > :11:31.Scottish government is saying, its language and its aspirations may
:11:32. > :11:37.read the aspirations of the UK government. If there is a point in
:11:38. > :11:43.being independent, it is surely to try to establish new principles and
:11:44. > :11:48.strike out in new directions. The SNP is hoping what they have offered
:11:49. > :11:53.is the right mix of baldness and caution but we will wait ten months
:11:54. > :11:58.before we know if that suits voters tastes.
:11:59. > :12:01.Let's look in a bit more detail at the contents of the White Paper.
:12:02. > :12:08.Joined again by Brian Taylor and our business and economy editor Douglas
:12:09. > :12:18.Fraser. Was there anything new today? It is a tumour nation of the
:12:19. > :12:25.16 policies -- cumulation. The issue of childcare stands out. That is
:12:26. > :12:29.open to criticism by others. Rivals will say that Alex Salmond is in
:12:30. > :12:34.charge of that issue now and could get on with it if he wants by
:12:35. > :12:38.enhancing it with in a devolved Scotland rather than wait for
:12:39. > :12:43.independence but the objective is to attract more people, not more
:12:44. > :12:50.mothers back to work and enhance the tax takings. At the moment they
:12:51. > :12:58.flood the way to the UK Treasury rather than coming to Scotland. In
:12:59. > :13:03.terms of the policies, many will not happen until not only is their
:13:04. > :13:08.independence but the real election of a SNP government. These are
:13:09. > :13:13.conditional policies and some are saying there should not be the
:13:14. > :13:20.equivalent of SNP intentions set out in the paper. People do not just
:13:21. > :13:23.want to hear about the issues of the structure of the how of
:13:24. > :13:30.independence. They want to hear what might happen for them. Within those
:13:31. > :13:36.terms, there is reasonable, as long as the paper stresses that Iraq
:13:37. > :13:41.alternatives available and that it is about the powers available to the
:13:42. > :13:49.people of Scotland to choose. But there will be huge arguments about
:13:50. > :13:53.this childcare offer. We hear the economy is the number-1 issue. Did
:13:54. > :14:00.they do enough within the paper to win that battle? They have to do
:14:01. > :14:06.three things. One is to figure out the public finances and whether they
:14:07. > :14:10.are safe in Scotland. The performance of the Scottish economy
:14:11. > :14:15.is no less bad as the UK as a whole and could stand alone therefore.
:14:16. > :14:23.They need to set how these powers could Bruce growth.
:14:24. > :14:27.They need to set how these powers also need to prove they are getting
:14:28. > :14:35.the economic fundamentals right, the access to trade within the EU and
:14:36. > :14:40.the currency issue. That is the issue from which they are receiving
:14:41. > :14:46.the most sustained questioning. The crucial thing they are trying to get
:14:47. > :14:59.through is reassurance that it will be OK. Lots of promises. Do the sums
:15:00. > :15:07.add up? We have had an illustration of that. They juggled money around a
:15:08. > :15:12.bit. They cut back on defence. Not as much as they could. They are
:15:13. > :15:18.promising to spend more on childcare as well. The crucial element in all
:15:19. > :15:23.of this would be oil and gas. They need to keep that sustained. Even
:15:24. > :15:30.their own advisers are telling them that may not be possible in the long
:15:31. > :15:37.term. Not to depend on oil and gas coming in at the same levels. And
:15:38. > :15:41.there is a pressure from the demographic change, and ageing
:15:42. > :15:45.population. Gentlemen, thank you very much.
:15:46. > :15:49.We'll be back in a few minutes where I'll be speaking to the First
:15:50. > :15:54.Minister Alex Salmond. But let's now get a summary of the rest of the
:15:55. > :15:57.news with Sally McNair in Glasgow. Thank you.
:15:58. > :16:01.Three teenagers who died in a car crash near North Berwick in East
:16:02. > :16:04.Lothian last night have been named. They were 16-year-old Josh
:16:05. > :16:08.James-Stewart, 15-year-old David Armstrong and Jenna Barbour who was
:16:09. > :16:11.18. A fourth teenager, 16-year-old Robbie Gemmell, remains in a serious
:16:12. > :16:14.condition in hospital. Lisa Summers reports.
:16:15. > :16:19.Fragments of metal and plastic thrown into the nearby field.
:16:20. > :16:24.Supporting wall partially demolished. The only signs of last
:16:25. > :16:33.night's crash. 18-year-old Jenna Barbour, 15-year-old Josh
:16:34. > :16:37.James-Stewart, 16-year-old David Armstrong or died at the scene.
:16:38. > :16:47.16-year-old Robbie Gemmell remains in hospital with serious injuries.
:16:48. > :16:52.The Peugeot 206 appears to have lost control and swerved into the wall.
:16:53. > :16:59.There was an investigation carried out last night. And we are piecing
:17:00. > :17:03.together all the evidence that we have, the condition of the vehicle,
:17:04. > :17:10.a mechanical investigation of the vehicle, witness statements. The
:17:11. > :17:18.three boys were students at Dunbar Grammar School. Jenna Barbour left
:17:19. > :17:22.in the summer. There are people crying and hugging each other.
:17:23. > :17:29.Others are putting a brave face on. But there is real devastation and
:17:30. > :17:37.shock in the school. This is a long, straight stretch of road. It is not
:17:38. > :17:44.clear what caused the car to veer out of control. Police will be
:17:45. > :17:50.looking at whether the weather was a factor in this accident that led to
:17:51. > :17:55.the loss of three young lives. The families of those involved must now
:17:56. > :18:01.deal with the tragic consequences of this crash.
:18:02. > :18:05.Police say a gun was deliberately fired at a building in Ratho Station
:18:06. > :18:09.around 9.30 last night. No-one was injured. The main A8 route into
:18:10. > :18:13.Edinburgh from the airport was sealed off in both directions
:18:14. > :18:16.overnight and this morning while a forensic examination was carried
:18:17. > :18:20.out, leading to long traffic tailbacks there and other major
:18:21. > :18:23.roads in the surrounding area. A new warning system to alert
:18:24. > :18:27.Stonehaven residents to flooding dangers has been launched. Dozens of
:18:28. > :18:31.homes were evacuated and properties damaged after the River Carron burst
:18:32. > :18:35.its banks last December. The new system will be operated by the
:18:36. > :18:39.Scottish Environment Protection Agency and will take data from a
:18:40. > :18:42.variety of sources, including Met Office forecasts.
:18:43. > :18:46.Now, a big night for Celtic. Let's get the latest on tonight's
:18:47. > :18:48.Champions League match, and the rest of the sport, from Rhona. Good
:18:49. > :18:52.evening. Celtic must beat Italian club AC
:18:53. > :18:57.Milan tonight to have any chance of reaching the next round of the
:18:58. > :19:01.Champions League. The Celtic manager Neil Lennon says his players will be
:19:02. > :19:06.tense, but not nervous, going into the must win match. But can they
:19:07. > :19:10.they do it? David Currie has been gathering opinion.
:19:11. > :19:13.With one win in four matches, Celtic are bottom of their champions league
:19:14. > :19:18.group. Tonight's match will determine if they have a future in
:19:19. > :19:23.this year's competition. I am sure there are many people here debating
:19:24. > :19:28.the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence. But others
:19:29. > :19:36.have other matters on their mind. They are asking if Celtic can do it
:19:37. > :19:41.tonight? Let's gather some opinion. Definitely. They have been pushing
:19:42. > :19:49.hard this year and trying hard. They are playing for pride. I think they
:19:50. > :19:53.will definitely do it. It is win or bust for us in terms of
:19:54. > :20:08.qualification. That may give the players are bit of extra oomph.
:20:09. > :20:14.At the moment, it is difficult for AC Milan. There are albums inside
:20:15. > :20:26.and outside the club. -- there are problems. A little bit tense. But
:20:27. > :20:34.this could be a big motivation for us. Unlike the outcome of next's
:20:35. > :20:41.referendum, your opinions do not count here. It is all down to the
:20:42. > :20:49.players. Those questions answered with all
:20:50. > :21:02.the build-up and commentary live on sports owned. -- Sportsound, Radio
:21:03. > :21:07.Scotland 810 medium wave, the guys are already on air. Plus live text
:21:08. > :21:11.on the BBC Sport Scotland website. Now, a look at what else is
:21:12. > :21:15.happening across Scottish sport. The Alloa manager Paul Hartley will hold
:21:16. > :21:19.talks with Inverness Caledonian Thistle about their vacant manager's
:21:20. > :21:21.position. But he's not the only candidate Caley Thistle will be
:21:22. > :21:24.talking to. The Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne
:21:25. > :21:30.has revealed talks have re-opened with the city council about a move
:21:31. > :21:32.to a new stadium at Loirston Loch near Cove.
:21:33. > :21:37.Team Muirhead maintain their 100 per cent record with six wins out of six
:21:38. > :21:41.in the round robin stages of the European Championships. Earlier
:21:42. > :21:43.today they beat Italy. The Scots are joint top of the table with
:21:44. > :21:47.Switzerland. The former Ryder Cup player and
:21:48. > :21:51.captain Bernard Gallacher is to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement
:21:52. > :21:54.award at the Scottish Golf Awards in February.
:21:55. > :21:57.Andy Murray is the overwhelming bookies' favourite to win the BBC
:21:58. > :22:02.Sports personality of the year. The short list for this year's title
:22:03. > :22:07.will be revealed at seven o'clock. And there are more sports stories
:22:08. > :22:12.plus all the latest news, 24 hours a day on BBC Sport Scotland's website.
:22:13. > :22:14.And that is the White Paper of today's sport.
:22:15. > :22:24.Thank you. Let's get the latest on the weather.
:22:25. > :22:32.Good evening. It has been a mild day across the country. We will see some
:22:33. > :22:36.patchy rain or drizzle across western areas. We are already seeing
:22:37. > :22:42.that at the moment. Fairly misty conditions here. Holding onto.
:22:43. > :22:46.Conditions across the Northern Isles. It will be quite breezy
:22:47. > :22:50.across northern Scotland and the West Coast as well. Further inland,
:22:51. > :22:59.lighter winds and temperatures on them mild side. In eastern Scotland,
:23:00. > :23:04.a dip in temperatures. Tomorrow starts off on a dull, damp note
:23:05. > :23:08.across western Scotland, it's an pieces of rain around. But in the
:23:09. > :23:15.east, driver some brightness coming through. Ivy afternoon, we should
:23:16. > :23:27.see some brighter PDFs for the West. -- greater periods. It will brighten
:23:28. > :23:32.up across the far north-west and Northern Isles. Those temperatures
:23:33. > :23:35.staying in double figures everywhere. The sunshine coming
:23:36. > :23:44.through but the Grampian area, Angus and across Fife and the Edinburgh
:23:45. > :23:49.area. Holding onto those mild temperatures. As we head into the
:23:50. > :23:53.evening, we start to lose the rain and drizzle across western areas. We
:23:54. > :23:58.are looking at the drying out for much of the country with even a
:23:59. > :24:04.touch of frost. This weather front crosses the country on Thursday,
:24:05. > :24:09.introducing some rain. Another one pulls in, introducing cold air.
:24:10. > :24:22.Those states are striped with some brightness. -- Thursday starts dry.
:24:23. > :24:45.Thank you. Welcome back. Today, the SNP launched their long-awaited
:24:46. > :24:49.White Paper on independence. Over the next half hour or so, we'll
:24:50. > :24:53.learn more about its contents, we'll speak live to Alistair Darling, the
:24:54. > :24:57.former Chancellor, who's leading the unionists' campaign, we'll get the
:24:58. > :25:02.view from across the border and we'll go round the country to get
:25:03. > :25:07.your first impressions about what is on offer - everything from pensions,
:25:08. > :25:10.childcare to business and beyond. But first, I'm joined by the First
:25:11. > :25:14.Minister Alex Salmond. Mr Salmond you described today as a
:25:15. > :25:17.game change in the independence debate.
:25:18. > :25:21.If you had to pick out one policy from that White Paper that
:25:22. > :25:25.encapsulates that, what would it be? The transformation on childcare on
:25:26. > :25:30.offer in the White Paper. That gets the debate on how you get to
:25:31. > :25:34.independence, but what you do with that independence, what you can do
:25:35. > :25:38.for pensioners, for childcare, getting the Scottish economy moving.
:25:39. > :25:42.That is the game changer. What we can do for Scotland with
:25:43. > :25:49.independence. But you can offer that in childcare. It is an issue you are
:25:50. > :25:54.in control of. It is already in your gift. We have gone from 400 hours to
:25:55. > :26:00.600 hours in the current bill. But to go to that transformation, we
:26:01. > :26:10.need access to the additional revenues it will generate. It could
:26:11. > :26:16.generate an extra 700 million -- ?700 million a year. If we were
:26:17. > :26:22.operating at Swedish levels. Under the current system, that would
:26:23. > :26:31.disappear down to London. Under independence, it comes into the
:26:32. > :26:36.Scottish Exchequer. Two key issues. You say you will keep the pound and
:26:37. > :26:48.there will be seamless entry into the EU. Downing Street say you can
:26:49. > :26:53.forget about keeping the pound, and any new country would have to
:26:54. > :27:03.reapply for European neighbour ship. -- membership. They are arguments
:27:04. > :27:08.that keeping our pound, which is our currency as well as London's, is
:27:09. > :27:16.good for Scotland and the rest of the UK. It is good for Scotland and
:27:17. > :27:21.the rest of the UK. That quotation from the European Commissioner does
:27:22. > :27:31.not contradict what is enough White Paper. -- what is in the White
:27:32. > :27:36.Paper. I think they can be secure about Scotland's position in Europe.
:27:37. > :27:44.There is a question about Europe. The Tories say they will have an in
:27:45. > :27:50.out referendum after the next general election. The yes campaign
:27:51. > :27:56.has been trailing in the polls, have you done enough today to overturn
:27:57. > :28:07.that? We were 9% behind at the weekend. It is not just about
:28:08. > :28:13.today. It is about what you do with the White Paper. How do we take that
:28:14. > :28:19.message to the streets of Scotland. How we articulate that vision. The
:28:20. > :28:23.thing I have learned is up in a positive campaign comes up against a
:28:24. > :28:28.negative campaign, the positive campaign will win. Today, we have
:28:29. > :28:32.got down to the issues that matter to Scots. Childcare, pensions, but
:28:33. > :28:42.positively -- that positive vision of the future that will win it.
:28:43. > :28:46.Thank you. You're watching an extended edition
:28:47. > :28:49.of Reporting Scotland. As we've just heard, the First Minister says that
:28:50. > :28:55.independence will change Scotland for the better. In a moment, we'll
:28:56. > :29:00.hear from the man who says that this prospectus is nothing more than a
:29:01. > :29:03.wish list. And what of the voters? The referendum next September will
:29:04. > :29:07.give 16-year-olds a vote on Scotland's future. Our reporter
:29:08. > :29:11.Aileen Clarke has been talking to five teenagers who will be casting
:29:12. > :29:16.their ballot, but who are unsure as yet how they will vote. With the
:29:17. > :29:20.White Paper launch taking over the futuristic Science Centre, they met
:29:21. > :29:22.up down the road at Glasgow's oldest museum.
:29:23. > :29:27.When making big decisions about the future it's often helpful to reflect
:29:28. > :29:31.on the past, so we're here at Kelvingrove Museum to meet some
:29:32. > :29:37.teenagers who, so far, don't know which way they will vote in
:29:38. > :29:46.September. He was King of Scotland. He fought for independence. But he
:29:47. > :29:52.did not win. Questions. How much will we have to pay off? We do not
:29:53. > :29:57.want to start a new country with debt. Health care and education,
:29:58. > :30:04.will that still be free? On state pensions, how will that work?
:30:05. > :30:15.Hot from the White Paper launch, some cramming for these students.
:30:16. > :30:22.Lots of points about how we could stay independent because of trade. I
:30:23. > :30:28.feel that they have been vague and what they have told us. A
:30:29. > :30:33.constitution about how we want things to run, but the Queen would
:30:34. > :30:39.still be head of state. They would like to see over 1000 hours being
:30:40. > :30:51.given out a year in childcare, free of charge. I thought that was an
:30:52. > :30:57.interesting initiative. It does make me doubt it because it is so
:30:58. > :31:03.positive. You think, what is the negative because they don't mention
:31:04. > :31:09.it a lot. Has today's paper help them form their views on that
:31:10. > :31:16.referendum vote next year? I am still undecided. Even though it was
:31:17. > :31:24.positive, it has not changed my mind. I am more towards the no side.
:31:25. > :31:31.One key area was the defence and how they would cut that. That will have
:31:32. > :31:44.an economic strain. A lot of things reassured me and I am leaning
:31:45. > :31:52.towards the yes vote. I feel the White Paper has swayed my decision
:31:53. > :31:59.towards no because of the aspects of nuclear weapons. There is that
:32:00. > :32:03.constant doubt in my mind. This explains it so you understand why
:32:04. > :32:11.people have those opinions. It has helped me. Our teenagers arrived
:32:12. > :32:15.undecided and they have left they say better informed but they still
:32:16. > :32:18.do not know how they will cast their vote in September. They are
:32:19. > :32:24.promising to do lots more reading before then.
:32:25. > :32:27.One man who has awaited the publication of the White Paper
:32:28. > :32:30.almost as eagerly as Alex Salmon is the leader of the Better Together
:32:31. > :32:39.campaign, former Chancellor Alistair Darling who's with me now. The
:32:40. > :32:45.central plank of the White Paper is Scotland keeps the pound. What would
:32:46. > :32:50.be wrong with that? It would depend on whether you could negotiate with
:32:51. > :32:58.the rest of the UK. They would have to agree whether they would pull
:32:59. > :33:02.your sovereignty, the tow your budget and you have to agree the
:33:03. > :33:07.terms and conditions, for example, how could you vary and economic
:33:08. > :33:15.policy north and south of the border. We have a lot of economic
:33:16. > :33:22.integration within the EU which is calling for more political
:33:23. > :33:26.integration. When we speak to viewers, one of the biggest
:33:27. > :33:33.criticisms is they say they cannot get a clear answer, clear response
:33:34. > :33:38.from either party. So far on the pound from the Better Together
:33:39. > :33:44.group, they say it is unlikely. If it will not happen, why can't you
:33:45. > :33:51.save the pound, not a chance. It would depend on the position. At the
:33:52. > :33:57.moment we have a UK government. If you vote for independence you will
:33:58. > :34:01.have two separate governments. They will be doing the negotiation and
:34:02. > :34:05.they have to decide whether they will enter an agreement whereby they
:34:06. > :34:11.pull their sovereignty and each has to agree their own budgets and all
:34:12. > :34:16.the terms and conditions. It is a nonstarter because I cannot see why
:34:17. > :34:22.either side would want to enter into a straitjacket which would mean they
:34:23. > :34:26.would be locked into each other as economic policies without a
:34:27. > :34:32.political union. It would be up to those then independent governments
:34:33. > :34:36.coming to agreement. Why throw away what we have at the moment with the
:34:37. > :34:43.opportunities that come from firms that can sell south of the border
:34:44. > :34:49.without impediment. They have the single currency, single market, why
:34:50. > :34:53.throw that away? What can you offer people who are unhappy with the
:34:54. > :35:02.status quo? They want something more. I don't want a Tory
:35:03. > :35:08.government, coalition government but what I am certain about when I look
:35:09. > :35:12.at what is good for Scotland, is the opportunities that come from having
:35:13. > :35:18.a larger market for firms, businesses, that is what creates
:35:19. > :35:23.jobs. The opportunities and securities that come from being a
:35:24. > :35:28.larger country. Like the fact we know we have to make the cost of a
:35:29. > :35:33.rising elderly population at a time when North Sea oil revenues are
:35:34. > :35:41.going down. You can spread that burden over a larger population. We
:35:42. > :35:46.are throwing that away. Is not the problem with disparate groups within
:35:47. > :35:53.Better Together is they do not speak with a single voice. You are not
:35:54. > :35:58.offering a message. What ever felt happens next year is not the status
:35:59. > :36:04.code but Better Together is not a political party. The Nationalists
:36:05. > :36:08.are putting forward a proposition that says we should leave the UK and
:36:09. > :36:13.they have promised today everything you want but at the same time they
:36:14. > :36:22.are saying nothing about those changes. We are saying we are
:36:23. > :36:29.entitled to question that possibly should -- proposition because we do
:36:30. > :36:33.not believe it. Yes in terms of the politics, what the political parties
:36:34. > :36:38.offer at elections subsequent to that, they do have differences but
:36:39. > :36:47.on this one issue, are we Better Together as part of the UK, then I
:36:48. > :36:50.think the answer is yes. Thank you. It's early days but what do people
:36:51. > :36:54.around Scotland think about what's been set out today? First we go to
:36:55. > :37:04.Inverness and Craig Anderson who's been talking to pensioners.
:37:05. > :37:10.The fact is that Scots are getting older. But the proportion of elderly
:37:11. > :37:15.people within the population is actually increasing so today, I took
:37:16. > :37:19.myself off to a senior citizens group to hear their hopes and fears
:37:20. > :37:31.on the day the White paper was published. Our own parliament is
:37:32. > :37:35.being sympathetic to pensioners so I have no worries that way because we
:37:36. > :37:41.seem to get more than pensioners in England. I cannot see how they can
:37:42. > :37:51.afford to pay pensions at the same level they are doing now. Things
:37:52. > :38:01.will carry on the same as they are just now with the free home care and
:38:02. > :38:06.for their medication. I wonder about the pension, whether it has been
:38:07. > :38:13.thought into. Where we have our own money, own passports? Scotland can
:38:14. > :38:19.afford anything it wants to do but it has to make its own decision to
:38:20. > :38:23.do that. There we have the difference of views here in
:38:24. > :38:30.Inverness, but that is the picture as pensioners see it here.
:38:31. > :38:33.More provision of childcare in an independent Scotland is one of the
:38:34. > :38:37.central pledges outlined today. Our reporter Steven Duff has been to a
:38:38. > :38:43.nursery in Aberdeen to find out what parents think.
:38:44. > :38:49.Playtime at the rocking horse nursery in Aberdeen. The Scottish
:38:50. > :38:54.government 's White Paper not on the minds of these children. Childcare
:38:55. > :39:00.is a costly business. I work full-time, my husband works as well.
:39:01. > :39:04.He is a bit more flexible which allows us to send the kids to
:39:05. > :39:10.nursery in the morning but it forces us to only send them in the morning
:39:11. > :39:17.because the cost is prohibitive. My wife works, she is a professional,
:39:18. > :39:25.works 30 hours a week. Pretty much her salary is wiped out by the cost
:39:26. > :39:29.of childcare. The White Paper sets out how by the end of the second
:39:30. > :39:35.Parliament in an independent Scotland, close to full-time free
:39:36. > :39:42.childcare would be in place. Does that mean more taxes? On an
:39:43. > :39:46.individual level it is a lot of money so the benefits of that money
:39:47. > :39:53.gets returned to the economy. In Norway, Sweden, Finland, childcare
:39:54. > :39:59.and encouraging both parents to work is a priority and those are
:40:00. > :40:04.societies where family is protected. The Better Together
:40:05. > :40:08.campaign points out the Scottish government already has the power to
:40:09. > :40:11.increase free childcare provision. Let's turn our attention to business
:40:12. > :40:14.now and particularly the proposals for Scotland's small and
:40:15. > :40:17.medium-sized companies. The White Paper outlines ways in which their
:40:18. > :40:20.costs might be cut along with a reduction in red tape. Andrew
:40:21. > :40:29.Anderson joins us now from Dundee where he's been seeking reaction.
:40:30. > :40:34.There is a specific section in the White Paper aimed at small and
:40:35. > :40:38.medium businesses. It talks about continuing the small business
:40:39. > :40:44.bonus, a scheme that reduces or eliminates business rates for some
:40:45. > :40:47.companies. There is also talk of looking at the juicing employers
:40:48. > :40:52.National Insurance contribution. I have been speaking to the owners of
:40:53. > :40:57.three small companies for their reaction. It is something that has
:40:58. > :41:04.to be studied in detail. It is made to look attractive to as wide a base
:41:05. > :41:10.as possible but everything has to be looked at in detail. On the face of
:41:11. > :41:16.it, with regards to small businesses, it looks attractive. I
:41:17. > :41:20.believe there will be less burden on us as far as demands from the
:41:21. > :41:31.government. This will be very beneficial. The red tape, we have to
:41:32. > :41:41.pay others to deal with that. My job as a hairdresser. Can the country
:41:42. > :41:44.afforded? I have lived in Norway and it is a wonderful place as long as
:41:45. > :41:51.you have lots of money but not everyone does. I am scared that
:41:52. > :41:58.either as a business owner or resident, it will cost us a fortune
:41:59. > :42:03.and I want more answers. The White Paper also makes a commitment to
:42:04. > :42:07.increasing the minimum wage by at least the rate of inflation and that
:42:08. > :42:11.would impact on employers payroll but the companies I spoke to said
:42:12. > :42:15.they had no problem with that, although one did say he would expect
:42:16. > :42:20.youngsters to make a full contribution in the workplace from
:42:21. > :42:31.day one. But all told me they would study the White Paper in detail in
:42:32. > :42:34.the coming days. One of the main aims of today's White Paper is to
:42:35. > :42:37.win over the "don't knows". Polls have consistently suggested the
:42:38. > :42:40.unionist campaign has a substantial lead. John Curtice is Professor of
:42:41. > :42:48.Politics at Strathclyde University. What did this White Paper have to
:42:49. > :42:52.do? There were two things. The first was to try to dispel the uncertainty
:42:53. > :42:59.that seems to surround the independence project so fell. They
:43:00. > :43:04.have not said what will happen as a result and almost say to themselves
:43:05. > :43:09.this seems too much as a risk. This white paper needed to create a sense
:43:10. > :43:19.of certainty. The second was to try to persuade Scots that independence
:43:20. > :43:22.would not -- would result in a strong and stronger Scotland. So far
:43:23. > :43:28.opinion polls are saying this seems to be the thing that matters to
:43:29. > :43:34.voters and however those who are pessimistic about the consequences
:43:35. > :43:42.of independence, economically, outnumbered those who are
:43:43. > :43:48.optimistic. It has not achieved those aims. Certainly on the
:43:49. > :43:53.economy, yes the White Paper does tell us that Scotland would over the
:43:54. > :43:56.longer run the stronger economically but there is also in this and
:43:57. > :44:01.acknowledgement that although Scotland might be relatively better
:44:02. > :44:05.off in terms of its public finances in the short-term, it would still be
:44:06. > :44:13.in deficit, we would still spend more than we are getting in terms of
:44:14. > :44:19.taxes. This paper is very conservative in what it offers
:44:20. > :44:25.voters. Yes it offers childcare and pensions but there was not much on
:44:26. > :44:31.public services. There isn't any offer to the ordinary voter of a tax
:44:32. > :44:36.cut. It is not clear that in the short run the Scottish government is
:44:37. > :44:40.going to give voters more money in their pockets and therefore it is
:44:41. > :44:45.not clear that people will say they are better off. The problem the
:44:46. > :44:51.government faces is that when we read this paper, much of what it
:44:52. > :44:55.would like to do relies on the cooperation of the UK government. It
:44:56. > :45:01.is the currency you have been talking about, Scotland's membership
:45:02. > :45:07.of the EU. How universities are funded, how the National dealt is
:45:08. > :45:17.handled. The Scottish government has to come to negotiations with either
:45:18. > :45:22.the UK and EU. It might force the UK government to be more frank but the
:45:23. > :45:26.truth is, because the answers are not entirely in the gift of the
:45:27. > :45:32.Scottish government to give on these issues, I am not sure that the
:45:33. > :45:42.uncertainty will be displayed. What does the no campaign have to do? The
:45:43. > :45:47.first thing they have to watch is they have to avoid being accused of
:45:48. > :46:02.being deliberately obfuscated dash of free skating. -- obfuscating. I
:46:03. > :46:11.have heard Alistair Darling not give quite clear answers today. Next
:46:12. > :46:21.year, in conferences, Unionist parties have to be more clear about
:46:22. > :46:32.what Scotland might be offered post the referendum vote. At the moment,
:46:33. > :46:39.I think the weakness of the no side is that it is not clear to Scotland
:46:40. > :46:43.what a no vote would mean. The no argument is arguably less clear than
:46:44. > :46:46.the yes argument. We've heard so far about the
:46:47. > :46:50.potential implications of independence for Scotland and for
:46:51. > :46:53.Scots, but what about the implications for England? Although
:46:54. > :46:57.voters south of the border don't have a say in next year's
:46:58. > :47:01.referendum, it will impact on them. Our Westminster correspondent Tim
:47:02. > :47:04.Reid has been to Runnymede in Surrey to gauge opinion.
:47:05. > :47:08.A tranquil piece of English countryside set in the heart of the
:47:09. > :47:14.busiest commuter belt in Britain. But this is not any old spot. It was
:47:15. > :47:18.public meetings here which paved the way the England's 13th century
:47:19. > :47:35.parliament. In 1215, King John signed the Mike Carter -- Magna
:47:36. > :47:41.Carta. A perfect setting . I feel the Scots will have problems
:47:42. > :47:46.economically. I think we would all be weaker for it. The pooling of
:47:47. > :47:49.talents of the whole of the United Kingdom is important for our
:47:50. > :48:00.success. The Scots have been successful in a lot of areas. 500
:48:01. > :48:07.years after the Magna Carta If you've just come in or
:48:08. > :48:15.I do not know whether it would make massive difference to England as
:48:16. > :48:22.such. I just think it is a sad thing that after being united for a so
:48:23. > :48:28.long, it becomes fragmented. I think it is up to the Scottish people. It
:48:29. > :48:32.is up to them. People here were concerned about the economic and
:48:33. > :48:37.practical implications of a break-up of the union. What the rest of the
:48:38. > :48:42.United Kingdom would be called and what would happen to the union flag.
:48:43. > :48:46.There are military issues, the harbours and submarine bases up
:48:47. > :48:57.north. North Sea oil. It is hugely complex. I would think the average
:48:58. > :49:03.Scot, how will they know what proportion of the national debt are
:49:04. > :49:07.they going to take on? Those are all questions which politicians will
:49:08. > :49:12.seek to query and answer between now and polling day. But do English
:49:13. > :49:15.voters really care? English indifference to the union is
:49:16. > :49:23.probably the greatest threat to the union. Not directly because English
:49:24. > :49:28.people do not have a vote. File voters living in Scotland get to
:49:29. > :49:32.choose their nation state, those in England have to watch and wait and
:49:33. > :49:41.do with any potential consequences for the rest of the United Kingdom
:49:42. > :49:46.after that. If you've just come in or you'd like
:49:47. > :49:50.to take your time digesting today's events, you can get full details of
:49:51. > :49:54.the Scottish Government's White Paper on Independence, including a
:49:55. > :49:57.summary of each area by BBC experts, by visiting our website.
:49:58. > :50:04.Julie Peacock can tell us more. At 680 pages long, not everyone will
:50:05. > :50:18.want to read this from cover to cover. But our online team have been
:50:19. > :50:24.crunching the details day. The redder the story, the more popular
:50:25. > :50:29.it is. There has been more than 1 million hits to the BBC website
:50:30. > :50:36.today. Elsewhere online, this is proving a big story. The web page
:50:37. > :50:40.where you can get these has had a huge amount of traffic, of people
:50:41. > :50:44.trying to download their own versions. If you want the latest
:50:45. > :50:51.news and analysis, remember to come here.
:50:52. > :50:55.And for some final thoughts we're now joined by two political
:50:56. > :51:01.commentators, our very own Brian Taylor, and Nick Robinson.
:51:02. > :51:06.What is your analysis, Brian? It is striking that it opens up a new
:51:07. > :51:11.front in this debate. We have had a structural debate about issues like
:51:12. > :51:18.the currency, we will certainly have that again, it is germane and
:51:19. > :51:25.salient debate. There is this new issue, and enhanced issue of the
:51:26. > :51:30.offer of what they would do with regard to welfare. Particularly this
:51:31. > :51:43.offer on childcare. This opens up the debate on two France. On
:51:44. > :51:53.childcare, if -- on two fronts. Alex Salmond is arguing that the tax
:51:54. > :52:02.revenues , if they were to do this now, would go to Westminster. Can it
:52:03. > :52:08.be afforded? Could the money be found? That opens up into the wider
:52:09. > :52:17.economy. Alex Salmond believes the welfare of is the way of going over
:52:18. > :52:25.their heads of his opponents to the issues that concern the voters. And
:52:26. > :52:33.if you from the international press? I came over domestic media badge,
:52:34. > :52:38.but some of my colleagues were given international media badge is. What I
:52:39. > :52:43.have noticed is the town. There was the chance that this would feel like
:52:44. > :52:52.the birth of a new nation, or the first looked at us can be new baby.
:52:53. > :53:00.-- first look at the scan. But it was a low-key, corporate sales job.
:53:01. > :53:04.Almost a rebranding exercise. It was as much about reassurance to
:53:05. > :53:10.voters. I think all sides in this argument now that there is a group
:53:11. > :53:16.that have made up their minds in favour, or against it, and there is
:53:17. > :53:21.a very a group in the middle. What Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon are
:53:22. > :53:30.seeing is that we have the answers, being reassuring. In one sense,
:53:31. > :53:37.everything changes, but on the other hand, all those things you might
:53:38. > :53:42.worry about, will the Queen still be there? Will EastEnders still be
:53:43. > :53:49.there? Don't worry, it will Steve the same. The debate now is whether
:53:50. > :53:57.the Better Together campaign can pull that apart. What about the
:53:58. > :54:02.thinking in Downing Street? There is as much chance of you hearing
:54:03. > :54:07.tonight from an English conservative, Southern voice from
:54:08. > :54:14.Downing Street as of me playing the bagpipes. They do not want to see a
:54:15. > :54:20.single word. They want this to be a Scottish debate. They know that it
:54:21. > :54:25.suits Scottish -- it suits Alex Salmond if he is portrayed in any
:54:26. > :54:34.other way. But that appeal on welfare, I agree with Brian on that.
:54:35. > :54:40.Is the ball now in the Court of the Better Together campaign? The better
:54:41. > :54:48.together campaign will be casting doubt on the offer on welfare, can
:54:49. > :54:55.it be afforded? The offer of joining the European Union, but what would
:54:56. > :55:00.happen if there were objections? Reassurance comes from the Scottish
:55:01. > :55:07.government. Alex Salmond could paint his face blue, cry Freedom and with
:55:08. > :55:12.a kilt, but would only attract a certain section of the audience that
:55:13. > :55:20.are already committed. What he has to have is a pragmatic campaign as
:55:21. > :55:28.well as one about passion. For many, the idea of Scottish
:55:29. > :55:32.independence is a given. What he has to do is make the economic,
:55:33. > :55:38.pragmatic argument and address those concerns, and those concerns are
:55:39. > :55:45.real. They are down to earth economic concerns. Not concerns
:55:46. > :55:55.about the European Union. They are concerns about welfare, pensions.
:55:56. > :56:02.The opposition may feel that it is bogus, in I get it -- in accurate,
:56:03. > :56:08.but I think they are concerned that it may be populist. It is a battle
:56:09. > :56:16.between two agendas. I thought it was very striking that when the
:56:17. > :56:28.first minister was being asked about big issues, he wanted to talk about
:56:29. > :56:36.jobs and childcare. It will be a tussle between the two agendas as
:56:37. > :56:43.both sides try to say we are talking about the thing that really matters.
:56:44. > :56:48.In the end, if you had a hope that he would get all the answers here,
:56:49. > :56:55.you were always going to be disappointed. This is a debate and
:56:56. > :56:59.there are answers on both sides. And you can see an extended
:57:00. > :57:03.interview with the First Minister on Newsnight Scotland tonight on BBC
:57:04. > :57:07.Two at 11 o'clock. And that's all from Holyrood on yet another
:57:08. > :57:12.significant milestone on the road to the referendum. If you haven't yet
:57:13. > :57:19.made up your mind, the good news is you still have another 295 days left
:57:20. > :57:20.to do so. From everyone on the Reporting Scotland team around the