:00:09. > :00:11.Tonight, senior business leaders say the case for independence
:00:12. > :00:16.They argue "uncertainty is bad for business".
:00:17. > :00:28.Yes supporters say the facts and figures back independence.
:00:29. > :00:35.In all a native by news that 130 Scottish businesses have come out
:00:36. > :00:36.against independence. Setting sail to Shetland `
:00:37. > :00:39.we're on the campaign trail with the Deputy First Minister
:00:40. > :00:42.as she targets floating voters. 130 Scottish business leaders have
:00:43. > :00:47.come out against independence, claiming the business case has not
:00:48. > :00:50.been made by the Yes Campaign. Responding, the lobby group Business
:00:51. > :00:54.for Scotland said economic "facts and figures" support
:00:55. > :00:56.Scottish independence. Here's our Scotland business
:00:57. > :01:10.correspondent David Henderson. They don't back independence and
:01:11. > :01:18.they have spoken out now. The bosses of some of the country's best`known
:01:19. > :01:26.brands, like famous Grouse, spelt out today why they would vote no,
:01:27. > :01:32.thanks. They say the business case has not been made. What currency do
:01:33. > :01:39.trading? That is a fundamental question for business. As we look at
:01:40. > :01:42.the options, which of route is adopted by an independent Scotland,
:01:43. > :01:48.there will be additional costs for Scottish business. In an open
:01:49. > :01:54.letter, the business figures point to uncertainty about regulation, tax
:01:55. > :01:59.and pensions. They say uncertainty is bad for business. Different firms
:02:00. > :02:03.have different priorities. The people who signed this letter are
:02:04. > :02:07.looking to trade across the border with the rest of the UK. Other firms
:02:08. > :02:13.have different customers and they may take a different view about the
:02:14. > :02:16.prospect of Scottish independence. Campaigners on both sides of the
:02:17. > :02:23.debate have been reaching out to Scottish firms. Some business
:02:24. > :02:27.leaders here say a yes vote would give a boost to Scotland's trade
:02:28. > :02:34.overseas and grow markets at home as well. I don't think there is any
:02:35. > :02:40.greater risk with independence. I think it is the opposite, a huge
:02:41. > :02:47.opportunity. Scottish businesses can promote Scotland around the world.
:02:48. > :02:51.With the campaign is heating up and the referendum weeks away this may
:02:52. > :02:55.not be the last intervention of its kind as voters and firms weigh up
:02:56. > :02:58.potential risks and rewards. Well, let's discuss the business
:02:59. > :03:01.case for and against independence. I'm joined here in the studio
:03:02. > :03:04.by the former head of Scottish Financial Enterprise, Amanda Harvie,
:03:05. > :03:06.who was one of the organisers And also here is Ian McDougall,
:03:07. > :03:10.who's managing director of the Glasgow accountancy firm
:03:11. > :03:12.McDougall Johnstone. He's a member
:03:13. > :03:26.of the independence campaign group You say the business case for
:03:27. > :03:31.independence has not been made. You think are the questions which have
:03:32. > :03:36.not been answered? We are clear by looking at both sides of the debate
:03:37. > :03:43.that significant uncertainty surrounds key issues. Currency,
:03:44. > :03:46.regulation, tax, pensions, EU membership, and support for
:03:47. > :03:52.companies operating around the world. That poses a risk to business
:03:53. > :03:57.and whilst we face uncertainty every day, the scale and significance and
:03:58. > :04:00.likely duration of those uncertainties are too great a risk
:04:01. > :04:12.to take. Our conclusion is that the business case has not been made. Can
:04:13. > :04:16.you reassure her? This is 130 individuals who believe independence
:04:17. > :04:34.is not for them. There are some prominent individuals. The majority
:04:35. > :04:42.of the Scottish economy is SME so there are voices just as important.
:04:43. > :04:48.The range of signatories in that letter, we range from sole traders,
:04:49. > :04:54.right up to small limited companies that have great potential to grow
:04:55. > :04:59.and also huge multinational listed companies that are doing business
:05:00. > :05:05.around the world. Whilst we are all signing in an individual capacity,
:05:06. > :05:08.collectively we have had group responsibility for being the beating
:05:09. > :05:15.heart of the Scottish economy, creating tens of thousands of jobs
:05:16. > :05:19.and making the economy fly. Independence, whether for or
:05:20. > :05:29.against, would be quite people and people and the Whidbey uncertainty.
:05:30. > :05:32.I believe there won't be. 2500 members believe it is a strong
:05:33. > :05:37.opportunity and I find it strange that three weeks before the debate
:05:38. > :05:41.that we have 130 individuals who are somehow creating some sort of
:05:42. > :05:46.negativity out of this. Their opinion would have been much more
:05:47. > :05:55.welcome long ago stopped as usual this is a no campaign scare story.
:05:56. > :06:01.They have come a long with a no vote but we do not offer a plan of their
:06:02. > :06:05.own. They have no vision or plan, unless we suit tonight, which is
:06:06. > :06:13.acceptable to the Scottish business community. First of all, have a look
:06:14. > :06:18.at the mains on those list and I would challenge to suggest they are
:06:19. > :06:23.people of not significant vision. We believe in the future of Scotland
:06:24. > :06:27.and we have a successful country at the moment a growing economy and
:06:28. > :06:34.record employment rates and investment level. That success have
:06:35. > :06:37.been `` has been achieved as part of the UK, an important major market
:06:38. > :06:42.with a global impact and important for business. Our vision is to keep
:06:43. > :06:47.flourishing. We believe the way to do that is to stay part of the UK.
:06:48. > :06:52.It provides the foundation for further investment in jobs and
:06:53. > :06:58.industry. At any of the businesses represented threatening to leave
:06:59. > :07:01.Scotland if there is a yes vote? If conditions are not competitive and
:07:02. > :07:10.number of our signatories will have to relocate. I am one of those.
:07:11. > :07:16.Several financial institutions are relocating `` are talking about
:07:17. > :07:23.relocating if there is a yes vote. They have said a bigger issue is the
:07:24. > :07:30.exit from the EU, which could happen next year. That is a definite issue
:07:31. > :07:34.for them and leaving the EU is a massive issue for them and so
:07:35. > :07:39.probably the people who signed up to her report. If there is a
:07:40. > :07:45.significant chance the UK might leave the EU, some of the businesses
:07:46. > :07:51.who support a no vote must be concerned. The main political
:07:52. > :07:57.parties are committed to remaining parts of the EU but on stronger
:07:58. > :08:02.terms. We have a very advantageous position is part of the EU which can
:08:03. > :08:06.be further improved. If Scotland were to become independent it would
:08:07. > :08:14.have to start from .0 and negotiate its membership. It is highly
:08:15. > :08:15.unlikely that its position would be as favourable as what we enjoy just
:08:16. > :08:24.now in the UK. Thank you both. And that intervention
:08:25. > :08:26.from business leaders caused a stir in the oil`rich city of
:08:27. > :08:29.Aberdeen where my colleague Gavin Esler has spent the day talking to
:08:30. > :08:40.both sides of the campaign. That letter from 130 businesses has
:08:41. > :08:48.shaken up the debate because it turns so much on economics and oil,
:08:49. > :09:03.and that has been thrown into doubt. I enjoyed by representatives from
:09:04. > :09:08.Better Together and Yes Scotland. They're saying that the case has not
:09:09. > :09:13.been made and they hate uncertainty. They are welcome to their opinion
:09:14. > :09:19.and there is an equally large group, 2500 members, coming down
:09:20. > :09:24.with a contrary point of view. They may be saying that the case has not
:09:25. > :09:31.been made but that does not mean that the case does not exist. I
:09:32. > :09:35.think there is uncertainty and cars in business to have a look at what
:09:36. > :09:43.is being offered from the yes campaign. They are saying the risk
:09:44. > :09:46.is too high and tax and pensions and regulations in the oil and gas
:09:47. > :09:52.industry, they are not convinced this is the best thing for Scotland
:09:53. > :09:59.and the UK. We can see how busy the sport is. Expansions plan are just
:10:00. > :10:05.down the road. Which presumably will happen whatever the Scottish people
:10:06. > :10:12.decide. But oil industry is multinational and it will continue
:10:13. > :10:14.to thrive. It will thrive and both my children will hopefully benefit
:10:15. > :10:21.from what is happening in Aberdeen and the jobs it will bring. The
:10:22. > :10:28.uncertainty of independence might put the brakes on it. For jobs and
:10:29. > :10:31.their future, I believe having those kind of opportunities here in
:10:32. > :10:40.Aberdeen is better if we are part of our biggest market, which is down
:10:41. > :10:49.south. As this is always operate with uncertainties. Uncertainty is
:10:50. > :10:55.George Osborne's ?2 billion tax drain on the oil industry. That's
:10:56. > :10:58.why it is at a record low because the oil industry does not like the
:10:59. > :11:02.uncertainty from the Westminster government. It Scottish Government
:11:03. > :11:12.would do a better job of managing the resource will resource. We have
:11:13. > :11:22.heard somebody say that there is less reserve here. They operate on
:11:23. > :11:31.Rangers. If you have to assign a certain number, many other people
:11:32. > :11:39.feel very comfortable with the mean average number of 24 billion
:11:40. > :11:43.barrels. There are a lot of reserves but they are harder to get out. The
:11:44. > :11:47.recovery factor of those reserves has gone down because they are much
:11:48. > :11:57.harder to get out will stop they are in difficult geographical places
:11:58. > :12:01.stop I work in an industry where we have two work together and share
:12:02. > :12:05.knowledge for a collaborative approach and I think we must do that
:12:06. > :12:09.within and between companies. We need to be smarter at what we do. I
:12:10. > :12:22.think we can do that if we work together with the rest of the UK.
:12:23. > :12:27.This part of the debate is key to the future of Aberdeen and Scotland.
:12:28. > :12:29.This contention over the economy and oil will continue.
:12:30. > :12:31.A Better Together campaign video, broadcast last night,
:12:32. > :12:35.It featured an actress voicing concerns about independence.
:12:36. > :12:37.Better Together say the comments were drawn from real
:12:38. > :12:40.concern raised by women in focus groups and doorstep canvassing.
:12:41. > :12:44.Yes supporters say the campaign video is "insulting".
:12:45. > :12:52.Here's a short clip, so you can decide.
:12:53. > :13:01.Do you know? My husband is worse than the TV these days. He will not
:13:02. > :13:06.leave off about the referendum. He started again this morning. Have you
:13:07. > :13:13.made a decision yet? It is too early to discuss politics. Eat your
:13:14. > :13:19.cereal. So he asks the kids. Honestly, like he will get any sense
:13:20. > :13:23.out of them. Don't get me wrong. I know how important this photos.
:13:24. > :13:27.There is not much time left for me to make a decision but there are
:13:28. > :13:32.only so many hours in the day and there is a lot to way up.
:13:33. > :13:36.Finance Secretary John Swinney has confirmed Scotland will not pay
:13:37. > :13:39.its share of the UK debt if it does not get a currency union
:13:40. > :13:43.Mr Swinney told a BBC referendum debate if the UK seized all
:13:44. > :13:46.the assets of the currency it must also take all the liabilities.
:13:47. > :13:48.It's estimated Scotland's share of UK debt would be
:13:49. > :13:51.The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has appeared
:13:52. > :13:54.in public alongside Alistair Darling for the first time since the two men
:13:55. > :13:59.Speaking at a Better Together event in Dundee, Mr Brown claimed the UK
:14:00. > :14:01.welfare state "offers better protection for pensioners,
:14:02. > :14:11.His speech was briefly interrupted by a demonstrator.
:14:12. > :14:14.Both sides of the campaign targeted the Highlands and Islands today.
:14:15. > :14:16.The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander joined
:14:17. > :14:19.the former Labour First Minister Jack McConnell in Inverness to tell
:14:20. > :14:24.local people they had "the best of both worlds" as part of the UK.
:14:25. > :14:28.Meanwhile the Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sailed to Shetland
:14:29. > :14:31.on the overnight ferry to target undecided voters.
:14:32. > :14:40.Our correspondent James Cook caught up with her.
:14:41. > :14:50.Welcome to Lerwick. Closer to Oslo than London. Many people here say
:14:51. > :14:52.they feel more in tune with Scandinavia than with Scotland in
:14:53. > :14:59.some regards. Let's talk about what that might mean in the context of
:15:00. > :15:07.the referendum. With me is Nicola Sturgeon. What brings you to
:15:08. > :15:14.Shetland? I am campaigning for a yes vote in the referendum. The weather
:15:15. > :15:17.was fantastic today. I am making the case that independence is not just
:15:18. > :15:23.about the transfer of power from Westminster to Holyrood, important
:15:24. > :15:27.though that is. It is also a great opportunity for us to look at where
:15:28. > :15:31.power best lies in Scotland and British decisions are best taken.
:15:32. > :15:35.There is a great demand for more island autonomy and we are keen to
:15:36. > :15:50.work with violence to make sure that happens. `` the islands. Scotland
:15:51. > :15:53.the council 's came together and said to the Westminster and Scottish
:15:54. > :16:23.government that it is time for a transfer of power.
:16:24. > :16:25.years and although they have approached you with demands, some
:16:26. > :16:27.people suggest this is a bit cynical, that you are looking for
:16:28. > :16:30.their vote, and now you are saying that you will do something if they
:16:31. > :16:32.vote for independence but many people say they just want the extra
:16:33. > :16:35.powers. Why can you not deliver them under devolution? We can if we will,
:16:36. > :16:45.we will work with the authorities to do that but there are some powers we
:16:46. > :16:50.are keen to devolve. For example the Crown Estates where there are
:16:51. > :16:53.revenues from the lease of the sea beds, developments that impact on
:16:54. > :17:00.the islands, we think it is right that the revenue is kept in the
:17:01. > :17:05.islands. We can't do that right now. Westminster party say that they will
:17:06. > :17:09.do that even if there is a no vote. Lets see, you ask what we have done
:17:10. > :17:13.so far but they have had a belonged to do this and they have not done
:17:14. > :17:20.it. Let's take the opportunity to do that. Revenues from oil in
:17:21. > :17:25.Shetland, it is on the verge of another boom. If we can take control
:17:26. > :17:28.of oil revenues, we can make sure there is more community benefit for
:17:29. > :17:34.the areas impacted by those kind of developments. Talking of oil and
:17:35. > :17:39.business, we have seen a letter in the Scotsman, 130 business leaders
:17:40. > :17:42.saying they have concerns about your plans because they don't feel they
:17:43. > :17:47.have answers to questions about what an independent Scotland would look
:17:48. > :17:50.like the business, especially in terms of currency. These businesses
:17:51. > :17:55.are entitled to express their views and ask questions, but I can also
:17:56. > :18:03.mention Business for Scotland, an organisation that has 2500 members,
:18:04. > :18:07.businesses who can see the opportunities presented to Scotland
:18:08. > :18:11.if we have powers in Scotland, and access to our own resources. Some of
:18:12. > :18:16.the questions being asked by the businesses you are talking about I
:18:17. > :18:21.would say have been answered. The no campaign's bluff on currency has
:18:22. > :18:26.been called, even Alistair Darling said the other night that of course
:18:27. > :18:31.Scotland can keep the pound. Businesses are active and vocal on
:18:32. > :18:33.both sides of the campaign, but Business for Scotland is perhaps the
:18:34. > :18:37.fastest growing part of the yes campaign saying that clearly
:18:38. > :18:43.businesses in Scotland can see the opportunities. Thank you for joining
:18:44. > :18:46.us. That is the view from one side of the campaign. We will be hearing
:18:47. > :18:53.from the other side of the campaign over the next hour. That is almost
:18:54. > :19:01.it for tonight but a reminder that there is much more on the website. I
:19:02. > :19:02.will be back tomorrow night with the latest from the campaign trail.
:19:03. > :19:20.Goodbye. A baby boom is creating so much
:19:21. > :19:23.demand for school places in England that it's forcing councils to cut
:19:24. > :19:26.budgets elsewhere, according to the It
:19:27. > :19:35.says school repairs and building projects have been cut back to meet
:19:36. > :19:39.a ?1 billion shortfall,