:00:24. > :00:28.Hello and a warm welcome from Westminster for the February
:00:28. > :00:33.edition of Scottish questions. With all of the things that has been
:00:33. > :00:38.going on, there is no lack of interest in Scottish politics at
:00:38. > :00:44.Westminster. And a mixed bag of questions for Michael Moore, the
:00:44. > :00:50.Scottish Secretary, on inquiries on the economy, training and benefits.
:00:50. > :00:56.No prizes for guessing the topic MPs wanted to start on - those
:00:56. > :01:03.talks on an independence referendum. Order, order, questions to the
:01:03. > :01:09.Secretary of State for Scotland. With permission I will answer
:01:09. > :01:13.questions 1, 8 and 10 together. The First Minister and I met on Monday
:01:13. > :01:19.13th February to discuss a referendum on independence. The
:01:19. > :01:22.Prime Minister, First Minister and I had a meeting on 16th February
:01:22. > :01:27.when we discussed the need for any referendum to be legal, firm and
:01:27. > :01:34.decisive. It is in everyone's interest both governments work
:01:34. > :01:38.together. The Scottish Government of the most resolute defenders of
:01:38. > :01:42.the Barnet formula are against the other nations of the United Kingdom.
:01:42. > :01:51.At the beagle of Scotland vote yes in a referendum on independence, do
:01:51. > :01:56.not think the Barnet formula should apply to the nation's debt? He I
:01:57. > :02:02.don't envisage Scotland will become independent from the United Kingdom,
:02:02. > :02:05.I think we are stronger together and weaker apart. But it does touch
:02:06. > :02:10.on a fundamental issue about sorting out what the basis of that
:02:10. > :02:14.independence might look like. Questions the SNP have failed to
:02:14. > :02:18.answer. Will the Secretary of State confirm both his and the
:02:18. > :02:25.Government's commitment to a single, none leading question in the
:02:25. > :02:29.referendum on Scottish separation, just commit a simple yes or no
:02:29. > :02:33.reply? The fundamental issue about independence and that is what we
:02:33. > :02:39.must resolve. We must have a legal and decisive independence
:02:39. > :02:43.referendum. Could he clarify whether he has had conversations
:02:43. > :02:46.regarding Antarctica and whether it is true of the last Government
:02:47. > :02:51.simply forgot to deal with Antarctica and the British
:02:51. > :02:57.territory there? And what is his position in making sure we reserve
:02:57. > :03:01.control of it? She highlights an important part of the world which
:03:01. > :03:04.it is important that we as the UK Government have a role to play in.
:03:04. > :03:08.Can I point out to her, through the Scotland Bill which is passing
:03:08. > :03:12.through the Lordships House at the moment, we are delivering the
:03:12. > :03:15.biggest transfer of powers to Edinburgh since the Act of Union.
:03:15. > :03:21.We are tidying up some of the inconsistencies of the devolution
:03:21. > :03:25.settlement. They met with the First Minister and the Prime Minister
:03:26. > :03:32.offered a proposal for an enhanced devolution. But failed to spell out
:03:32. > :03:37.what it might be. Can the Scottish Secretary tell us what he envisages
:03:37. > :03:43.a package of devolved financial powers might look like? Would it
:03:43. > :03:48.include corporation tax, income tax, and Riggott levee? What does the
:03:48. > :03:53.Scottish Secretary think a package of enhanced devolved powers might
:03:53. > :03:59.look like? It is incredible the SNP want to stand up and ask a question
:03:59. > :04:04.about further devolution, when they have not set out what the
:04:04. > :04:09.fundamental principles of independence might be. New think
:04:09. > :04:12.they would have had some clear ideas on it. It is a constructive
:04:12. > :04:16.answer because it failed to answer the question entirely. There is no
:04:16. > :04:22.detail about what the Prime Minister proposed. Is that because
:04:22. > :04:27.there is no detail? Is it because it was there to capture a day's
:04:27. > :04:33.headlines? Or is it to cover their embarrassment -- cover the
:04:33. > :04:38.embarrassment of this Government which did not cover in the debate
:04:38. > :04:42.in the Commons last year? He has a bit of itchy talking about a lack
:04:42. > :04:46.of detail when they cannot spell out what the current situation
:04:46. > :04:52.would be in an independent Scotland, what the national debt and might
:04:52. > :04:55.look like, how we do with pensions, financial regulation? We must make
:04:55. > :04:58.the most fundamental decision in Scotland's future in a clear cut
:04:58. > :05:04.and decisive way. The debate about devolution will be ongoing and I am
:05:04. > :05:08.looking forward to being part of that. My Right Honourable Friend
:05:08. > :05:11.has spelt out the absence of detailed from members of the
:05:11. > :05:15.Scottish National Party in this house. I wonder in the
:05:15. > :05:20.opportunities he has had, has he impressed upon the First Minister,
:05:20. > :05:24.his unequivocal obligation to explain to the people of Scotland,
:05:24. > :05:28.not just the process of independence, but the consequences
:05:28. > :05:34.of it, the costs of it and the length of time it would take to
:05:34. > :05:39.implement? He highlights some very important central issues about this
:05:39. > :05:42.debate over independence. I believe Scotland is stronger as part of the
:05:42. > :05:46.United Kingdom and United Kingdom is strong because Scotland is part
:05:46. > :05:50.of it. From financial issues, our place in the world on the strength
:05:50. > :05:58.of our defence. There are unanswered questions from the SNP,
:05:58. > :06:01.which they must address. This is a question about the number
:06:01. > :06:06.of 16 to 24 year-olds not in education.
:06:06. > :06:14.The number of 16 to 19 year olds are estimated to be not in
:06:14. > :06:18.education, employment or training in Scotland in 2010 was 36,000.
:06:18. > :06:23.I say to the Secretary of State, because there is another important
:06:23. > :06:27.element to the question I asked, it is up to 24 year-olds. These are
:06:27. > :06:31.the hardest hit and we don't want to see that lost generation. In
:06:31. > :06:37.rural localities like his and mind, policies to get young people back
:06:37. > :06:41.into work will depend as far as the private sector is concerned, on
:06:41. > :06:45.small and medium-sized enterprises. These businesses are suffering
:06:45. > :06:52.severely and the pressure upon them is not enabling them to create jobs.
:06:53. > :06:57.Does he understand we meet Task Force Tiger mentality to deal with
:06:57. > :07:00.youth and young people unemployment? What can I say, the
:07:00. > :07:04.statistics of to 24 is something my officials are working on. They are
:07:04. > :07:08.not published, but I look forward to getting the data for him and
:07:08. > :07:11.other members in the house. On the fundamentals of the economy, I
:07:11. > :07:14.agree with him we need small and medium-sized businesses to be given
:07:14. > :07:19.the ability to grow and that is why we are putting pressure on the
:07:19. > :07:23.banks to lend to them. And also for the young people we are dealing
:07:23. > :07:27.with, a sure we support them. That is why the use contract is
:07:27. > :07:31.fundamental. A billion pounds to make sure people get more places
:07:31. > :07:34.and work experience to help employers to take people on. It is
:07:35. > :07:38.a kind of action that will help people get on to the jobs market.
:07:38. > :07:43.He rightly mentions the use contract which comes into effect in
:07:43. > :07:46.April. Does he agree it is imperative the Scottish Government,
:07:46. > :07:49.the British Government and employers in Scotland work together
:07:49. > :07:53.to ensure young people get the opportunities and are not
:07:53. > :07:56.distracted by scoring points against each other but work
:07:56. > :08:01.together for young people? I agree with him and I would point out
:08:01. > :08:05.working with members across this house, over the last six to eight
:08:05. > :08:09.months I have held meetings and seminars around Scotland, focused
:08:10. > :08:13.on youth unemployment, bringing together employers, young people,
:08:13. > :08:18.Scottish Government agencies and UK Government agencies. In March in
:08:18. > :08:22.Dundee we will have a national convention with the Secretary of
:08:22. > :08:26.State for work and pensions and John Swinney, so we can take this
:08:26. > :08:29.agenda forward together. I don't think anyone in this house is
:08:29. > :08:34.complacent about youth unemployment and the plight of young people
:08:34. > :08:37.trying to find work in trying economic circumstances. I welcome
:08:37. > :08:41.the joint initiative of the National Convention taking place in
:08:41. > :08:45.March next month, but can I press the Secretary of State on what
:08:45. > :08:48.outcomes he expects from that convention? And if he will welcome
:08:48. > :08:53.the initiative the Scottish Government has taken to ensure a
:08:53. > :09:00.place for every young people aged 16 to 19 in Scotland in work or
:09:00. > :09:03.training or education? It is absolutely right, Scotland's two
:09:04. > :09:07.Government's work together on this terrible problem which existed
:09:07. > :09:11.under the last Government and continues. We are addressing their
:09:11. > :09:15.using everything we can to help young people get experience,
:09:15. > :09:20.training and get jobs. We will work hard on all of those and at others
:09:20. > :09:24.wish to work with us, we will welcome that. Can the Secretary of
:09:24. > :09:32.State tell the House how many young Scots have lost their jobs since he
:09:32. > :09:36.was appointed to his in a 2010? should remember the economic mess
:09:36. > :09:40.that we inherited from the Labour Government. Since then we are
:09:40. > :09:45.fixing the deficit, seeking to rebalance the economy and to ensure
:09:45. > :09:49.we have sustainable growth. The youth contract, work experience and
:09:49. > :09:54.all of the support we are giving is vital to ensure we get a young
:09:54. > :09:59.people back into the workplace. notice the Secretary of State
:09:59. > :10:03.struggled with that answer somewhat! There is one statistic he
:10:03. > :10:09.should be familiar with. Since his Government's scrapped the future
:10:09. > :10:14.jobs fund, 23,000 jobs have been lost in Scotland. That is over 400
:10:14. > :10:20.jobs every week for young people, whilst he has become the Tory's man
:10:20. > :10:23.in Scotland. We are in the midst of the youth unemployment crisis and
:10:24. > :10:30.the Secretary of State for Scotland has been posted missing. In
:10:30. > :10:35.contrast, Labour took direct action Truda futures jobs then, delivering
:10:35. > :10:39.over 10,000 real jobs for young people in Scotland. Can the
:10:39. > :10:43.Secretary of State tell us what plans he has, any ideas at all
:10:43. > :10:49.about how to take direct effective action to tackle youth unemployment
:10:49. > :10:54.in Scotland? As ever, she wishes to leave behind have a horrible mess
:10:54. > :11:01.her Government left for us to fix. She cannot escape that reality, or
:11:01. > :11:05.the fact youth unemployment rose under Labour. We are investing �1
:11:06. > :11:09.billion in the use contract, which will enhance the number of work-
:11:09. > :11:13.experience places, provide additional support for employers
:11:13. > :11:17.taking on young people and has provided the Scottish Government
:11:17. > :11:22.with additional resources. I have been working with colleagues and
:11:22. > :11:27.others to do everything we can to tackle this terrible problem.
:11:27. > :11:32.This is a question about human trafficking into Scotland.
:11:32. > :11:34.The Government's is inquiring into human trafficking in Scotland in
:11:34. > :11:40.line with the ongoing implementation of the Schumann
:11:40. > :11:45.trafficking strategy we've launched in July 2011. -- human trafficking
:11:45. > :11:50.strategy. He will have seen the main
:11:50. > :11:55.recommendation a new human trafficking Bill for Scotland. It
:11:55. > :12:00.would solve the problem of implementing what we have signed up
:12:00. > :12:04.to in the EU, if we did it across the UK. Can I remind him and other
:12:04. > :12:11.interested parties to come to the all-party meeting next Monday in
:12:11. > :12:18.rooms seven and maybe take some advice? Mr Speaker, if I am
:12:18. > :12:21.available I will be delighted to attend. Does he agreed that the
:12:21. > :12:27.field of human trafficking were cut ordination between involved
:12:27. > :12:36.agencies is so critical if we are to provide real solutions is
:12:36. > :12:40.another policy best tackled at UK level? I agreed, the UK is able to
:12:40. > :12:46.bring great weight on behalf of Scotland to this issue. It is also
:12:46. > :12:49.an issue where we have been able to work with the Scottish Government,
:12:49. > :12:52.demonstrating that the two governments on issues of great
:12:52. > :12:56.importance can work together on a day-to-day basis.
:12:56. > :13:02.This is a question about credit ratings in Scotland.
:13:02. > :13:07.This Government has taken the hall Hardy United Kingdom benefits of
:13:08. > :13:11.record low interest rates. What estimates has the Secretary of
:13:11. > :13:16.State made of the extra debt interests that would have to be
:13:16. > :13:22.paid by an independent Scotland were it not to benefit from a
:13:22. > :13:28.triple A rating? He raises an important point about how an
:13:28. > :13:32.independent Scotland would fare he and they are issues about the track
:13:32. > :13:39.records of the Government, the pension arrangements, national debt
:13:39. > :13:42.and so much more they need to take into account. It is in the gift of
:13:42. > :13:47.the Scottish Government if it wishes to ask for a draft of what
:13:47. > :13:56.it might look like, so far they have not done so. What analysis has
:13:56. > :14:00.the Government under taken into the impact of a low credit rating in my
:14:00. > :14:03.constituency and more widely in Lanarkshire in the event of
:14:03. > :14:08.Scotland's celebrate -- separating from the rest of the United
:14:08. > :14:14.Kingdom? I recognise the challenges that face his constituents and
:14:14. > :14:18.those of so many in Lanarkshire and elsewhere. I stick to a basic
:14:18. > :14:20.belief that a manager and Scotland are better as part of the United
:14:20. > :14:30.Kingdom, much stronger than they would be if we went our separate
:14:30. > :14:32.
:14:32. > :14:35.Will he emphasised to the First Minister of Scotland that the
:14:35. > :14:39.uncertainty caused by the referendum is causing a growing
:14:39. > :14:45.number of companies to pause their investment decisions until they get
:14:45. > :14:48.clarity as to which direction Scotland is going to travel?
:14:48. > :14:51.honourable friend is going to the issue of when the debate takes
:14:51. > :14:55.place. She we should get on and do this. We should have this decision
:14:55. > :14:59.about Scotland's place in the UK sooner rather than later. I cannot
:14:59. > :15:02.understand why we should have the weight the best part of three years,
:15:02. > :15:08.with all the economic uncertainty generated, until we get that
:15:08. > :15:11.decision. Does the Secretary of State not understand that it isn't
:15:11. > :15:19.the credit rating score but the cost of servicing government debt
:15:19. > :15:22.that matters? Japan has a much higher net debt and its score pays
:15:22. > :15:26.less interest on government bonds in the UK. It is your that counts
:15:26. > :15:33.and not the triple-A rating. Would he now stop this ridiculous
:15:33. > :15:36.scaremongering? With the honourable gentleman seriously suggesting that
:15:36. > :15:40.the triple-A status has no bearing on the interest rates we pay? He's
:15:40. > :15:43.got to wake up and make sure they answer some of the fundamental
:15:43. > :15:50.questions that are at the heart of this debate and which they are so
:15:50. > :15:57.far ducking. STUDIO: This is questions about
:15:57. > :16:02.plans for a benefit cap in Scotland. I think he is seeking to group this
:16:02. > :16:08.question with numbered well. seek to answer this question with
:16:08. > :16:12.number 12. The chairman of the work and pensions Select Committee, who
:16:12. > :16:18.is a regular attender at Scottish Questions, has suffered a fall. I'm
:16:18. > :16:22.sure we all wish her well in her recovery. My right honourable
:16:22. > :16:24.friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are in contact with
:16:24. > :16:29.ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of
:16:29. > :16:32.issues concerning welfare reform. Is it not clear that if the
:16:32. > :16:34.nationalist government in Scotland have control of welfare policy
:16:35. > :16:43.they'd be no benefits cap in Scotland, despite widespread public
:16:43. > :16:47.support? I think what is clear is that the Scottish National Party
:16:47. > :16:50.make a proposition for independence without explaining to people how
:16:50. > :17:00.benefits at current levels would be paid in the future and where that
:17:00. > :17:04.With the average income in Scotland being �419 per week, does the
:17:04. > :17:11.Minister not agree with me that a benefit cap of �500 a week is a
:17:11. > :17:16.reasonable and sensible level? agree that this is a reasonable and
:17:16. > :17:19.fair measure. Constituents in constituencies like mine cannot
:17:19. > :17:28.understand how the party opposite and the nationalists are promoting
:17:28. > :17:34.that the benefit cap should be higher than �35,000. Is not the
:17:34. > :17:38.truth on the benefit cap that the household of �418 that was quoted
:17:38. > :17:42.by the previous question that, if they had six children, like my
:17:42. > :17:45.constituents have, those children have to be cared for. They would
:17:45. > :17:50.also receive child benefit. So the comparison being given is not fair.
:17:50. > :17:57.What is going to happen when the discretionary housing payments
:17:57. > :18:01.actually run out? What I think the honourable lady should do is to
:18:01. > :18:05.listen to her honourable friend from Leeds West, when she says that
:18:05. > :18:14.if Labour are to be taken seriously on any issue, they have to pass the
:18:14. > :18:17.test of fiscal credibility. On this issue that is a very relevant point.
:18:17. > :18:22.The honourable gentleman will not be aware that I have the highest
:18:22. > :18:29.percentage of single women in any constituency in the country. What
:18:29. > :18:33.is he doing to help these women? This is not a joke, it is serious.
:18:33. > :18:40.There are single women in this country who are struggling. What is
:18:40. > :18:45.his party going to do to help them? What this government is doing is
:18:45. > :18:47.tidying up the mess which his government left, which has placed a
:18:47. > :18:54.single women and lots of other people in a perilous financial
:18:54. > :19:02.position. STUDIO: This is a question about public expenditure
:19:02. > :19:09.for Helensburgh. It shows that the level of public expenditure in
:19:09. > :19:18.Scotland was �10,165 per head for 2010 to 2011. Last week at the
:19:18. > :19:28.breakfast table, my wife and I were talking about public expenditure in
:19:28. > :19:28.
:19:28. > :19:35.Scotland. When suddenly Korolev and-year-old son, Thomas, asked, is
:19:35. > :19:45.Alex Salmond a goodie or a baddie? -- when suddenly hour 11-year-old
:19:45. > :19:46.
:19:46. > :19:52.As ever, the goings-on at his house sold breakfast table are a thing of
:19:52. > :19:56.national interest. We look forward to further updates in due course.
:19:56. > :19:59.When his son get the chance to meet with the First Minister, he will be
:19:59. > :20:05.delighted by the conversation he has. But the important point is he
:20:05. > :20:09.should know that he wants to get England separate from Scotland, we
:20:09. > :20:16.don't. The Secretary of State will know that not one ounce of UK Steel
:20:16. > :20:20.has been used to build a new Forth Road Bridge. Isn't it shameful that
:20:20. > :20:28.29,000 tonnes of steel can be shipped 12,500 miles from Shanghai,
:20:28. > :20:32.but not 33 miles from Lanarkshire? The honourable gentleman's
:20:32. > :20:37.commitment in Lanarkshire and the steel industry is well known. As
:20:37. > :20:45.his anger is understood. It is a matter that was devolved to the
:20:45. > :20:49.Scottish government and it is for them to answer. In welcoming the
:20:49. > :20:53.additional per capita expenditure represented by the �100 million
:20:53. > :20:59.investment in the sleeper services, would the Secretary of State agree
:20:59. > :21:04.that this is a good example for the Westminster and Hollywood
:21:04. > :21:07.government's to work together, more effective at -- than it is working
:21:08. > :21:13.separately, and what he sees the opportunity to call in the likes of
:21:13. > :21:16.Richard Branson, Pete Waterman and others with entrepreneurial skills
:21:16. > :21:22.to CBE can re-establish Motorail services now that the sleeper
:21:22. > :21:25.services are secured? My right honourable friend is right to
:21:25. > :21:27.highlight the important investment we have committed to the sleeper
:21:28. > :21:32.services, for which she has been an undoubted champion over a long
:21:32. > :21:35.period of time. He is right to stress that we need to look at
:21:35. > :21:44.innovative ways to develop those services. I look forward to
:21:44. > :21:48.discussing his idea further. Speaker, as at 3rd April 2011, in
:21:48. > :21:54.Scotland there were 4800 in work families benefiting from the
:21:54. > :21:57.severely disabled child aliment and with child tax credit above the
:21:57. > :22:06.family limit. There are 5000 severely disabled children in these
:22:06. > :22:10.families. The Prime Minister has told this house on 14th December
:22:10. > :22:17.and again on 25th January that his government will not be cutting
:22:18. > :22:22.benefits for disabled children. Given that almost 8000 children in
:22:22. > :22:26.Scotland will be losing �1,400 a year with the child tax credit
:22:26. > :22:32.changes, does the Minister agree with me that the Prime Minister is
:22:32. > :22:35.playing ball and clearly does not understand his own policy? What I
:22:35. > :22:39.agree with is the fact that the government is not making any
:22:39. > :22:43.savings at all from these changes. Savings from abolishing the adult
:22:43. > :22:47.disability premiums and changes in the child rate will not return to
:22:47. > :22:51.the Exchequer. The savings will be recycled into higher payments for
:22:51. > :23:01.more to see -- for more severely disabled people. There are far too
:23:01. > :23:06.many noisy, private conversations Would the Minister agree with me,
:23:06. > :23:12.and with my constituents, that in matters of disability payments for
:23:12. > :23:15.the sea -- for severely disabled children and all other payments
:23:15. > :23:19.from taxpayers' money for people who are most in need throughout our
:23:19. > :23:29.country, we are better raising money together and working together
:23:29. > :23:33.
:23:33. > :23:37.as one United Kingdom. The severe disability premium and all other
:23:37. > :23:41.benefits are clearly set out by the United Kingdom government. The
:23:41. > :23:45.Scottish National Party have failed to set out how we single benefit in
:23:45. > :23:52.Scotland would be paid for post independence, if it was ever
:23:52. > :23:56.achieved. STUDIO: This is a defence related question.
:23:56. > :24:00.I spoke to the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Defence on
:24:00. > :24:06.this issue. As was confirmed on Monday, there are no current plans
:24:06. > :24:10.to change the status of Defence munitions beat. There is a need to
:24:10. > :24:15.maintain beef until the torpedo has been converted to a single fuel
:24:15. > :24:22.system, when the need for specialist facilities may lack. The
:24:22. > :24:27.conversion programme is expected to be completed around 2018. It is one
:24:27. > :24:32.of the largest employers in North Ayrshire. It is wholly dependent on
:24:32. > :24:35.Ministry of Defence contracts. Would he ensure there is a
:24:35. > :24:40.ministerial visit from the Scotland Office to the facility, to find out
:24:40. > :24:47.about more that is the mayor with a view to ongoing representations for
:24:48. > :24:53.future contracts to the Ministry of Defence? I am pleased to be able to
:24:53. > :24:58.confirm that the Secretary of State for Scotland will be pleased to
:24:58. > :25:02.visit that facility. STUDIO: This is another question
:25:02. > :25:07.about the financial consequences of independence.
:25:07. > :25:10.I will answer questions 11 and 15 together. The Scottish government,
:25:10. > :25:13.but the Scottish Government has failed to set out what independence
:25:13. > :25:17.would mean for Scotland. This government is clear that Scotland
:25:17. > :25:23.is stronger for being part of the UK, and the UK is stronger for
:25:23. > :25:27.having Scotland within it. Does my right honourable friend agree with
:25:27. > :25:31.me that instead of Scottish politicians focusing on
:25:31. > :25:35.independence, that they should look in these difficult economic times
:25:35. > :25:39.to stop depending on one industry in the North Sea and instead
:25:39. > :25:44.looking to create a broader industry sector that will look for
:25:44. > :25:49.economic support for the rest of Scotland? She is right. Our primary
:25:49. > :25:54.concern has to be to ensure we get the economy on the right track. By
:25:54. > :25:57.fixing the deficit, by rebalancing the economy and making sure of
:25:57. > :25:59.sustainable growth then we will do that. We should be getting on and
:25:59. > :26:05.resolving this issue of independence so we can remove the
:26:05. > :26:13.uncertainty it causes. Order, still far too much noise. Mr John
:26:13. > :26:20.Would the Minister agree that in the areas along the border between
:26:20. > :26:26.Scotland and England, there would be many and necessary financial and
:26:26. > :26:30.regular -- regulatory costs to both sides of the border, and in extreme
:26:31. > :26:33.cases they could be problems with border control. I'm not
:26:33. > :26:37.contemplating Scotland becoming independent. I am confident
:26:37. > :26:41.Scotland will vote to stay within the UK. But there is a central
:26:41. > :26:49.issue. If we were to become separate, some of the issues
:26:49. > :26:53.surrounding Europe, including the Borders issue, I think the issues
:26:53. > :26:57.are absurd as he does. Has the Secretary of State consider the
:26:57. > :27:01.recent study by the National Institute of Economic and Social
:27:01. > :27:06.Research? Even informing the sterling so with the UK, a separate
:27:06. > :27:09.Scotland would experience volatile public finances, inherent debt at
:27:09. > :27:13.either 70 to 80 % of GDP and face tougher constraints on levels of
:27:13. > :27:19.tax and borrowing than being an equal participant in fiscal union
:27:19. > :27:23.with the UK. I have study the report and the honourable gentleman
:27:24. > :27:29.puts his conclusions succinctly. These are. The SNP have failed to
:27:29. > :27:33.answer. STUDIO: That is all we've got time for. Because of the Easter
:27:33. > :27:39.break, the next Scottish Questions is and now for nearly two months.