The report The Economic Implications for the United Kingdom of Scottish Independence (HL 152) examines the effects on the United Kingdom economy should the Scottish people vote in favor of independence in 2014, creating an independent Scottish state. The decision the Scots will have to make is not a simple one. It will have far-reaching constitutional, political and social, as well as economic consequences. This report considers a number of economic aspects of separation, including: impact on the single market in the UK; international investment in Scotland; location implications for medium and small companies; Scotland's currency; the role of the Bank of England if Scottish financial institutions needed emergency support; regulation of Scottish financial institutions; division of assets and liabilities; underlying fiscal position of Scotland post-indepen

In autumn 2014 those living in Scotland will face the most important political decision of a lifetime. Whether Scotland becomes an independent state once again, as it was before 1707, or remains within the United Kingdom will have profound consequences for everyone in Britain. There are many issues involved in this important choice, but a key part of the debate centres around the question of whether Scotland would prosper more or less after independence. How well off are we? Would we have a faster or slower growing economy if we were independent? What currency would we use - the pound, the euro or a new currency of our own? What should our energy policy be? There are those who would like to see a more egalitarian society, like Scandinavia, with a reduction in poverty and deprivation; would we be likely to achieve that? Would we continue to be in the European Union but with Scotland becoming a member in its own right? Is that right for Scotland and what problems might that involve? In this impartial, clearly expressed and thought-provoking book, economist Gavin McCrone addresses these, and many other, questions which are of vital importance in the run up to the referendum.

Scotland has a distinctive place in the world. Nation to Nation explores how this unique relationship with the rest of the world has developed over the years and how it manifests itself today. In this book Stephen Gethins combines his knowledge from years of work in the field - from the conflict zones of the former Soviet Union to the corridors of power in Westminster and Brussels - with insights from political, cultural and academic figures who have been at the heart of foreign policy in Scotland, the UK, Europe and North America. Gethins looks at Scotland's foreign policy to better inform the debate about our country's future and its relationships with its neighbours near and far.

The UK Government is undertaking a major cross-government programme of analysis prior to the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014. The aim is to provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of Scotland's place in the UK. This paper, the first of a series to be published in 2013 and 2014, examines the UK's constitutional set-up and the legal implications of independence. The UK Government is convinced that the current devolution offers the best for Scotland: the Scottish Parliament and Government are empowered to take decisions on a range of domestic policy areas - such as health, education, policing - while Scotland continues to benefit from decisions made for the UK as a whole - defence and security, foreign representation, economic affairs. Independence is very different to devolution. Based on independent expert opinion (published as Annex A), the paper concludes that if there were to be a vote in favour of leaving the UK, Scotland would become an entirely new state whilst the remainder of the UK would continue as before, retaining the rights and obligations of the UK as it currently stands. Any separation would have to be negotiated between both governments. Legal and practical implications of independence, both at home and abroad, are addressed. An independent Scotland would have to apply to and/or negotiate to become a member of whichever international organisations it wished to join, including the EU and NATO. Scotland would also have to work through its positions on thousands of international treaties to which the UK is currently party.

Traces the development of the ideology of modern Scottish nationalism from the 1960s to the independence referendum in 2014.

This paper is the fourth in the Scotland analysis series. It discusses the strong economic integration between Scotland and the rest of the UK, and investigates the consequences of Scottish independence for the UK business environment. It explains the benefits of the current UK framework, which minimises the costs and risks that Scotland would otherwise be exposed to. The integration within the UK's domestic market brings benefits to all. The size and scale of the market brings opportunities to trade, move jobs, collaborate to develop new and future technologies, travel and communicate efficiently and benefit from economies of scale. Effective common regulations and institutions, a unified labour market, a shared knowledge base and integrated infrastructures are central to the success of this unified domestic market. However much an independent Scottish state sought to stay aligned with regulations and institutions in the continuing UK, a single market withn two separate states is not the same as a fully integrated domestic market. Divergence and fragmentation would likely lead to short-term and long-term costs, and prolonged uncertainties, for businesses and consumers.

In September 2014 people in Scotland will take one of the most important decisions in the history of Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom (UK) - whether to stay in the UK, or leave it and become a new, separate and independent state. In advance of the referendum, the UK Government will ensure through the Scotland analysis programme that the debate is properly informed by analysis, and that the facts crucial to considering Scotland's future are set out. This paper sets out the role of economic and fiscal integration in shaping Scotland's economic performance as part of the UK and describes some of the potential economic and fiscal consequences of independence. It follows the fourth paper in the Scotland analysis series, Scotland analysis: Business and microeconomic framework, which sets out how the UK's domestic market is a key part of Scotland's successful business environment