Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16359 on 30 August 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

In an independent Scotland people would still have the right to be a member of a trade union. It is for the unions themselves to decide on what basis they wish to be organised.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16363 on 30 August 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

An independent Scottish Government would remain in membership of a range of international organisations and would follow standard procedures to do so. Given that Scotland, as part of the UK, already meets membership requirements, we do not anticipate any barriers to Scotland’s timely membership.

As a Member State of the EU Scotland would expect its fishing quotas to be allocated in the same way as all other Member States, based on the EU’s approach which provides a fixed share of fishing opportunities for EU Member States.

With regard to allocation of quota within Scotland, this is already administered by Scottish Ministers and would continue to be the case in an independent Scotland.

The regulatory authority for broadcasting would inherit the existing Broadcasting Code at independence and could amend it over time as necessary to suit Scottish circumstances, within the requirements set by the European Audio-Visual Media Services Directive.

The establishment of a single maritime boundary between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK will be agreed in accordance with well-established international law. Recent research by Professor Alex Kemp of Aberdeen University has suggested that around 98.8 per cent of North Sea oil production in the 30 years from 2011 will come from Scotland’s geographical share of the current UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

The number of civil servants required to administer the full range of policies and services that will become the responsibility of an independent Scotland will be dependent on a number of variables, including the overall public sector landscape that is inherited at the point of independence and the decisions taken by Scottish Ministers on the delivery, transition to and design of Scottish policies and services thereafter.

In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services including transition from the current arrangements to which Scotland currently contributes fully through taxes and fees levied in Scotland by the UK Government. An independent Scotland would not simply replicate UK structures but would develop services based on the needs of Scotland, best practice and the views of our stakeholders.