Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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.

<>These functions are currently reserved, and on independence would become the responsibility of the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland. In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services including transition from the current UK arrangements to which Scotland currently contributes fully. Proposals for economic and competition regulation in an independent Scotland were published by the Scottish Government earlier this year. This included proposals for the economic and safety regulatory functions for Scotland’s railways currently performed by the Office of Rail Regulation. Full details can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2013/02/1911

The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals on the opportunities and gains of independence in the autumn. Material on the referendum and the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland can be found at www.scotreferendum.com including published papers and speeches. This site will be regularly updated with additional material including the Scottish Government’s white paper in the run up to the referendum.

Decisions on these and other proposals will be made by the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland elected in 2016 and thereafter. Political parties, stakeholders, and individuals will have their own preferences for the policies to be pursued in an independent Scotland and the arguments for and against, and between, the range of policy choices available to an independent Scotland will form a central part of the national debate before the referendum and then in the run up to the 2016 Scottish election.

As advertising is self-regulated by the industry it would be a matter for the industry to decide how best to configure, fund and staff its regulation after independence. There is no reason why the Advertising Standards Authority should not continue to operate in an independent Scotland.

In relation to broadcasting I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s paper on Economic and Competition Regulation in an Independent Scotland, published on 28 February 2013 and available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00415411.pdf

In relation to the printed media, the Scottish Government believes in an all-party approach to promote the principle of independent self-regulation

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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.

It should be noted that the current UK Deputy Prime Minister has questioned whether pensioner benefits, such as the free TV licence, should continue to be provided on a universal basis.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16351 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.

Structural funds are allocated on a regional basis (at NUTS 2 region level, of which Scotland has 4). Scotland therefore already has a distinct allocation, although it is distributed to the UK by the commission. The method for national and regional allocations are agreed as part of the overall budget settlement between member states.

With its own seat at the table, Scotland could secure a fair deal for itself by taking a full part in those negotiations. In the most recent negotiations for the 2014-2020 budget, for example, Denmark succeeded in winning, for the first time, a rebate of 130 million euros per year

There will be no threat to these links from independence. The Scottish Government would still have the ability to promote public service obligations on those routes considered to be of particular economic importance and control of air passenger duty would enable the Scottish Government to reform aviation taxation to stop it from being so damaging to industry and burdensome on passengers.

These functions are currently reserved, and on independence would become the responsibility of the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland. In delivering these functions, an independent Scotland would ensure continuity of services and would fully meet its international obligations.

The Scottish Government will publish its detailed white paper with positive proposals on the opportunities and gains of independence in the autumn. Material on the referendum and the Scottish Government’s proposals for an independent Scotland can be found at www.scotreferendum.com including published papers and speeches. This site will be regularly updated with additional material including the Scottish Government’s white paper in the run up to the referendum.