Scottish Affairs CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Nigel Smith

One detail that the evidence stumbled on yesterday (14 March 2012) was the broadcasting arrangements. In a binary referendum, the broadcasters aim for 50:50 balance in their output during the regulated referendum period usually about 4 months. If there is a third option it immediately becomes 33:33:33 putting devo max on an equal footing with Independence. A nonsense in my book!

And another. In the 1997 devolution referendum the Electoral Commission (if it and PPERA had existed then ) would have had to designate a campaign for all “possible” outcomes meaning three. The fourth option—a tax power without a parliament—was not a “possible outcome” in the words of PPERA so did not legally exist.

March 2012