House of Commons - Foreign policy considerations for the UK and Scotland in the event of Scotland becoming an independent country

Foreign Affairs Committee - Sixth Report
Foreign policy considerations for the UK and Scotland in the event of Scotland becoming an independent country

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 23 April 2013.

Contents

List of Reports fromthe Committee during the current Parliament

Terms of Reference

Summary

Conclusions and recommendations

1 Introduction

2 Scotland and the RUK: who would inherit what and who would decide?

Why does it matter?

Multilateral and bilateral treaties

Conceptualising the break-up

Scottish and UK Government views on state succession

Succession disputes: the importance of international practice and precedent

What scenario would the international community support?

Membership of key international organisations

The United Nations

NATO

Scotland and the EU

Would Scotland retain the UK's opt-outs and at what cost?

3 International influence in the event of independence: more or less?

The RUK

'Hard' power attributes

The impact on the UK's international standing

RUK's diplomatic service

In the EU: a reduced RUK influence?

Scotland

Would independence enhance Scotland's global role?

Starting afresh: creating diplomatic clout

In the EU: does a direct voice equate to influence?

An industry perspective on the FCO's support

4 Characterising a future RUK-Scotland bilateral relationship

The foreign policy posture of the RUK's closest neighbour

Co-operation or competition?

Nuclear weapons

Dependency

Security and intelligence

Continuity and constraints

5 Concluding remarks and observations

Annex: Timeline of key referendum dates

Formal Minutes

Witnesses

List of printed written evidence

Oral and Written Evidence