1 Introduction
1. On 18 September 2014, people in Scotland will
decide whether they wish Scotland to be an independent country.
Such a move, if it comes to pass, would have wide-ranging international
consequences not just for Scotland but for the UK too. Although
vibrant public and political debate has taken place on many facets
of independence, foreign policy issues have received less attention,
and those discussions which have taken place have tended to focus
heavily on Scotland's potential relationship with the European
Union. While there is no doubting the importance of the EU issue,
other foreign affairs questions also merit scrutiny. With this
in mind, we launched our inquiry in July 2012 and invited evidence
on whether, and it what ways, Scotland becoming independent could
affect both Scotland and the UK's future international standing,
influence and foreign policy priorities; their membership of,
and standing in, key international bodies; their relations with
key allies; and the likely shape of Scotland's future foreign
policy.[1]
2. As a Westminster-based Committee our aim was
to help inform the foreign policy debate on both sides of the
border, to approach with an open mind the issues under consideration,
to listen carefully to the Scottish Government's views, and to
work, in the best select committee tradition, on a non-partisan
basis. Two of our members represent Scottish constituencies, while
another covers the border area abutting Scotland.
3. In addition to receiving a wide range of written
evidence from individuals and organisations, we took oral testimony
from legal and constitutional experts, academics, and former senior
diplomats. We were also pleased that Ministers from both the UK
and Scottish Governments agreed to give oral evidence to us in
Edinburgh. A full list of those we heard from can be found at
the end of this Report. We would like to place on record our thanks
to all those who have contributed to this inquiry and helped to
inform it by offering their views either orally or in writing.
4. Our work has also been informed by the wide
range of select committee inquiries which are taking place in
both the House of Commons and House of Lords on related aspects
of Scottish independence. These include inquiries by the Defence
Committee, the Scottish Affairs Committee, the House of Lords
Economic Affairs Committee, and the House of Lords EU Committee.
Where it has been pertinent, we have drawn upon evidence provided
to these Committees whilst also seeking to avoid duplicating their
work.
5. This report is split into three main chapters,
plus one concluding section containing some general observations
and remarks, and covers the main topics outlined in our terms
of reference. We have focused on subjects that appeared, on the
basis of the evidence we received, to be most pertinent. This
is necessarily selective, not just because the foreign policy
implications for both Scotland and the UK are so numerous, but
also because many international implications would be dependent
on the wider negotiating process that would take place in the
event of independence, and would involve subjects and policy areas
that extend well beyond our remit.[2]
We were also constrained by a lack of published detail about the
Scottish Government's proposed foreign policy, which has made
it difficult to discern its policy positions on a number of issues.
While we are grateful to the Scottish Deputy First Minister for
providing oral evidence on certain topics, we nevertheless look
forward to the publication of its detailed views on the foreign
policy implications of independence in the coming months. We hope
this will allow additional scrutiny of a much wider range of relevant
international issues.
A note on terminology
6. Originally, the title of this inquiry was
'Foreign policy implications of, and for, a separate Scotland'.
However, in the period since we announced our terms of reference,
official agreement was reached on the wording of the 2014 referendum
question. As such, the title of our report has been changed to
reflect this agreed form of words. Also throughout this Report
and for the sake of convenience we use 'RUK' as a shorthand way
of referring to the 'Rest of the UK', the state which, in the
event of Scottish independence, would comprise the UK minus
Scotland (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
1 The full terms of reference can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/news/scotland-tor/ Back
2
For example, the issue of the allocation of public assets, debts
and liabilities. Back
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