1 Introduction
1. In October 2011, we launched two lines of
inquiry into the Referendum on Separation for Scotland. We have
published several Reports so far related to the first area of
inquiry: on the mechanics and process of the referendum itself.[1]
The second area of inquiry addresses the key substantive issues
that the voters of Scotland would need more information on to
be able to make an informed choice in any referendum. In our Unanswered
Questions Report, we identified six areas on which we would
seek evidence: the likely currency; Scotland's relationship with
the EU; pensions and social security; economics; citizenship and
immigration; and defence.[2]
2. This Report is part of the wider second inquiry
into key substantive issues. We have taken evidence on many aspects
of defence issues in Scotland and how separation might affect
both the defence industry and those who currently serve in the
British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. We published our
Report on the implications of separation for Trident on 25 October
2012,[3] and we anticipate
producing more Reports on separation and defence-related issues.
3. The UK no longer builds merchant ships on
any significant scale, but it does build ships for the Royal Navy,
and parts of Scotland have an important social and cultural association
with shipbuilding. As part of the UK defence industry, the shipyards
in Scotland contribute to the Armed Forces of the UK. We decided
to explore how shipbuilding, and its associated industries, might
be affected if Scotland became a separate country. We visited
several MoD sites and defence employers in Scotland to talk to
them about the implications for their activity if Scotland left
the UK. This included BAE Systems, Govan and the Aircraft Carrier
Alliance at Rosyth. We would like to thank all those who assisted
our visits.
1 Eighth Report of Session 2010-12, The Referendum
on Separation for Scotland: Do you agree this is a biased question?,
HC 1492; Second Report of Session 2012-13, The Referendum on Separation
for Scotland: making the process legal, HC 542; Third Report of
Session 2012-13, The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: a
multi-option question, HC 543, Sixth Report of Session 2012-13,
The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: The proposed section
30-Order Can a player also be the referee? HC 863. Back
2
Sixth Report of Session 2010-12, The Referendum on Separation
for Scotland: Unanswered Questions, HC 1806 Back
3
Fourth Report of Session 2012-13, The Referendum on Separation
for Scotland: Terminating Trident-Days or Decades?, HC 676 Back
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