From Nato to sterling, SNP’s wild claims shot down by the experts

SNP: We will retain the pound in an independent Scotland.

UK Government: It would not be possible to recreate today’s arrangements if that political union did not exist. That is why all three of the largest political parties in the UK have ruled out sharing the pound or the Bank of England in a formal currency union.

SNP: An independent Scotland will continue as a member of the EU.

UK Government: An independent Scotland would need to apply to join the EU. All 28 member states would need to agree the terms of Scotland’s membership in what would be a complex, lengthy process and Scotland could not expect to retain the same terms of membership as the UK.

SNP: An independent Scotland will remain part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) with the rest of the UK and there will be no border controls.

UK Government: If an independent Scotland joined the CTA, but pursued a very different immigration policy, this could put the CTA arrangements under strain. Travel between an independent Scotland and the continuing UK might require people to carry passports or some other agreed form of identification.

SNP: There will be no requirement for an independent Scotland to raise the general rate of taxation to fund existing levels of spending.

UK Government: Independent experts agree that the UK offers people in Scotland lower taxes and higher public spending than would be possible in an independent Scotland. HM Treasury estimates that this is worth £1,400 per person per year for each person in Scotland.

SNP: Scotland would take our place as one of the many non-nuclear members of Nato.

UK Government: The current Scot- tish Government’s policy of seeking to join Nato while expressing opposition to nuclear weapons would be likely to make it more difficult to join.

SNP: Record investment in 2013 points to a bright and lengthy future for oil and gas production in Scotland.

UK Government: Revenues from North Sea oil and gas are subject to sudden change and will ultimately decline.

SNP: Scottish renewable energy will continue to represent the most costeffective means for the rest of the UK to meet its renewable ambitions.

UK Government: The energy market in Great Britain is ten times larger than Scotland’s alone, so costs are spread across 30million households and businesses. Staying in the UK would keep future energy bills for Scottish households up to £189 a year lower.

SNP: Mortgage rates will continue to be based on the interest rate set by the Bank of England, which in a sterling area will be exactly the same for Scotland as for the rest of the UK.

UK Government: The UK’s reputation contributes to its lower cost of borrowing. HM Treasury estimates that as part of the UK, mortgage interest costs are up to £1,700 lower on the first year of repayments for a 75 per cent loanto-value mortgage on the average house.