{"value":{"id":1282467,"askingMemberId":4006,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2021-02-01T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2021-02-03T00:00:00","uin":"146852","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a White Paper on the potential consequences of Scottish independence, setting out policy on areas including, but not restricted to, defence, immigration, economy, currency, trade, pensions, membership of the European Union, public service spending, culture and the environment.","answeringBodyId":2,"answeringBodyName":"Scotland Office","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4619,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2021-02-09T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>The question of Scottish independence was settled decisively in 2014 when Scotland voted to remain part of the UK. The UK Government continues to respect that result.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government is constantly communicating the benefits of Scotland being part of the United Kingdom and will continue to do so in future through a range of methods. These benefits have been clear recently in, for example, the unprecedented economic support offered to people and businesses in Scotland during the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK Government’s investment in vaccines, ensuring that we have UK-funded, affordable doses available across the whole of the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>On the other hand, there is little doubt there are many unanswered questions about the practicalities and impact of leaving the UK, not least around important issues like currency, defence, the fiscal transfer and the sustainability of public spending in Scotland at its current levels. These are all of direct relevance to the lives of people in Scotland.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Sovereignty: Scotland","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1282467","method":"GET"}]}