Scotland's Future

That the Parliament notes that the independence referendum is scheduled to take place in just over four-and-a-half months; is proud of the fact that Scotland enters this period recognised globally as an open, tolerant and inclusive nation; notes that one of Scotland’s greatest achievements, together with the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has been to establish the world’s greatest family of nations, the United Kingdom; believes that everyone in the UK can be proud of their individual country while remaining fully committed to the union of nations and that, as part of the same state, their collective contribution to each other and the world has, and will be, greater; notes that Scotland’s future best lies as being part of a global success story, which, as a direct consequence of full union, provides opportunity, a stable currency, global influence and a capacity to absorb financial shocks, while enabling the Parliament to address and protect the country's distinctive culture, traditions and institutions in Scotland's own way, and considers that, given that the Scottish Government wants to bring an end to this success story, voters in Scotland are entitled to the facts and detailed information about separation, particularly in light of intervening developments, such as the publication of the recent Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report, the confirmation that there will be no currency sharing agreement for the pound following any vote for independence, the EU ruling that cross-border pension investments must be fully-funded and the clearly-emergent consensus that, as a new applicant, an independent Scotland will require to negotiate EU membership with all the other member states.