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An Independent Scottish Parliament.

An independent Parliament will have sovereignty over the full range of matters that affect Scotland. Current reservations in the Scotland Act will be removed and the parliament will have the power to legislate in all areas, reserved and devolved, subject only to agreed international obligations. There will be a Scottish Government headed by a Prime Minister, which will operate in the same way as other international Governments and which will be held to account by the Scottish Parliament.

Scotland in the World: The legislation setting up an independent Scottish Parliament will specify that powers currently reserved to the UK Parliament will become the sole responsibility of the Scottish parliament. The House of Commons and House of Lords will no longer be able to legislate in relation to Scotland. Relations with the EU will become the responsibility of the Scottish Government, which will seek agreement with the European Union on representation within the Parliament, Council and Commission. Scotland will have the right to remain a member of the European Union with all rights and responsibilities that entails and will seek membership of the United Nations and other international bodies.

The new constitutional arrangements: The Act of Union 1707 will be repealed and the Scotland Act 1998 amended so that Scotland becomes a fully sovereign nation state, independent of England. The Queen will continue to be Head of State of Scotland for as long as the Scottish people wish it. Scotland will no longer be represented at Westminster and the post of Secretary of State for Scotland will cease to exist. The House of Lords will cease to be a court of appeal for Scottish cases.

Financial arrangements: Scotland will be responsible for levying and collecting all its own taxes; with the Scottish government managing expenditure, revenue, investment and borrowing in accordance with Scottish needs and priorities subject to the approval of the Scottish parliament.

Electoral and parliamentary arrangements: The first independent Scottish parliament will be elected on the same basis as the devolved Scottish parliament. The parliament will be responsible for its own electoral arrangements subject to any limits set out in Scotland's constitution. Eligibility to vote will be based on residency. The Scottish Parliament will have a 4-year fixed term. The Prime Minister will be appointed and Ministers approved by Parliament.

Next steps: An SNP government will ask the people of Scotland to vote in a referendum on the proposals set out in a White Paper. These will be based on the proposals outlined in this consultation.

Following a positive referendum result the Scottish Executive will begin negotiations with the government of the UK on the details of the Independence settlement. The Scottish Parliament will issue a Declaration of Scottish Sovereignty and inform the United Nations and European Union of the decision of the Scottish

people. Legislation will be enacted in the Scottish Parliament and at Westminster to put into effect the transfer of sovereignty to the Scottish Parliament. Elections to the independent Scottish Parliament will be held and a new Scottish government established.