UK MoD 'not planning' contingency plans to cope with Scottish independence

The UK government has reaffirmed that it will not draft contingency plans to cover the implications on defence policy of Scottish independence, saying that it is "not planning for any other outcome" than Scotland choosing to remain in the union.

The position of the UK government was repeated by Undersecretary of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare, and Veterans Andrew Robathan MP (South Leicestershire - Conservative) in response to a parliamentary question on 27 November.

The question – "to ask the secretary of state for defence what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on the potential effect on UK defence policy of Scottish independence" – had been posed by Gregg McClymont MP (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, and Kirkintillock Each - Labour). Robathan answered the question in the absence of Defence Secretary Philip Hammond MP.

He told parliament: "The UK government's position is clear ... we are confident that the people of Scotland will choose to remain part of the UK and we are not planning for any other outcome. It is for those advocating independence to explain the nature and implications of an independent Scotland."