"the Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo has explicitly said that Scottish independence is a matter between Scotland and Westminster and Spain has nothing to say on the matter, Spain being one of the countries most likely to feature in your supposed list of blackballers, I'd guess."

Quite right Scabby, Spain has got no say on the matter of Scottish Independence - But it does have some say on whether or not that independent Scotland is ever allowed to join the EU - True? The fact is Scabby that every existing member of the EU has a say as to whether of not Scotland gets to join - that my old son is cast in stone, its one of the EU's rules, irrespective of what Eck and the YESNP crowd say.

"You know, or you should, that is not a problem being faced only by Scotland. Scotland's stats for population ageing are not dramatically different than those for the rest of the UK. So the problem you describe is one that will be faced by ALL of the UK, not just Scotland. in the White Paper however, a partial solution has been proposed - namely to allow immigration to increase by a net amount of around 1400 people a year - the increase in working population would offset the deficit implicit in the ageing increase."

In Scotland the situation is worse than in the rest of the UK as over the next 15 years more people become pensioners than join the workforce. The situation for the UK as a whole over the next 15 years is nowhere near as bad.

Ah yes allowing immigration will ease the problem as promised in that document known as The White Paper which is really the SNP's next election manifesto. All these immigrants to Scotland are going to work where? I take it that those of working age will all have jobs before they arrive and that none of their dependents impose any additional burden with associated costs on independent Scotland's education, health and welfare services? Of course they won't Alex has waved his magic wand hasn't he? What happens as and when these immigrants reach pensionable age? More immigration, or are you relying on accelerated rates of breeding?

Why should anything that threatens Scotland necessarily also threaten the UK, or NATO for that matter? Perhaps some Russian oligarch might want to buy it in a few years time? The Chinese might take it over? As a terrorist target you will not have the force or the capability to deal with one of your oil production platforms being taken over, or counter anyone plundering your fisheries. That Scotland's geographic position makes it strategically important is a myth.

"Scotland would not be looking for a free defence solution. It's been stated that Scotland would look for membership of NATO, and contribute its share to the defence of the North Atlantic community of nations."

What would Scotland contribute? At present it has nothing and its proposals for a Scottish Defence Force are laughable (Total number was something like 15,000 wasn't it with a Reserve of 5,000 - why indeed should Russia tremble). Renege on Scotland's share of the National Debt and you get no share of assets, even if you did your share of those assets would prove to be a millstone round your necks.

Couldn't care less whether, or not, you accept what has been stated by many who are experts on the EU. The reality is that Scotland is not currently a member of the EU (The UK is) and it will NOT be an EU member once it declares itself independent. Ah yes but Alex obtained "legal advice" on this didn't he? Only thing was the truth was that he hadn't and spent a fortune trying to cover up his lie to the electorate of Scotland.

Perfectly correct Scabby, my error, "There are 48,830 civil servants working in Scotland and 31,690 (65% of the total) work for parts of the UK Government such as the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD)." So that is only a loss 31,690 jobs out of 48,830.

On the Type 26 Frigates:

Initial order of 8 leading to 18 for the Royal Navy - these will be built in the UK
8 for the Royal Australian Navy - these would be built in the UK
6 for the Brazilian Navy + Wave Knight Class Tankers and River Class Patrol Vessels - these would be built in the UK

Any Type 26 Frigates built for the Indian Navy will be built under licence in India - That make it any clearer?