Inquiry launched into Foreign Policy implications of a separate Scotland

The Committee is inviting evidence on the following issues.

1. The extent to which Scottish separation may have an impact, if at all, both in the short and long term, on the UK's and Scotland’s future:

• international standing, influence and foreign policy priorities; 
• membership of and standing in key international bodies;
• relations with key bilateral allies, notably the US (particularly in relation to security, intelligence and nuclear co-operation), but also with individual EU Member States and emerging powers;

2. Whether Scottish separation could affect the operations and organisation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (and its associated bodies) and in particular its diplomatic infrastructure and representation, including:

• the ability to discharge the foreign policy aspects of the National Security Strategy; 
• efforts to promote UK business abroad;
• the provision of consular support to British nationals abroad.

3. In relation to Scotland, views are invited on the key factors that could influence the basic shape and scope of a separate Scottish foreign policy. 

Call for evidence:

Interested groups or individuals are encouraged to submit written evidence to the inquiry. Written evidence should be received by the Committee no later than Monday 24 September 2012.
Form of written evidence:
Submissions must be no longer than 3,000 words. The main body of any submission should use numbered paragraphs. Each submission should contain:

• a short summary, perhaps in bullet point form;
• a brief introduction about the person or organisation submitting evidence, perhaps explaining their area of expertise or experience;
• any factual information from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses; and
• any recommendations for action by the Government or others which the submitter would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its report to the House.

Submissions should be in MS Word format with as little use of colour and logos as possible.
View further information on submitting evidence.

Submitting evidence

Submissions should be sent as an e-mail attachment to foraffcom@parliament.uk and the email entitled “Inquiry into the Foreign Policy implications of and for a separate Scotland”. Paper copies may be sent to Foreign Affairs Committee, Committee Office, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
Inquiry-related questions:
Please contact Adele Brown, Committee Specialist, on 020 7219 3309 or by email to brownac@parliament.uk
Media enquiries:
Members of the press with enquiries should contact Alex Paterson, Select Committee Media Officer, on 020 7219 1589 or 07917 488488, or by email to patersona@parliament.uk