Academics questioned on constitutional implications of Scottish independence

• Parliament TV: Scottish independence: constitutional implications for the rest of the UK
• Inquiry: Scottish independence: constitutional implications for the rest of the UK
• Select Committee on the Constitution

Witnesses

At 10.30am, Wednesday 5 March 2014, Committee room 1, Palace of Westminster:

• Professor Alan Boyle, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Edinburgh. Co-author of the legal advice to the UK Government on the status of an independent Scotland
• Professor Michael Keating, Professor of Politics and Chair in Scottish Politics at the University of Aberdeen
• Professor Stephen Tierney, Professor of Constitutional Theory at the University of Edinburgh

Likely questions

Areas the Committee is likely to cover with the witnesses include:

• What legal principles should govern negotiations for Scottish independence in the event of a ‘yes’ vote?
• Is the timetable of independence by March 2016 realistic and what impact would the timing of the 2015 general election have on independence negotiations?
• What role if any should Scottish MPs have in holding the negotiators to account?
• Should the negotiating teams be held directly accountable to the public?
• What legislation would be required at Westminster to achieve independence for Scotland?
• What impact would independence have on the monarchy and would Scotland need a governor-general?
• What legal principles should apply to negotiations on the divisions of assets and debts that are currently UK-wide.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Select Committees