Scottish independence: Rival Scots industry visions set out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27830193

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The campaigns for and against independence have set out plans to boost industry across the nation.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said an independent Scotland could increase manufacturing by 30% by 2030.

And Alistair Darling, leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, said Scotland in the UK had access to a large, single market.

The two visions were set out ahead of the 18 September independence referendum.

During a visit to Fife, Mr Salmond set out a government blueprint for the "reindustrialisation of an independent Scotland".

The plan involves:

The first minister said: "Scotland's wealth, talent and resources mean we have the potential to become a global hub for the industries of the future.

"To achieve this requires a national mission where we come together as a country to reindustrialise Scotland for the 21st Century."

He added: "We already have world-class manufacturing companies and Scottish economic performance has improved with the limited decision-making powers of devolution."

Mr Salmond argued that Scotland, under the Westminster government, was part of an "unbalanced" system in which investment levels were below many key competitors.

But Mr Darling, who visited a whisky distillery in Ayrshire, said Scotland in the Union gave businesses access to a single market of 63 million people, and a network of 270 embassies and consulates around the world.

The former chancellor said: "I want to see all Scottish industries doing well.

"Renewables is a case where it benefits from a UK-wide subsidy. If you take the whisky industry - an outstanding success for Scotland - one of its biggest export markets is just across the border in England."

He went on: "Why on earth put a barrier between a manufacturer or a distiller and their customers? It makes no sense whatsoever.

"My argument for the UK is, you've got a much, much bigger market - that's the best way of helping Scottish industrialists.

"All across the world, you see where you've got a border, it affects trade badly because you've got different tax systems, different accounting systems, different regulations and currency transactions.

"These are barriers that don't need to exist."