The Scottish Government

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6 A National Conversation

Summary

This paper is the first step in a wide-ranging national conversation about the future of Scotland. This conversation will allow the people of Scotland to consider all the options for the future of the country and make informed decisions. This paper invites the people of Scotland to sign up for the national conversation and to suggest how the conversation should be designed to ensure the greatest possible participation.

Introduction

6.1 The current Scottish Government believes that the best future for Scotland is as an independent, sovereign country like so many other European countries. However, this is a decision that only the Scottish people can make for themselves, in the light of all the arguments put forward for independence and by comparison with other forms of constitutional change. The Scottish Government is therefore committed to a national conversation about Scotland's future, which will allow all the options for developing the governance of the country to be fully discussed by the people of Scotland.

The need for a national conversation

6.2 It is now ten years since the referendum on devolution, and eight years since the Scottish Parliament was established. As discussed in this paper, there have been significant recent constitutional developments in Wales and Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom Government has recently made its own proposals for change. Most importantly, the majority of Members of the Scottish Parliament elected at the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year stood on manifestoes advocating further devolution of responsibilities to Scotland. Events since those elections have illustrated the limitations of the current constitutional settlement, for example the conduct of the elections themselves.

6.3 Eight years of experience of operating a devolved administration for Scotland has given the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government considerable experience of their responsibilities, and the limitations of the current arrangements. Some extensions have been made to devolved competence, but most of these have been relatively minor in scope. There are therefore good reasons to review now the constitutional settlement embodied in the Scotland Act.

6.4 However, there is no consensus on the next steps that should be taken to develop Scotland's constitutional position, and the parties elected to the Scottish Parliament made a range of proposals. It is also clear that the support of the people of Scotland is necessary to make changes for the future. Hence the Scottish Government proposes a national conversation to allow the people of Scotland to explore and understand their options and to decide their own future.

The scope of the national conversation

6.5 The Scottish Government envisages a national conversation which will consider the entire range of possible changes to the current constitutional settlement for Scotland. The national conversation will allow an informed choice about independence, or other forms of constitutional change. The Scottish Government would intend to make the case for independence, and seek support for a referendum, but also to put to the Scottish people the arguments for other forms of further constitutional change through a programme of events in which the benefits of the options can be fully tested. Other political parties, groups and individuals with different views would also play a full part in the conversation.

6.6 At the end of the conversation, the Scottish Government foresees a choice facing Scotland of:

• continuing with the current constitutional settlement with no or minimal change;
• extending devolved responsibilities to Scotland in areas identified during the national conversation; or
• taking the steps to allow Scotland to become a fully independent country.

An invitation to sign up for the national conversation

6.7 The significance of the questions raised in this national conversation requires the fullest participation possible, and the Scottish Government intends that as many people in Scotland as possible should take part.

6.8 As a first step, the Scottish Government invites people to sign up for the national conversation. The Scottish Government is seeking commitments from groups, organisations and individuals to participate in the national conversation, and an indication of the contributions people would like to make to the debate. The Scottish Government would also welcome expressions of interest from those that want to follow and keep in touch with the debate. Those committing or expressing an interest will be informed of significant developments in the national conversation.

6.9 Given the importance of this conversation, and the importance of full engagement, the Scottish Government would also welcome views on how to design the questions, processes, materials and arguments within the conversation to ensure the greatest possible participation. Possibilities include:

• public meetings and events around Scotland, with the First Minister and other Scottish Ministers, to hear and exchange views with the public;
• events involving other political and civic leaders, business people and public servants, academics and teachers;
• events targeted at local communities, young people, and minority groups;
• public workshops, roadshows, exhibitions and local conferences;
• web-based information and interactive facilities;
• opportunities to contribute in writing and electronically;
• opinion surveys, focus groups and other research methods, such as citizens' panels; and
• support to organisations (including outreach organisations), communities and individuals who want to host their own national conversation events.

6.10 The Scottish Government invites views on these possibilities, and suggestions for any other methods of participation.

How to participate in the national conversation

6.11 The best way to sign up for the national conversation, or to make suggestions for participation events or methods, is to visit the national conversation website at www.anationalconversation.com or e-mail joinin@anationalconversation.com.

6.12 Responses can also be sent by post to:

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