英屬蘇格蘭發佈"獨立白皮書"
Scotland’s government yesterday unveiled its vision of a future independent from the UK, with promises of economic growth, transformed childcare, easier immigration and lower corporate taxes.
蘇格蘭政府昨日公佈關於未來從英國獨立的構想，許下了促進經濟增長、調整兒童保育政策、放鬆移民政策、降低企業稅等多項承諾。Edinburgh released a paper setting out how Scotland would negotiate an end to its 300-year union with England and Wales, if people vote for independence in a referendum in September, and policies for a future Scottish National party government.
蘇格蘭政府發佈文件稱，如果明年9月舉行的公投同意獨立，蘇格蘭將協商終結與英格蘭和威爾士締結的長達300年之久的聯盟。文件還闡明瞭蘇格蘭民族黨(Scottish National Party)如果上臺執政將奉行的政策。“With independence we would have the powers and responsibilities to be able to seize the opportunities to build a wealthier and fairer nation – but also to face our challenges,” Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister and SNP leader said.
蘇格蘭首席部長、蘇格蘭民族黨領袖亞歷克斯?薩爾蒙德(Alex Salmond，見上圖左)表示：“獨立後，我們將擁有權力和責任，能夠抓住機遇建設一個更加富裕、更加公平的國家，但也將面臨挑戰。”
“We will also have to tackle a legacy of debt, low growth and social inequality bequeathed to us by Westminster’s control of our economy.”
“威斯敏斯特對我們經濟的控制給我們造成了債務、低增長和社會不平等問題，我們將不得不解決這些遺留問題。”However, the 667-page “guide to an independent Scotland” white paper that he launched gave no details on what an independent Scotland might do if the rump of the UK declined to continue with the shared use of sterling. Edinburgh has proposed that if people vote for independence, Scotland would split from the UK on March 24 2016.
然而，薩爾蒙德公佈的這份667頁的《蘇格蘭獨立規劃》白皮書沒有說明，如果蘇格蘭獨立後，英國拒絕繼續讓蘇格蘭使用英鎊，蘇格蘭要怎麼做。愛丁堡表示，如果獨立公投獲得通過，蘇格蘭將於2016年3月24日脫離英國。But a pro-union campaign has been consistently ahead in the polls.
但在民調中反對獨立的人數比例始終處於領先地位。In nine polls over the past three months, the average support for independence has been 32 per cent, according to What Scotland Thinks, an impartial organisation tracking public attitudes towards independence.
What Scotland Thinks的數據顯示，在過去3個月舉行的9次民調中，平均有32%的人支持獨立。What Scotland Thinks是一家追蹤公衆對獨立態度的公正組織。But there is significant variation between polling companies. The most recent survey, by Panelbase, showed the No campaign on 47 per cent, with Yes at 38 per cent.
但民調機構之間也存在巨大的差異。Panelbase最近的調查顯示，47%的人反對獨立，38%的人支持獨立。The Scottish government paper called for a cut of up to three percentage points in corporation tax, halving air passenger duty and the removal of Trident nuclear missiles from Scotland “within the term of the first parliament” of an independent nation.
蘇格蘭政府在白皮書中提議，在獨立後的“首屆議會的任期內”，將企業所得稅稅率最多下調3個百分點，將機場稅削減一半，並將“三叉戟”核導彈撤出蘇格蘭。Immigration policy would be transformed, with a points-based system to attract skilled workers and possible incentives to encourage them to settle in geographically remote areas.
獨立後的蘇格蘭將調整移民政策，出臺積分制度來吸引熟練工人，並可能出臺激勵措施來鼓勵他們定居在偏遠地區。
