Scottish independence reports: Defence

• Defence implications of possible Scottish independence: Written Evidence (Westminster defence committee) (17 September 2012) - Westminster's Scottish affairs committee published a list of submissions on defence and independence.

• The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Terminating Trident - Days or Decades? (Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee) (25 October 2012) - Westminster's Scottish affairs committee said Trident nuclear weapons could be deactivated in a matter of days, but warned the UK could lose its nuclear deterrent, as the construction of facilities elsewhere could take upwards of 20 years.

• The Referendum on Separation for Scotland: Terminating Trident - Days or Decades? (Government response) (Westminster Scottish affairs committee) (09 January 2013) - The UK government said the removal of Trident nuclear weapons from an independent Scotland would cost billions of pounds and take many years.

• Defence implications of possible Scottish independence (Westminster Defence Committee) (27 September 2013) - Westminster's Defence Committee said it was unconvinced the Scottish government's proposed £2.5bn defence budget could pay for the proposed defence force and buy equipment like fast jets and submarines. The UK government issued a response to the report.

• Scotland analysis: Defence (UK government) (8 October 2013) - The UK government said Scotland benefited from billions of pounds of Ministry of Defence contracts but, under independence, would no longer be eligible for contracts which the UK government chose to place or compete domestically for reasons of national security, an issue which it said would be a particular concern for the Scottish shipbuilding industry.

• Scotland analysis: Security (UK government) (29 October 2013) - The UK government said independence would put at risk access to the intelligence and security information and networks which Scotland currently enjoys as part of the UK, and that the SNP's £2.5bn security and defence budget would buy only limited capabilities.

• Securing the nation: Defending an independent Scotland (Scottish Global Forum) (12 November 2013) - The think tank said that, on the balance of available information, there seemed no question that an independent Scotland would be able to fund and maintain a defence operation of the kind outlined by the SNP government.