The Scottish government on Tuesday launched its independence blueprint with a plan to create jobs, boost the economy and increase long-term economic security if Yes campaign wins next year's independence referendum.
At the Glasgow Science Center, the "white paper" on independence was unveiled by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon with the attendance of all other Scottish government members after a formal meeting earlier on the day.
With 670 pages and more than 170,000 words, the document proposes that Scotland will become an independent country on Thursday March 24, 2016 in the event of a vote for independence in the referendum to be held on Sept. 18, 2014.
The proposed Independence Day follows the dissolution of the current Scottish Parliament which is set to be scheduled to take place at midnight on Wednesday March 23, 2016 (legislation requires that Parliament is dissolved 28 working days before the scheduled election in May 2016).
March 24 also happens to be the anniversary of both the Union of the Crowns in 1603 and of the signing of the Acts of Union in 1707, which led to a union between Scotland and England.
In five parts and over the course of 10 chapters with an initial print-run of 20,000 copies, the white paper also sets out the independence prospectus on which people will vote in the referendum, answering 650 detailed questions about the opportunities and practicalities of independence.
It also outlines the Scottish government's policies on issues such as currency, international representation -- including independent and equal membership of the European Union -- citizenship, defence and security among others.
The Scottish government expected to set out a positive plan for job opportunities and economic growth based on Scotland's vast natural resources, key growth sectors and human talent, seeking to engage the whole Scottish population in a debate about how to build a better Scotland.
"The document contains two categories of policy choice. Firstly, the choices that we will negotiate in the transition period -- as the government leading negotiations -- and which will therefore provide the starting point for an independent Scotland. And secondly, the policy choices that we will make if this administration forms the Government of an independent Scotland from May 2016. That section recognises, indeed embraces, the point that the choice of government and therefore of future policy is for the people of Scotland to make," Sturgeon said earlier.
The latest poll conducted by Panelbase and commissioned by the ruling Scottish National Party showed that support for a Yes vote was at 38 percent, with those backing a No vote at 47 percent and a total of 15 percent undecided voters.
While most voters are proud to call themselves Scots, people remain unconvinced that independence would bring economic benefits, the poll also showed.
Earlier this month, the Scottish parliament passed the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, which followed the Edinburgh Agreement signed by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Salmond at Edinburgh in October 2012 to allow Scotland to hold an independence referendum in autumn 2014./.