SNP hits out as Treasury fails to reveal UK assets

THE UK government has said that it will not publish a new National Asset Register of everything it owns, leading to claims that the document has been cancelled to prevent the SNP government from using it as a basis for forming a negotiating position ahead of the independence referendum next year.

The register, which includes every item of equipment, building and land owned by the government along with their values, was expected to be published this year, but the Treasury said it was too bureaucratic.

The information it contains on defence equipment and foreign embassies was seen as vital for the SNP’s negotiating position on what Scotland might inherit or what monetary value might be due for assets kept by the rest of the UK.

Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said: “There are currently no plans in place to publish another National Asset Register.”

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: “Rather than providing the facts the Westminster government is simply stopping the publication of key embarrassing information. We already know that Scotland receives a poor deal on defence, disproportionate personnel cuts, capability gaps and a raft of broken promises.”