‘Commission should probe Union benefits’

THE UK government should set up an independent commission to report on the benefits of keeping the United Kingdom as one country, a former Scottish secretary said yesterday.

Tory Lord Forsyth of Drumlean made the suggestion in the light of the pledge from the SNP to hold an independence referendum before the next Scottish elections.

At question time in the House of Lords, Lord Forsyth asked: “Will you give consideration to the idea of establishing an independent commission to look at the benefits of the Union to the United Kingdom and to look at the consequences of separation – given the Nationalists are determined to hold a referendum on separation – so that everyone can see what the consequences would be and what the facts are?”

The Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, answering for the UK government, said he was not in a position to accept Lord Forsyth’s proposal, but he would consider it. He added: “In the meantime, we will not wait for the setting up of any commission that may come along. We will continue to make the case for the United Kingdom.”