Governments reach agreement
The UK and Scottish governments agree to ‘work together to ensure that a referendum on Scottish independence can take place.’ The agreement issued in Edinburgh says the referendum should fulfill several conditions:
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Have a clear legal basis;
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be legislated for by the Scottish Parliament;
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be conducted so as to command the confidence of parliaments, governments and people, and;
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deliver a fair test and a decisive expression of the views of people in Scotland and a result that everyone will respect.
The governments agree to promote an Order in Council under Section 30 of the Scotland Act of 1998 in the UK and Scottish Parliaments to allow a single-question referendum to be held before the end of 2014. This will allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate.
The governments are agreed that the referendum should meet the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety, informed by consultation and independent expert advice.
