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divdiv class=story-body readability=52 span class=story-date#13; span class=date25 November 2013/span#13; span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time19:07 ET/span#13; #13; /span#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; span class=byline span class=byline-nameBy Andrew Black/span span class=byline-titlePolitical reporter, BBC Scotland/span /span #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1Scotland's first minister is to set out the SNP's blueprint for independence, ahead of next September's referendum./p#13; pAlex Salmond said the Scottish government's 670-page white paper would put beyond dispute Scotland's ability to be a successful, independent nation./p#13; pOn 18 September, Scots voters will be asked the yes/no question: Should Scotland be an independent country?/p#13; pOpposition politicians said time was running out for the SNP to answer key questions about the challenges ahead./p#13; span class=cross-head'Stuffed full'/span#13; pThe white paper is being launched by Mr Salmond and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during an event at Glasgow's Science Centre./p#13; div class=story-feature wide #13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2Who is saying what?/h2#13; !-- pullout-items--#13; h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13; blockquote readability=1p class=first-childThere are enormous questions that many people in all different parts of Scotland still want to see answered - time is running out for the Nationalists”/p/blockquote#13; span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditAlistair Carmichael/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleScottish Secretary/span#13; h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13; blockquote readability=3p class=first-childFor everybody out there who has said, 'I'm not sure how to vote because I don't feel I've got all the information I need', this is the day when that information is put out there”/p/blockquote#13; span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditNicola Sturgeon/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleDeputy First Minister/span#13; #13; !-- pullout-body--#13; #13; !-- pullout-links--#13; /div p id=story_continues_2The Scottish government has described the white paper as a landmark document, with the case for economic growth and fairness at its heart./p#13; pThe SNP has argued Scotland's finances are healthier than those of the UK, providing a strong foundation to put the focus of the referendum campaign on Scotland's future./p#13; pSpeaking ahead of the launch, Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland the white paper was, stuffed full with facts and figures and information, with a heavy focus on addressing questions that people wanted answered./p#13; pShe said: This is an exciting day in the referendum campaign./p#13; pFor everybody out there who has said, 'I'm not sure how to vote because I don't feel I've got all the information I need', this is the day when that information is put out there./p#13; pInformation that sets out the overwhelming case for independence, the benefits it will bring for individuals, families, communities, the country as a whole, the practicalities about how we make the journey to independence and answers to a whole range of questions people have been asking./p#13; pMs Sturgeon added: This is a big moment in the campaign and one which I think will decisively shift the dynamic of it./p#13; span class=cross-headTrident question/span#13; pThe deputy first minister, who will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the white paper on Tuesday afternoon, said the pressure was now on the pro-Union side to set out their vision for Scotland's future./p#13; p id=story_continues_3The Scottish government's critics said the white paper would be judged on whether it tackled concerns over issues like financial challenges./p#13; pFor the UK government, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said there were huge question marks over some of the policies already revealed by the SNP./p#13; pHe said it was highly unlikely the Scottish government's plan to keep the pound and retain the services of the Bank of England as part of a currency union with the rest of the UK would work, and said the SNP must set out a Plan B./p#13; pThe Scottish government's critics have also questioned its plan to get rid of Trident nuclear weapons - currently based on the Clyde - while being a member of Nato./p#13; pAnd they have said other SNP promises, on issues like pensions and welfare, are uncosted./p#13; pMr Carmichael said: Scotland does very well out of the United Kingdom./p#13; p id=story_continues_4There are enormous questions that many people in all different parts of Scotland still want to see answered - time is running out for the Nationalists to answer these questions./p#13; pThe Scottish government said its white paper had been written for the public to compare the SNP's case with the alternatives, before making their minds up on which way to vote./p#13; pAn initial print run of 20,000 copies of the white paper has been produced, but it will be made available to everyone who requests a copy./p#13; pAt the weekend, the Scottish government said that, if there was a Yes vote, its proposed independence day would fall on Thursday 24 March, 2016./p#13; pThat date is also the anniversary of the Union of the Crowns in 1603./p#13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center