Overview

This bill mandates a pre-referendum consultation of Scottish people residing outside Scotland before the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The consultation's results will be publicly released at least one month before the referendum date.

Description

The Scottish Referendum (Consultation) Bill requires the Secretary of State to arrange a consultation with specific groups of Scottish people living outside Scotland ahead of the September 18th, 2014, independence referendum.

Eligibility: To participate, individuals must be 16 or older at the time of the consultation and either:

• Born in Scotland but now reside elsewhere in the UK or Commonwealth; or
• Have a domicile of origin in Scotland but reside elsewhere in the UK or Commonwealth.

Consultation Details: The Secretary of State will determine the consultation questions, designed to gather views on Scottish independence and the referendum itself. The consultation results must be made public at least one month before the referendum.

Act Details: The bill's short title is the Scottish Referendum (Consultation) Act 2014, and it comes into force upon passage. Its scope covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify a cost. The government spending required would depend on the scale of the consultation (e.g., advertising, data collection, analysis). No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Scottish people aged 16 and over residing outside Scotland (in the UK or Commonwealth): This group will be directly affected by the consultation process, having the opportunity to voice their opinions.
• The UK Government: Responsible for organizing and funding the consultation.
• The Public: Will receive the consultation results before the referendum.

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