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11.3 Universities (Tuition, Research Funding)
Tuition would remain free for Scottish-domiciled students, consistent with the established Scottish policy position.
The Peoples Future Scotland
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11.2 Schools and Education
Schools and school education are already fully devolved and would continue under the existing Scottish system with no break in provision. Curriculum, qualifications, teacher standards and local authority delivery would remain in place.
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11.1 NHS and Cross-Border Healthcare
Health is already largely devolved. The NHS in Scotland operates under Scottish legislation, funding, and ministerial responsibility.
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11. Public Services Continuity
Most of these services are already fully or largely devolved to Scotland. The core task is therefore to ensure continuity of delivery on Independence Day, protect existing entitlements, and make practical arrangements for the remaining cross-border links.
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10.4 Consumer Financial Protection
Existing protections on products, advice, and fair treatment would carry over, and the Scottish Parliament would be free to strengthen them where appropriate. Access to an independent, ombudsman-style service to resolve disputes would be guaranteed.
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10.3 Major Financial Institutions
Scotland would aim to remain an attractive location for financial services activity through political stability, sterling continuity, a skilled workforce and a proportionate regulatory regime.
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10.2 Deposit Protection
A Scottish deposit protection scheme would be created, providing cover up to a defined limit per depositor — initially matching the current UK level for continuity.
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10.1 Bank Regulation and Resolution
A Scottish regulatory authority — operating under or alongside the Scottish Central Bank — would take responsibility for the prudential regulation and supervision of banks and other financial institutions operating in Scotland.
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10. Banking and Financial Services
These positions stem from the decision to retain sterling. Under sterlingisation, Scotland does not control monetary policy or have automatic access to the Bank of England as lender of last resort.
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9.5 Design of a Full Scottish Social Security System
The system would be built on the principles already established by Social Security Scotland — dignity, fairness and respect — with payments delivered by a single Scottish agency.
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9.4 Cross-Border Rights
Reciprocal arrangements would be negotiated so that periods of residence, National Insurance contributions and benefit entitlements built up across the former UK continue to count.
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9.3 Disability, Carers’ and Other Benefits
Benefits already delivered by Social Security Scotland — including Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment, Scottish Child Payment and others — would continue seamlessly under full Scottish control.