Your Scotiand, Your Referendum Response from the Scottish Youth Parliament Background to SYP Our vision is of a stronger, more inclusive Scotland that empowers young people by truly involving them in the decision-making process. The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP)is democratically elected to represent Scotland's youth. We listen to young people, recognise the issues that are most important to them, and ensure that their voices are heard. In working towards our aims, we support the following values: Democracy - All of our plans and activities are youth-led, and we are accountable to young people aged 14-25. Our democratic structure, and the scale of direct participation across Scotland, gives us strength and sets us apart from other organisations. Inclusion - We are committed to being truly inclusive. The Scottish Youth Parliament believes that all young people have a right to a voice, it doesn't matter who we are or where we come from. We celebrate our diversity. Political independence - We are independent from political parties. Only by working with all legitimate political parties can we make progress on the policies that are important to young people. Passion - We believe that drive and energy are key to successful campaigning. We are passionate about the key issues and believe that young people are part of the solution, not the problem. Introduction dnd Cont.ext of Response Scotland's constitutional future is an issue that the young people of Scotland feel strongly about, with a diverse range of views about the Scotland they wish to see. This is expressed in many different ways, which includes their views on whether or not Scotland should be independent and what powers the Scottish Parliament should or should not have, but also on a much wider span of issues currently within the legislative competence of Westminster, Holyrood, Scotland's local authorities and issues on a global scale that surpass the ability of either the UK or Scotland to act alone on. These diverse and distinctive views are expressed in 'Change the Picture', SYP's Youth Manifesto. Created following Scotland's largest youth consultation of its type with 42,804 responses from young people, the youth manifesto contains 49 statements commanding majority support from the young people consulted, is a compelling mandate for the priority issues for change that Scotland's young people Your Scotland, Your Referendum - Scottish Youth Parliament Response want to see. Change the Picture is the basis for SYP's policy and campaigning work and will be for the next four years. 1 Whilst we would recommend considering all 49 statements in the context of shaping a better future for Scotland's young people, regardless of current or future constitutional arrangements, two are of particular relevance to the issues covered by this consultation. They are: "A referendum should be held on Scotland's constitutional future, with the options of no change, more powers for the Scottish Parliament or full independence." 66%of respondents agreed; 14%disagreed; 20%were 'not sure'. "The minimum age for voting in all elections and referendums should be lowered to 16." 65%agreed; 25%disagreed; 10%were 'not sure'. To further inform our response, we conducted an online survey, 'How should Scotland's future be decided?' on issues contained within 'Your Scotland, Your Referendum' and also on the issues covered by the UK Government's prior consultation 'Scotland's constitutional future - a consultation on facilitating a legal, fair and decisive referendum on whether Scotland should leave the United Kingdom'. The survey ran from 21st February - 5th March 2012, and attracted a total of 152 responses, both from our Members (MSYPs)and other young people across Scotland. Figures and comments cited below are from the responses to that survey unless otherwise stated. This response is based on the views expressed by Scotland's young people through the Youth Manifesto and our online survey and should be viewed as a collective response on their behalf. To ensure consistency and in the spirit of our political independence, the SYPhas responded to 'Scotland's constitutional future ...' in the same manner and using the same sources. 2 The Scottish Youth Parliament does not intend to express a preference for any particular outcome of the referendum at this time. The collected views of young people expressed in this response are not intended to be implicit endorsements of any preferred outcome of the referendum nor should be interpreted as such. 1. Whet Off' VO:JI views on the referendum question and design of the ballot poper) The Scottish Youth Parliament recommends that the most important factors in determining the question or questions should be used in the referendum should be that they are clear and easy to understand, they do not favour any 1 Change the Picture - Scottish Youth Parliament Youth Manifesto - http://www.sYP.org. uk/ our- manifesto-W21 page-82- 2 Scotland's constitutional future - Response from the Scottish Youth Parliament - http://www. syp. org.uk/img/ consultations/Scotlands%20constitutional9'aOfuture SYP%20Response.p df Your Scotland, Your Referendum - Scottish Youth Parliament Response 2 particular outcome, and that they will not be subject to a successful legal challenge. The Scottish Youth Parliament recommends that 'Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?' should be used as the basis for the question on independence, subject to independent analysis of it against the criteria outlined above. In our survey, we asked respondents what should be the most important factors in deciding what the question(s) should be on a scale of one to five. The respondents felt that, in order, the most important factors should be that the question were "clear and easy to understand", with 91.9% of respondents choosing it as 'most important' or very important. The next most important factor was that the question was "totally unbiased so it doesn't favour any particular outcome" (83.4%) and that "there's no chance that the outcome could be challenged in court because of the question" (74.3%). Respondents did not consider that "the question is short" to be as important with just 39.7% describing it as the most or very important factors. Asking respondents to consider these factors we presented the respondents with a range of potential questions that have been suggested as possible options in a referendum on independence. The results of the survey question were as follows: Based on what you've told us above, which of these do you think should be the question asked in the referendum? Option Response % Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent 32.9% country? Do you want Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom or 18.4% do you want Scotland to leave the United Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree that Scotland should become 18.4% an independent country? The Scottish Government proposes that the powers and 9.2% responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament should be extended to enable independence to be achieved. Do you agree with this proposal? Do you agree that the Scottish Government should 8.6% negotiate a settlement with the Government of the United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state? Something else 12.5% None of the options presented achieved a majority of respondents, although the question proposed by the Scottish Government, 'Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?' was the most preferred option. Based on this we recommend that this is used as the basis for a question in the referendum, pending Your Scotland, Your Referendum - Scottish Youth Parliament Response 3 independent analysis to ensure it meets the factors suggested as most important in developing it as outlined above. We have no specific view on the design of the ballot paper as illustrated in the consultation document, though would suggest it be subject to similar independent analysis for clarity as outlined above. However, as the Scottish Youth Parliament believes that the referendum should include the options of the status quo, more powers for the Scottish Parliament or full independence; this would need to be reflected in any ballot design. More detail on this can be found in our response to 'What are your views on the inclusion of a second question in the referendum and the voting system that could be used?' which can be found below. 2. What ore your views on the proposed timetable and voting arrangements? The Scottish Youth Parliament recommends holding the referendum earlier than Autumn 2014 if it is possible to do so without compromising the integrity of the ballot. The Scottish Youth Parliament recommends the referendum is not held on a date when a Parliamentary election is also being held. We presented our survey respondents with a number of options for possible timings for a referendum. Included were the Scottish Government's preferred date of Autumn 2014, as well as two dates where elections are already being held (the European Parliament elections in June 2014, and the UK Parliament elections in May 2015) to explore whether respondents would favour a scenario similar to that in May 2011, where a referendum was twinned with another election.3 The UK Government has not set out a preferred date, but suggests that "the question of Scotland's constitutional status is resolved sooner rather than later" and that "a referendum can be successfully delivered within a year, from the introduction of legislation, through to the holding of the poll. " Working from the timescale outlined by the Scottish Government in 'Your Scotland, Your Referendum', which would see the introduction of a Referendum Bill in early 2013 we included two options which could meet this - late 2013 and early 2014.