Senior fellowship awarded to CPC researcher to provide evidence for the Scottish Independence referendum

CPC researcher, Professor David Bell, has been awarded funding by the ESRC to provide evidence on the 'Fiscal aspects of constitutional change' for the upcoming referendum on Scottish Independence.

With the referendum due to be held in 2014, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has appointed seven one year senior fellowships with overall funding of £1.3 million. The scheme forms part of a programme of work addressing issues around the future of Scotland, the UK and more widely. The programme aims to both inform the debate in the run-up to the referendum and assist in planning across a wide range of areas which will be affected by the outcome of the vote, whether for independence or the Union.

The Fellows will also act as champions for the social sciences, promoting the importance of social science research in addressing current and future issues in relation to possible Scottish independence.

ESRC Chief Executive Professor Paul Boyle comments: "The consequences of the outcome of the vote will be significant. The process of preparation is also, in itself, likely to have impact. It's crucial that the best possible independent research evidence should be available to inform those who need it, such as Scottish voters, and individuals and organisations inside and outside Scotland who are making decisions which may be affected by the vote process and outcome. The ESRC is uniquely placed to provide such high-quality, research-based, and independent evidence to inform the debate, both before and after the vote".

For further information, please see the ESRC press release 'Fellows to look at the future of the UK and Scotland'

Posted 09/01/2013 12:33