"Scots facing tax hike and £1.5bn cuts
Senior civil servants are making plans for the SNP to introduce a 5 per cent cut in public sector spending – as well as tax increases"
"SNP independence drive bill tops £700,000
Cost of build-up to referendum mounts even though vote is in doubt
Scottish government spending on an independence referendum that is unlikely to be put to voters is expected to top £700,000.
While the referendum bill, announced last week by Alex Salmond, the first minister, is almost certain to be voted down by the opposition, spending on initiatives to bolster support for independence in the run-up to the planned poll has continued to rise."