11.   Blair has said he favors devolution of power, including the creation of a Scottish parliament.

12.   A Labor-backed Scottish constitutional convention, boycotted by proponents and opponents of independence, has already drafted a proposal for a Scottish parliament.

13.   A recent opinion poll by ICM published by The Scotsman newspaper showed that Labour is likely to have an overall majority in a future Scottish parliament.

14.   But Major opposes independence and believes that even a Scottish parliament would be a ticket to the dissolution of Britain.

15.   Concerns about new tax-raising powers once a Scottish parliament is established could cause clients to hesitate to place their money with Scottish fund managers, executives said.

16.   For proponents, a Scottish parliament is a matter of national pride and identity, local control and greater economic prosperity.

17.   Opponents of the two measures argued that a Scottish parliament would be the first step toward the dissolution of the Scotland-England union.

18.   Public opinion polls suggest that a companion ballot question on whether a Scottish parliament should have minimal tax-raising powers will also pass.

19.   Scotland will also retain members in the British parliament, although their numbers would be reduced after a Scottish parliament is elected.

20.   Setting up a Scottish parliament is squarely in this tradition of judicious adjustment to popular pressure.