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Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has used a major speech in Edinburgh to say that the Scottish Government must start telling Scots what they mean by independence.

Speaking at the David Hume Institute,聽 Mr Moore listed six of the many questions on independence that Scots are entitled to know the answers to long before any referendum takes place.

Mr Moore said there was no rise in support for independence but that rather than ignore the challenge, 鈥渨e should take it on鈥�.

He said the Scottish Government had been 鈥渦ncharacteristically shy in setting out exactly what independence would involve and what it would cost.鈥�

The聽six questions set by the Secretary of State for the Scottish Government to answer聽 are:

1. What regulation would be applied to our banks and financial services and who would enforce it?

2. Which currency would Scotland adopt and how could entry and influence be guaranteed?

3. How would membership of international organisations聽- including the EU聽- be assured?

4. What will be our defence posture and the configuration of our armed forces?

5. How many billions would we inherit in pension liabilities and who would pay for future pensions?

6. How much would independence cost: what is the bottom line?

Michael Moore said there were also many organisational questions that still needed to be answered on what the referendum question would be, when it would be asked and who would run the referendum.

The Scottish Secretary used his speech to spell out the benefits that the Scotland Bill will bring to devolution. He called on the Scottish Government to focus more on using devolved powers and obsess less about the powers they don鈥檛 have. Mr Moore also said that the constitutional change requires people to engage and build consensus.

Speaking to the David Hume Institute,聽 Michael Moore said:

鈥淎mong the Scottish people, independence remains very much a minority pursuit. In 1999, the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey showed that 27% of Scots wanted Scotland to separate from the UK. In 2009, that percentage was unchanged.

鈥淎nd no opinion poll before or since has shown a majority of Scots in favour. The same survey shows that in both 1999 and 2009 support for a devolved Scotland within the UK hovered at around 60%.

鈥淲hatever factors played a part in May鈥檚 election result it was not a rise in support for Scottish independence. That is not to say we should ignore the challenge. On the contrary, we should take it on.

鈥淪o when the Scottish Government does come forward with its referendum proposals, there will need to be proper scrutiny. From politicians yes聽- but also from business, from civil society, from all groups and individuals with an interest in Scotland鈥檚 future.

鈥淲hat question will they ask?聽 How many questions will there be?聽 How will the campaign be conducted? And those are only the organisational aspects.

鈥淭hey must also answer the substantive questions about what they mean by independence. They have been uncharacteristically shy in setting out exactly what independence would involve and what it would cost.

鈥淭he Scottish Government has unbounded enthusiasm for talking about its Six Demands of the Scotland Bill. But here are just six of the many questions for them on what an independent Scotland would look like.

Six specific questions, in six areas of key importance, that the Scottish Government must answer.

鈥淲hat regulation would be applied to our banks and financial services and who would enforce it?

鈥淲hich currency would Scotland adopt and how could entry and influence be guaranteed?

鈥淗ow would membership of international organisations聽- including the EU聽- be assured?

鈥淲hat will be our defence posture and the configuration of our armed forces?

鈥淗ow many billions would we inherit in pension liabilities and who would pay for future pensions?

鈥淎nd above all聽- over all聽- how much would independence cost: what is the bottom line?

鈥淭he questions keep coming, the implications keep emerging and the imperative to answer keeps growing.

鈥淯ntil the Scottish Government sets things out, the Scottish people are being asked to take a punt. But our future cannot be taken on trust; it鈥檚 just too important.

鈥淭he politics of assertion can鈥檛 pass the test - we need and deserve the detailed arguments. And soon. The real risk for Scotland is that the uncertainty caused by delay undermines public confidence in the Scottish Government鈥檚 intentions and saps investor confidence when it comes to deciding where聽- that is in which country聽- jobs should be based.鈥�

You can read the full speech聽