Updated 3:59 p.m. Moscow Time
EDINBURGH, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond announced Thursday that he is to ask for an inquiry into a leak of sensitive information to the BBC by the Treasury concerning Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) move to England.
Salmond accused the UK government of "blatant intimidation", saying it was "another spectacular blunder from the No campaign."
"The BBC reported that a source in the Treasury had discussed the plans [to relocate parts of its business] with RBS," the minister said. "Treasury officials or ministers are not allowed to brief market sensitive information. Market sensitive information, under Treasury rules, cannot be released prior to a market announcement by the RBS at 7 a.m. this morning."
"Leaking market sensitive information is as serious a matter as you can possibly get," Salmond added, calling on the BBC to assist with the investigation into the data leak.
This morning, RBS revealed it had plans to re-domicile should Scotland become independent as a result of the referendum on September 18.
"As part of such contingency planning, RBS believes that it would be necessary to re-domicile the Bank's holding company and its primary rated operating entity (The Royal Bank of Scotland plc) to England," RBS said in a statement released in response to press speculation concerning the issue.
The bank cites material uncertainties arising from the Scottish referendum vote that could have a bearing on the bank's credit ratings, and the fiscal, monetary, legal and regulatory landscape as the reason for the relocation.
RBS added that the decision to move should not affect everyday banking services used by the bank's customers throughout the whole of the UK.
The referendum on Scottish independence will determine whether Scotland will become an independent country after 307 years of being a part of Great Britain.
