SCOTLAND could become an independent country within ten years, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.
He made the assessment when he launched the Scottish Government's economic growth strategy document.
The strategy includes a series of targets for Scotland to achieve by 2017, including matching the economic growth rate of small independent EU cou
ntries by then.
In the shorter term, the strategy has a target of matching the UK's economic growth rate by 2011.
Mr Salmond told a press conference in Glasgow the 2011 target could be achieved with the powers that Scotland has at present as part of the UK.
"What you can take from the 2017 target is that we are confident we are going to have the [economic] levers by the time we get to 2017," he said.
He later expanded: "It would be much easier if we had the full powers of an independent country. Therefore I was anticipating being in that position by 2017."
The 42-page document published today sets the economic backdrop against which finance secretary John Swinney will tomorrow disclose his three-year spending plans and annual budget.
Mr Swinney, who with enterprise minister Jim Mather accompanied the First Minister at today's launch, did not say if he had yet secured an agreement from Scotland's local authorities leaders on a council tax freeze next year.
He indicated these talks could continue almost to the last minute, ahead of tomorrow's budget statement.
"I expect I will have a meeting with council leaders over the next 24 hours."
