IN this, my final Column of 2013, it is hard to ignore the fact that Scotland has a huge decision to make next year.

In among the rhetoric and nonsense talked about the Independence Referendum this year, we have had some real humdingers.

For the Yes campaign we have had the suggestion that with Independence, Scots could perhaps retire at a younger age than the rest of the UK ?

For the No campaign, what about the possibility that an Independent Scotland would have to pay more for its weekly supermarket shopping ?

Oh dear, oh dear, fingers crossed for better quality than that in 2014, yet where will it come from ?.

Like many others, I have been calling for more informed debate, for at least nine months.

There has been some, but nowhere near enough.

The televised debates have offered little insight and have reproduced the party political, boo sucks environment, of an incomplete and frankly immature discussion.

One where the intention is to talk over and bully you're opponent, rather than defeat them with the power of your argument.

Surely there must be strategists in both campaigns who understand that it is this unpalatable characteristic, of our lack of proper political engagement, that has previously disillusioned many Scots and turned them away from politics, rather than towards it. Why repeat it then ?

Perhaps we have lost the skills to do it any other way.

Therefore, we are where we are. What limited quality discussion there has been, has primarily focused upon money.

Firstly, we have the Yes campaign articulating that we will all be better off under an Independent Scotland.

THEN we have the (allegedly) impartial, Institute For Fiscal Studies, saying that we will all be poorer.

Most Scots are unsure about where the truth lies, although the increasing failure of the Yes campaign to provide detailed, costed evidence, particularly in the recent White Paper, is a cause of continued concern.

The Yes campaign claim to have the answer to the sum, yet they refuse to show us their working.

Equally, the existing Institutions of the UK put up continued resistance to the suggestion that Independence would be good for Scotland.

They are tying up the SNP,s economic assertions in side discussions about the European Union, the Euro, Sterling, interest rates and the Sterling Zone, few of which challenge an Independent Scotland's ability to pay its own way.

If Independence is unaffordable, the No campaign need to clearly set out why ?

Not distract the discussion with a continued plea for answers, to questions which can only be properly answered, after the Vote.

So, can Scotland go it alone economically, is unlikely to be the key question. Will we be better off alone ? Is a much better one.

As yet, the answer to that question remains,,,we don't know, ?

Throw in additional issues to those listed above, oil revenues, immigration policies etc. and the sensitivity and complexity of these future discussions are evident.

Yet, they need to be debated, in a mature and rational way.

The latest opinion poll on voting intentions on Scotland's Independence Referendum were conducted by IPSOS / MORI.

Their poll shows that some 34% of Scots currently favour Independence, with some 57% of Scots against. Around 10% of Scots remain in the " don't know" camp.

As things stand, Scotland appears unlikely to vote for Independence, with the No campaign some 23 points ahead, yet there is some evidence that support for the Yes campaign is growing. This debate will be centred around money.

BOTH the Yes and the No campaigns need to specify, in much more detail, exactly what the impact will be, of either remaining within the UK, or becoming Independent.

This discussion needs to clearly show the "working out" on both sides.

As we enter 2014, let's make a New Years resolution, to have a mature, informed and respectful debate about Scotland's future which is firmly rooted in fact. Is that too much to ask of our politicians on both sides of this issue ? Probably.

In the meantime, let's raise a glass that old acquaintance may produce better for this great little country in 2014.

A safe and prosperous New Year to you all.