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THERE can be no doubt that many Scots are very keen to know the full cost of Alex Salmond’s independence plans.

A Daily Record poll earlier this month found almost eight in ten want to be told the price of setting up a separate tax system, welfare department, security and intelligence agency and all the other essentials of a new state.

Briefly yesterday it looked like it might finally happen. Internal job adverts for Scottish civil servants revealed the First Minister has asked for preparatory work on setting up a new Scotland.

This will include “collating information on financial aspects of constitutional change”.

With less than 90 days to go until the vote on September 18, recognition this work is required has, of course, come much too late.

Yet the SNP Government have no intention of sharing the findings of this work with the public. Not before we cast our vote anyway.

There has long been a suspicion the SNP have been hesitant to give information on the costs of independence because they know the vast majority would shudder at the huge expense.

The Scottish Government’s admission that they are now going to work out the costs and not tell the public – having said last month that civil servants were not doing any work on this at all - will only strengthen this feeling.

For some hardcore independence supporters the cost of setting up a new state are irrelevant. But for many other people – especially those who are undecided – this is a critical issue.

It’s very odd the SNP have waited this long to properly calculate the costs of independence.

But now it’s finally happening, it’s insulting to voters not to publish them.

Back new powers

he high price gamblers can pay for using controversial fixed odds betting terminals should be a lesson to us all.

The sheer scale of spending in Glasgow shows how easily people can rack up huge debt. Punters there lose £31million a year.

Reformed addict Steve, 36, tells us today how he gambled away a £9000 loan taken out to pay for his wedding and ended up in jail because of his habit. New powers must surely be brought in to protect people from falling into a similar cycle of despair.

For most punters, gambling is a healthy

bit of fun. Some regulation could help keep it that way.

Great team effort

Three cheers for Colin Docherty, who has been driving the St Johnstone team bus for 24 years.

The 44-year-old is such a part of the team he was even on the top-deck of the open top bus when victorious players paraded the

Scottish Cup through Perth last month.

If only everyone in Scottish football was that reliable.