Scottish independence: "EU cash black hole" claim AN independent Scotland would face an EU funding black hole of hundreds of millions of pounds a year, Foreign Secretary William Hague said today. The Coalition Government minister launched a paper setting out the benefits of Scotland's place in the UK ahead of the independence referendum in September 18. And he warned that Scotland would only get a "fraction" of the global influence that it currently enjoys as part of the wider UK. But the claims were dismissed by Nationalists who said the former Tory leader was repeating the "same scare stories" as he did in 1997 when he warned Scotland would become a "high tax ghetto" after the Scottish Parliament was created. Security claim Mr Hague told an audience in Glasgow today: "Being a member of this historic union gives people in Scotland the opportunity to do more good in the world, to exert an influence on global politics and economics. It gives the security of belonging to a nation of 63 million people, one of the fastest growing economies in the western world, and a tried and tested security network which is the envy of other nations and which will keep the Commonwealth Games safe this summer. It also provides a British passport which provides instant access to our extensive diplomatic, consular and trade network and the most professional help worldwide for any Scot travelling or doing business overseas. He said: "Making a decision to remain in the United Kingdom is a positive choice, reinforcing what we already have and reaffirming what we can be if we continue to work together. Rebate would be lost Today's paper entitled Scotland Analysis: EU and International Issues, warns that Scotland's net contribution to the EU would soar after independence. The country would lose out on the current rebate of £3 billion which the UK enjoys as well as a major chunk of structural funds. Although the position on agriculture funding is less clear, two case scenarios are presented for an independent Scotland's overall EU budget position. The worse scenario would leave it £3.8 billion worse off over the 2014-20 period, about £1,470 for every man, woman and child in Scotland, Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said today. The better scenario would leave Scotland £1.9 billion worse off, about £750 for every person, compared with its current position as part of the UK. Scare stories But Blair Jenkins, chief executive of the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign said it was difficult to see why anybody would take seriously what Mr Hague had to say. "He simply trotted out the same kind of scare stories that he used in 1997 when he was trying desperately to halt devolution," Mr Jenkins said. None of them were true then and none of his anti-independence scare stories are true now. Even the No campaign now agrees that making our own choices in the Scottish Parliament has been good for Scotland. Completing the home rule journey with independence makes perfect sense, not only for Scotland but also for the rest of the UK. Instead of sending his ministers to Scotland to lecture us on why voting Yes will be a mistake, Mr Cameron needs to accept his responsibilities as a signatory to the Edinburgh Agreement and make the case for the union he currently leads. The fact that he refuses speaks volumes about the hollow nature of the No campaign.