Reaction: Darling says White Paper is a work of fiction

"Nothing has changed as a result of this White Paper," the former chancellor claimed. "The Nationalists have ducked the opportunity to answer the big questions about Scotland's future."

Mr Darling said that, although people had "waited months" for the document to be made public, it had "failed to give credible answers on fundamentally important questions" such as what currency would be used in an independent Scotland, what body would set mortgage rates and what the level of taxation would be.

The Labour MP insisted: "It is a fantasy to say we can leave the UK but still keep all the benefits of UK membership. The White Paper is a work of fiction. It is thick with false promises and meaningless assertions.

"Instead of a credible and costed plan, we have a wish-list of political promises without any answers on how Alex Salmond would pay for them."

He also argued that Mr Salmond's Scottish Government could deliver the promises made in the paper on childcare now, saying: "Their excuse for not using the power they already have beggars belief - Nicola Sturgeon said they couldn't act now because women would go to work and the tax they pay would go to the UK Treasury. That is our Treasury, not that of a foreign country.

"With so much uncertainty and unanswered questions about the cost of independence, leaving the UK would be a huge leap in the dark - especially when we know that devolution works for Scotland.

"We can have the best of both worlds - a strong Scottish Parliament with the strength and opportunity of being part of a bigger United Kingdom."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also attacked the Scottish Government on the issue of childcare.

"It's difficult to believe the SNP wish-list on childcare as the Scottish Government has the worst arrangements on the British Isles," he said.

"In England thousands of two-year-olds have a nursery place today but the Scottish Government say children here will have to wait three more years."

Mr Rennie added: "Delaying better childcare until after the referendum won't convince families that the Scottish Government fully understands the urgent need for early education.

"The SNP have the power to deliver better childcare now but their message to our children is: you will not get what you need until we get what we want."

CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said: "Next year's referendum is a matter for the Scottish voters. The outcome will matter hugely to businesses and consumers across the whole of the UK.

"The CBI believes that the nations of the UK are stronger together and that Scotland's business and economic interests will be best-served by remaining as part of the UK.

"Our members have been pressing for responses to many key questions on independence that we have put to the Scottish Government and we will study this white paper closely to decide how far it answers businesses' questions."

Andy Willox, the Federation of Small Businesses' (FSB) Scottish policy convenor, said: "The Scottish small business owner will look at this White Paper, alongside other materials, as both a citizen and an entrepreneur. She'll rationally explore the implications for her business while also considering her own political beliefs.

"There is no homogenous business vote. Some business owners will, no doubt, feel that today's document does not address their concerns. Others might now ask of the parties advocating further devolution, stopping short of independence, for similar detail.

"Half of Scottish private sector employment is generated by small and medium-sized businesses. Both sides of this debate will, no doubt, continue to pitch their case to the small enterprise community.

"Like the rest of the population, each of our members will be seeking clarity on the issues most important to them, which both sides must continue to understand and address."

The commitment in the White Paper to removing Trident by 2020 was welcomed by John Ainslie, co-ordinator of Scottish CND.

He said: "Scottish CND welcomes the White Paper's commitment to removing Trident from Scotland and the proposal for a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons.

"If Scotland banned the bomb this would be widely welcomed, not just across this country but by most governments around the world."

Dennis Canavan, a former Labour MP who is now chair of the pro-independence campaign group Yes Scotland's advisory board, hailed the publication of the white paper as "the most significant milestone so far" on the journey towards next year's referendum.

Mr Canavan said: "As the starting point of an independent nation, this comprehensive blueprint sets out the principles of why Scotland's future in Scotland's hands is the right choice.

"I am confident that as more and more people become engaged in the debate and learn about the unique opportunities that a Yes vote promises, the more they will see that independence makes sense for them, their families and our country."

Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins described the white paper as an "exciting, informative and insightful vision of what an independent Scotland will be, without the controls, mistakes and unwanted, one-size-fits-all policies of Westminster governments".

He added: "It addresses the questions and concerns that matter to the people who live and work in Scotland, from childcare to how the country will be rid of Trident and the nuclear weapons of mass destruction."

He said removing Trident from Scotland in the first term of the Scottish Parliament after independence, along with other defence savings, would free up "some £500 million a year which can be better used to create a better and fairer Scotland".

Mr Jenkins added: "Only with a Yes can we put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands. We know that Scotland has got what it takes to be a successful independent country. We will put the full weight of our campaign behind delivering a Yes majority in September 2014."

The Scottish Green have also launched their own Green Yes campaign for a yes vote next September.

Patrick Harvie, the party's co-convener, said: "The white paper is a hefty document that deserves serious consideration. It's simply not credible for Better Together campaigners to dismiss it out of hand within seconds of the launch."

The Glasgow MSP said: "Today's launch struck an ambitious tone, just as it should. The SNP as the party of government have the responsibility to lead Scotland in post-Yes negotiations, but they must achieve a mandate in 2016 if they want the right to implement all their policies in an independent Scotland.

"With Green Yes, the Scottish Greens have already begun to outline a compelling vision of the future with a rebalanced economy, high-quality jobs and a peaceful international outlook. With today's white paper, the Scottish Government has provided the route map for the start of this exciting journey."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said the paper contained no answers to key questions over currency, pensions or the cost of independence.

"Rarely have so many words been used to answer so little," the UK Government minister said.

"This was their chance to level with people. They have chosen a different path and people will judge them on that."

The Scottish Secretary said the document left voters "none the wiser" on many issues.

Mr Carmichael said: "People will draw their own conclusions that the Scottish Government have deliberately sought to ignore the uncertainties and difficulties of independence. We are simply expected to believe that everything will be perfect after we leave the UK.

"We are asked to accept that ending a 300-year United Kingdom will be straightforward. We are told it will all be all right on the night."

But he argued that if there was a Yes vote, the terms of independence would "need to be negotiated with many countries including the rest of the UK and the EU".

Mr Carmichael said: "An honest assessment of the challenges and uncertainties of leaving the UK would have seriously helped the debate between now and September. Instead, we have been given a wish list with no price list."

He vowed: "From now until September 18 we will keep making the positive case for the UK. It works well for Scotland. It gives us the best of both worlds. It offers us a better future.

"We will fight hard to preserve it against those who have been obsessed with independence for their entire political lives but now seek to disguise it."

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was also critical of the white paper, saying it contained nothing to "justify the break-up of a country that has been built up over 300 years of shared endeavour".

She said the paper's centrepiece pledge on childcare was "a promise Alex Salmond could have delivered at any time in the last six years under devolution".

Ms Davidson went on: "When it comes to tough questions such as currency, pensions and EU membership, there is a lot of assertion from the SNP, but little in the way of hard facts or possible alternatives.

"The Scottish Government spends little more than two pages in a 650-page document outlining a currency position. Even those two pages are riddled with assumptions the SNP is in no position to deliver."

The Conservative insisted: "Scotland has the best of both worlds - a Scottish Parliament taking decisions on issues like health and education, as well as being part of a larger UK and all the economic strength and security that brings.

"The people of Scotland, who have waited a long time to hear Alex Salmond's detailed answers on what independence would look like, will be sorely disappointed today.

"This is not a white paper, it's an SNP manifesto - one full of gaping holes where the costs should be."

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said fundamental questions remain unanswered.

"We have been presented with 670 pages of assertion and uncertainty," she said.

"Still no guarantee on the currency, the much-vaunted legal opinion on our EU membership noticeable by its absence, and the headline offer - another promise on child care which the Scottish Government could deliver now but refuses to do so. Children denied the chance of proper care until their parents vote the way the SNP want them to. How cynical is that?

"Beyond today's circus, the fundamental questions remain unanswered. Still the Deputy First Minister cannot guarantee Scots what currency they would have for their wages, their mortgages, their pensions and their savings.

"And she says that if Scotland isn't allowed to keep the pound we will default on our debts. The SNP are asking for a divorce but want to keep the joint bank account - and plan B is to do a runner."

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said it was a disappointing paper.

"In every instance where there is uncertainty, the SNP position is that men and women of good will, will reach a solution," he said.

"This would be independence on a wing and a prayer. The arguments for membership of the United Kingdom remain as powerful as they ever did."

From the business world, entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter said the publication of the white paper should herald the biggest debate seen in 300 years.

He said: "The Scots people are not daft and we will question Alex Salmond's vision, but we're not going to have wool pulled over our eyes by a No fear campaign.

"Both sides need to set out their vision for what Scotland looks like in 10, 20 years and provide the evidence base to justify those claims. The SNP have fired the starting gun, time for the No campaign to get to the race."

Bryan Buchan, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, raised fears for jobs if Scotland were to get rid of Trident nuclear weapons.

He said: "The first obvious concern to the engineering manufacturing sector is the apparent haste with which the first independent parliament would ditch Trident with the consequent loss of employment.

"At current levels this would involve at least 1,600 jobs at Faslane and Coulport. Add to that the large number of secondary jobs within the supporting supply chain and you will create a massive group of highly skilled jobseekers."

Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), welcomed the "ambition" in the paper on key issues such as economic development and childcare.

But he added: "The white paper does raise questions about how an independent Scottish Government might develop a sustainable approach to taxation in order to fund important and legitimate additional social investments.

"It is also disappointing that new arguments weren't forthcoming to rebut genuine concerns around a formal currency union with rUK."

Scotland's biggest teaching union, the EIS, said it is important that a range of clear information is published to inform discussion.

General secretary Larry Flanagan said: "The EIS will study the detail in today's White Paper and use this to inform future discussions, both internally and also with external organisations including Scotland's political parties and government."

The Law Society of Scotland has previously called for the Scottish Government to set out contingency plans if the UK Government does not agree to a formal sterling currency union.

President Bruce Beveridge said: "It is hard to have a proper debate against a background of uncertainty on such an important issue as this. Both governments have a responsibility to address that uncertainty.

"The Scottish Government should be setting out its contingency plans if its preference on currency cannot be achieved. Equally, the UK Government needs to be clearer on why it could or would not support such a shared currency arrangement."

Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said businesses had been waiting for more information.

"The white paper has presented its vision for the future of Scotland and this is a very important milestone in the debate," she said.

"Politicians of all parties must utilise this opportunity to engage and communicate with businesses in Scotland so that we can focus on the options and their implications as we approach the date of the referendum."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I want Scotland to stay in the family of nations that is the United Kingdom.

"Far from being a prospectus for a new independent nation, by failing to answer many vital questions Alex Salmond's white paper actually makes the case for the Union. If Scotland wants to keep the pound, the only way to guarantee that is to stay in the UK.

"The people of Scotland deserve better than just casual assertion, however often it is repeated.

"The Labour Party I lead will offer Scotland a vision of a fairer country they can believe in - a strong Scotland within a strong UK."

Polling expert Professor John Curtice, research consultant at ScotCen Social Research, said about two-thirds of Scots say they would favour independence if they thought it would make them £500 better off.

"However, the White Paper makes no promises that money will quickly arrive in people's pockets," he said.

"Although the document argues that Scotland's fiscal position would be better than that of the UK as a whole, it also acknowledges that in the early years at least Scotland would still be running a considerable deficit.

"That appreciation seems to have dissuaded the SNP from offering much in the way of sweeteners. There are promises of eventual tax cuts for business and air travellers, but not the ordinary voter. There is a commitment to spending more on childcare but not on much else.

"If independence is going to make voters better off, it evidently will not do so immediately. Everything will depend on the claim that Scotland's economy would grow faster in the longer term, and that may be too far in the future for many voters."