An independent Scotland would seek to expel Trident nuclear weapons from the Clyde within five years.

The Scottish Government's independence White Paper describes the UK's nuclear deterrent as an "indiscriminate and inhumane destructive power".

Scottish ministers insist that they want to get rid of Trident as soon as is "safe" and even float the idea that an independent Scotland could have a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons.

But the White Paper offers significant wriggle room on the issue - leaving the 2020 deadline as an aspiration, not a pledge.

Defence experts have warned that Scottish independence could lead to unilateral disarmament for the UK.

Experts estimate that the cost of moving Trident to another part of the UK could reach into the tens of billions of pounds and prove prohibitive.

The high cost means the issue is expected to be a major point of negotiation between Edinburgh and London should Scots back independence.

SNP Defence spokesman Angus Robertson yesterday welcomed the new timetable saying that the Scottish Government was "crystal clear on the speediest safest departure of nuclear submarines from the Clyde as a key priority".

Labour said that Scotland's decision to kick out nuclear weapons and another demand, for a guarantee that no nuclear armed vessels would enter Scotland's waters, made the Scottish government's aim to become a member of the Nato nuclear alliance unrealistic.

Shadow defence minister Gemma Doyle said that was "simply not the basis on which Nato operates."

She also raised concerns about what the plan would mean for the jobs at Faslane.

"They are also saying that they would have a navy of 2,000 personnel based at Faslane but there is still no explanation of why it would be based there if the main priority is the North Sea.

"And even on their own figures this is a reduction of the current workforce down to one-third of its current size".

According to the White Paper there are currently 6,700 military and civilian jobs at the base.

Under independence military personnel numbers would remain the same, the documents states, but there is no such guarantee for civilian roles.

During a "transitional period" large numbers of personnel from the rest of the UK would still be based at Faslane.

In addition, it adds "work to reconfigure Faslane as a conventional naval base is expected to involve major construction activity, and related jobs, in the area".

It also estimates that removing nuclear weapons would free up £500 million to spend on conventional weapons.

It states: "For decades we have been part of a Westminster system that has sought to project global power, giving Britain the capacity to engage in overseas military interventions and to deploy nuclear weapons.

"Billions of pounds have been wasted to date on weapons that must never be used and, unless we act now, we risk wasting a further £100 billion, over its lifetime, on a new nuclear weapons system. Trident is an affront to basic decency with its indiscriminate and inhumane destructive power.

"Westminster's commitment to nuclear weapons leaves other aspects of our defence weakened."