First Minister Alex Salmond has been warned that "jobs will leave Scotland" if the country votes to leave the UK.
Labour leader Johann Lamont made the claim after financial giant Standard Life announced it was considering moving some of its operations out of Scotland as part of contingency plans being lined up ahead of the independence referendum.
The Edinburgh-based pensions and savings firm revealed today it had started work to establish additional registered companies to operate outside Scotland, into which it could transfer parts of its business.
Ms Lamont said that showed that a Yes vote would be a "disaster for Scottish jobs".
Both she and the Tory leader Ruth Davidson challenged Mr Salmond on the issue at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood.
Mr Salmond insisted an independent Scotland would be a "more competitive place to do business".
But Ms Lamont challenged him to "admit that if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom, people's jobs will leave Scotland".
She said: "Standard Life has made plans to leave Scotland if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom.
"How many more companies need to leave Scotland before the First Minister admits a Yes vote would be a disaster for Scottish jobs?"
The First Minister said: "I think our submission will be that Standard Life will find Scotland a good place to do business - as it indeed does business in 10 countries around the world.
"Is it really the case Johann Lamont is making that Scotland is not going to be a good place to do business?
"Because the evidence tells us, and it is substantial evidence, that not only will it be a good place to do business, an independent Scotland will be a more competitive place to do business."
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