Shareholders in leading ­Scottish financial institutions deserve clarity over what the companies will do if Scots vote for independence, a Labour MP has said.

Businesses including Standard Life and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are among those under pressure to reveal their plans.

Ann McKechin, who represents Glasgow North, warned that staff and customers should also be kept informed as well as those with shares in the companies.

Experts have previously warned many large institutions could pull out of Scotland in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum next September.

The latest call follows the ­publication last week of the ­Scottish Government's White Paper on independence.

This set out a series of ­proposals including a currency union with the UK, which Tory-LibDem ministers have described as "highly unlikely".

The White Paper also set out plans for the Bank of England to become the so-called "lender of last resort" to an independent Scotland.

Such a move would involve ­bailing out Scottish banks potentially to the tune of billions of pounds if they run into trouble.

Treasury sources have poured scorn on the idea, warning it would be opposed by taxpayers in the remaining parts of the UK.

Regulators said the boards of leading institutions were required to say if they believe a Yes vote was a "strategic issue or principal risk".

Ms McKechin said: "It is important that these companies make clear to staff, shareholders and investors what the consequences would be for their business in the event of a Yes vote, and particularly the uncertainty of what currency they would operate under."

Experts have previously warned that RBS and other institutions such as Virgin Money and Sainsbury's Bank could pull out of an independent Scotland to comply with EU rules that state headquarters and registered offices must be based in the same country.

Earlier this year a former Bank of England deputy governor also warned Scotland's banking giants would come under "considerable market pressures" to leave their Edinburgh headquarters after independence.

Sir John Gieve also suggested any moves south of the Border would undermine Scotland's position as a global finance centre.

Last year, the chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Philip Hampton, suggested the lender could consider moving from its Edinburgh headquarters if independence created "extra difficulties".

Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds, has also admitted his bank could pull its headquarters out of Scotland after independence.

Earlier this year Mr Horta-Osorio said Lloyds had not concluded its analysis on the issue, adding that the bank was "monitoring what the Scottish people wish to do, and we'll make a plan accordingly."

A Standard Life spokesman said the company would be "making a careful and considered assessment of the White Paper".

A spokesman for the Financial Reporting Council said: "The Companies Act and the Corporate Governance Code essentially require directors to set out the prospects for the business, highlighting principal risks.

"So if boards consider that a vote in favour of Scottish independence is a strategic issue or a principal risk, then disclosure should be made."

Financial services is one of ­Scotland's most important industries. The Scottish Government has insisted it will deliver a stable and integrated financial services sector after independence.