HUMZA Yousaf had planned to publish two further independence white papers before he was forced to resign after ending the Bute House Agreement.
The former first minister looked to outline proposals for net zero and pensions in an independent Scotland in late April and early May according to The Scottish Daily Express.
A briefing note from March revealed by a Freedom of Information request read: "Further papers will be published over the coming months, covering key areas such as pensions and achieving net zero.”
But this didn’t come to pass after Yousaf brought the partnership between the SNP and the Scottish Greens to an end and was forced to quit his role amid a vote of no confidence.
The subsequent announcement of the General Election also led to work on the publication of the Building a new Scotland papers to be paused.
Before it was announced, a Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed to The National that they will continue, and will be overseen by Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson as part of his brief.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the First Minister set out, work in the Constitution portfolio will continue to be taken forward by Angus Robertson.
“Working with Cabinet and the relevant portfolio ministers, in line with the clear mandate the Scottish Government has to provide the people of Scotland with the information they need to make an informed choice about their future, this will include the publication of upcoming papers in the Building a New Scotland series.”
When they were first announced, the white paper series was intended to form the prospectus for an independent Scotland, addressing the huge potential an independent Scotland will have and the challenges that will be faced after a Yes vote.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said that they would help to provide “key evidence to support the informed, inclusive debate that people in Scotland deserve”
The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
