Clearly, the U.S. taxpayer is entitled to a full assessment of the creditworthiness and spending practices of so significant a would-be borrower.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Trying to put Moscow on the dole

Ms Lamont wondered whether there was a Plan B to accompany the proposal that an independent Scotland would form a sterling zone with the remainder of the UK. She wanted details of the fiscal package which would enable Scotland to be neither a borrower nor a lender.

BBC: First minister's questions

The key feature is that any borrower across the 27 EU member states would be refused a home loan if they failed a standard credit worthiness assessment.

BBC: Tighter rules for mortgage lending agreed by EU