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Almost half of people in England do not want Scotland to become independent, a poll suggests.

The ComRes survey for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Newsnight and Radio 4's World at One found 48% of voters in England wanted Scotland to remain within the United Kingdom.

If Scotland voted for separation, 45% said they would like a referendum in the rest of the UK.

ComRes chairman Andrew Hawkins said it suggested both nations should have a say in any decision about the Union.

The poll asked 864 adults in England a variety of questions relating to Scottish independence.

Following an historic election victory in May, Scotland's SNP government promised to hold a referendum on Scottish independence within the next five years.

English support for Scottish independence polled at 36% - almost exactly the same as the result of a poll for the Herald newspaper last month, which suggested 37% of Scots favoured separation.

Despite increasing complaints from English MPs that Scotland gets too much funding from Westminster, 51% of those surveyed thought that an independent Scotland would not make any difference to how well off England was.

While 21% of people thought England would be worse off, 19% said it would be better off.

On the issue of whether there would have to be a second referendum in the rest of the United Kingdom should Scotland vote for independence, as recently suggested by Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, opinion was fairly evenly split.

Forty-five percent said the rest of the United Kingdom should get a say, while 47% said it should not.

Regardless of what Scotland decides to do, however, the poll indicated that most English people wanted England to remain within a United Kingdom, with 57% saying they would not like the country to become fully independent with its own government.

But more than a third did want to see an independent England - the same number as those who supported an independent Scotland.

Mr Hawkins said: "That almost half of the English feel that they would like a say over Scotland's future suggests that the Union should be England's as well as Scotland's to determine."

The SNP's Treasury Spokesman, Stewart Hosie, told The World at One: "What it tells me is that English people are very relaxed about Scottish independence... I think the real key about this is we're now starting a proper debate about what independence will mean. Not just for Scotland where that's a bit clearer, but for England as well."

John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University told the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ that the poll suggested that "for the most part, England wants the Union to continue and certainly sees little advantage in it ending, but probably would not die in a ditch to keep it preserved".

"After all, for most people in England, Scotland is not a significant 'other'," he said.

You can hear more about the poll in The World at One on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 at 1300 BST and on on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two at 2230 BST on Monday 4 July 2011 and after on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer (UK only).