Brussels, Rabi'II 16, 1434, Feb 26, 2013, SPA -- Britain's referendum on its European Union membership will help those seeking independence for Scotland, dpa qouted its deputy first minister as saying on Tuesday in Brussels. Scotland is set to hold a referendum in late 2014 on independence, which could end more than 300 years of union with England. British Prime Minister David Cameron in January promised his eurosceptic compatriots a referendum on Britain's EU membership by late 2017. The Scottish government, however, is "strongly committed" to staying in the EU - not least because of its single market - Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. She predicted that the British referendum would help "to some extent" the independence cause. -- SPA 21:50 LOCAL TIME 18:50 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1082375