In October 1977, the Scottish Branch of the Royal Institute of International Affairs established a study group to consider the representation of Scottish interests abroad. The members of the group were drawn from the Scottish universities as well as from business and banking in Scotland. The study began with a series of discussion meetings at which the group as a whole was able to draw on the knowledge and experience of, among others, Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith MP; Mr Stanley Budd, Head of the Edinburgh Office of the Commission of the European Communities; Mr J. Allan Stewart, Scottish Secretary of the Confederation of British Industry; Mr A.S. Halford-MacLeod of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry); and senior officials of the Scottish Office.
Individual members of the group then undertook a programme of interviews with representatives of the fishing industry, in particular Mr Gilbert Buchan and Mr David Aitchison of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, Mr James Lovie of the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation Ltd and Mr Robert Allan of the Scottish Section of the British Fishing Federation; with representatives of the agriculture industry, notably, Mr Michael Burnett of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, Mr Dermot Gunn of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and Mr A.F. Roney-Dougal of the Scottish Landowners' Federation; and with representatives of Scottish local authorities and the relevant departments of the Scottish Office.