Alex Salmond will deliver his referendum statement to Holyrood
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is due to outline his vision for the forthcoming referendum on independence.
The SNP leader is expected to announce planned legislation on the vote, which he wants to see held in autumn 2014, as part of a public consultation.
It was thought a draft bill would lay out a single yes/no independence question.
But views would also be sought on a second question on more powers for Holyrood, short of independence.
Mr Salmond is announcing his proposals in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, before going on to hold press conference in Edinburgh.
He is expected to describe the consultation document as "historic", and the start of a great debate on Scotland's future allowing people to make a "considered" decision, ahead of a 2014 poll.
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Westminster ministers have already launched their own consultation on plans for the referendum, but have clashed with the Scottish government over who has the legal power to hold it.
Mr Salmond's consultation will put forward a range of options for handling the referendum, rather than arguing the case for independence itself, which may also include the SNP's call to let 16 and 17-year-olds vote and proposals to open polling stations on a Saturday, with the intention of increasing voter turnout.
A Referendum Bill, introduced to parliament early next year, could be passed towards the end of 2013, with the vote itself being held after the European elections in June 2014, and the Commonwealth Games, which are being staged in Glasgow.
In the meantime, the Holyrood and Westminster governments have become locked in a row over who has the right to hold the referendum.
| SNP position | Unionist position |
|---|---|
| Wants the referendum in the autumn of 2014 | Wants the referendum "sooner rather than later" |
| Backs a yes/no ballot but is open minded on including a second "devo max" question | Wants a one question yes/no "decisive" ballot |
| Wants 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote in the referendum | Backs the status quo with 18 and over able to vote |
| Wants a special commission to conduct the referendum, but likely to back Electoral Commission option | Wants the Electoral Commission to oversee the vote |
The UK government said it recognised the SNP's landslide election win last May, and the need for a referendum "made in Scotland", by the Scottish Parliament.
But it also argued that, because constitutional issues are reserved to Westminster, new powers must be devolved to Scotland to ensure the referendum is legally watertight and cannot be challenged in the courts.
SNP ministers disagree, and have accused the coalition of trying to dictate the terms of the referendum, such as its timescale and the wording of what appears on the ballot paper.
The Scottish government said it would welcome the extra legal powers, but warned against them coming with "strings attached".
Ministers have also indicated that they will accept letting the Electoral Commission to oversee the referendum, despite earlier announcing plans to set up a new Scottish watchdog.
The Tories, Liberal Democrats and Labour, who oppose independence, have also called for a "decisive" result with a single question on the ballot paper, rather than adding a second question on further devolution of powers to Holyrood, or "devo max", as it is sometimes known.
Later this week, Mr Salmond will meet Scottish Secretary Michael Moore on the referendum, ahead of further planned talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.
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