As it happened: Alex Salmond sets out referendum plans

6.27pm: Conservative MSP John Lamont voiced his own thoughts on the day’s events, stating:

““I am pleased to see that the SNP agree that there should be a single and decisive question in referendum on whether Scotland should break away from the UK. It is now time that we got on with holding the referendum. The SNP’s proposed date of Autumn 2014 is too far away and the uncertainty this issue is causing is damaging our economy. The people of Scotland need and deserve an answer sooner rather than later.

“When we have defined the process of the election we can then finally start to debate the issue at hand – what an independent Scotland would look like.”

4.55pm: Following the debate in the Scottish Parliament, Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Bruce Crawford held a press conference for the world’s media, in which the First Minister fielded questions on the issue of ‘devo-max,’ which would see Scotland given full fiscal autonomy and the nature of the questions to be included on the referendum. Mr Salmond also stated that he was confident of winning the referendum, and securing Scotland’s independence.

The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore commented on the consultation, saying:

“The Scottish Government has stated its preference for a “short, direct question about independence”, just as the UK Government supports a single decisive question. The Scottish Government indicate that they would have competence to ask certain questions such as the one proposed in 2010, or one about ‘devo-max’. Clearly, this is incorrect. Any attempt to pass legislation for either an independence or ‘devo-max’ referendum would be outside the existing powers of the Scottish Parliament and liable to legal challenge, which we think the Scottish Government would lose.

“The UK government still believes that it is in the interests of the Scottish people and economy to have a referendum sooner rather than later, but we also agree that this is the biggest decision facing Scotland in 300 years, and there is no better argument for making it fair, legal and decisive.”

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson added:

“There is no doubt that we need a single, straightforward question on whether we want to be a separate country or part of the United Kingdom. Now that there is support for having only one question it is time we got on with holding a fair, legal and decisive referendum. To force Scotland to wait for 1,000 days is simply too long, the Scottish people deserve an answer sooner rather than later.”

“We now need to look at the substantive issues surrounding the sovereignty of our nation. There are key questions on Scotland’s currency, membership of the EU, defence policy and energy policy that remain unanswered.

“Alex Salmond must now provide the Scottish electorate with answers to what a separate Scotland would look like if his referendum plans are to have any credibility.”

3.00pm: The SNP have released a video to coincide with First Minister Alex Salmond’s speech, titled ‘Your Scotland, Your Future.’ You can view the video in full on The Steamie, The Scotsman’s Scottish Politics blog.

2.30pm: Final question of the debate sees Drew Smith (Lab) asking how much public money will be spent on the process. Salmond replies that Scottish Government spending on special adivsors and the process itself is a ‘fleabite.’

2.28pm: James Kelly (Lab) asks about legal advice from Lord Advocate. Salmond refers to ‘sovereignty as our right.’

2.26pm: Alex Salmond: ‘It is inconceivable that an independent nation as Scotland would tolerate weapons of mass destruction.’

2.24pm: Patrick Harvie (Green) asks for an explicit prohibition on British nuclear weapons remaining in an independent Scotland. and says he supports independence only because of the possibility of getting rid of Trident.

2.21pm: David McLetchie says that the government ‘falsified’ the opinion of experts in the referendum debate.

2.18pm: Salmond proposes that 16 and 17 year olds on the Scottish electoral register can vote in the referendum, and reiterates that residency should be the only requirement for eligibility to vote.

2.17pm: Richard Baker says that the SNP ushered in the Thatcher government - Salmond urges Baker to re-read James Callaghan’s autobiography which blames Labour MPs for the fail of devolution.

2.14pm: Alex Salmond re-iterates that Westminster should not pull the strings of Scotland’s referendum.

2.12pm: Patricia Ferguson (Lab) asks the Scottish Government to publish legal advice on EU membership. Salmond replies that Scotland will negotiate terms of EU membership from within EU.

2.10pm: Read Salmond’s speech in full at the SNP website.

2.08pm: Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson: “Scotland wants to move on from the process of the referendum.”

2.05pm: Salmond replies to Lamont: “When I last checked, the Labour party’s policy was to support the Scotland Bill.”

2pm: Johann Lamont, Labour leader in Scotland - “We all love our country, whichever constitutional arrangements we support.” She says that Salmond misrepresents those Scots who do not want independence.

1.57pm: “We are just as good as any other country. Our success should be in our own hands” - Salmond.

1.55pm: “Scotland is a land of unlimited potential” - Salmond discusses energy, universities, and role as 6th biggest economy in OECD.

1.54pm: Salmond says the UK GDP figures “underline urgency” of route to independence. “The people of Scotland should be in charge,” he adds. Scotland should “make different decisions... a wealthier and fairer country”.

1.52pm: “Today is the latest significant step” in route towards prosperity for Scotland - Salmond.

1.50pm: Salmond invokes the Bard: “Burns the democrat”. This is a “matter of democracy” he says, before quoting from A Man’s A Man For A’ That.

1.45pm: Salmond: “Willing to work with UK government” and “looking forward” to working with Westminster.

1.40pm: “The choice should be between full independence or the status quo” - Salmond.

1.35pm: “We are just as good as any other country”, says Mr Salmond. “Our success should be in our own hands.”

1.30pm: Alex Salmond begins addressing MSPs at the Holyrood Parliament. He says that “the people who live in Scotland are the best people to make decisions about their own future”.

The SNP administration has already announced autumn 2014 as its preferred date for a vote on ending the 300 year plus long union.

There has also been speculation the consultation could open up voting in a referendum to 16 and 17-year-olds, and may also raise the prospect of holding the crucial ballot on a Saturday.

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “This is a big day for Scotland as we publish our detailed proposals for the referendum and consult with the people.

“Scotland is moving forward, and we look forward to the great debate that lies ahead.”

The spokesman said the Scottish Government would “set out our detailed proposals for running the referendum in the consultation document, which will be entirely fair”.