The Scottish Parliament has made ”absolutely no” preparations for a referendum on independence, The Courier has learned.
Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick said it would be ”very unhelpful” for the constitutional debate raging in Scotland if officials began planning for the crunch vote First Minister Alex Salmond plans to hold in autumn 2014 before a bill is officially introduced.
Speaking as the UK and Scottish Government remain at loggerheads over the details of the poll, Ms Marwick said she had instructed staff to have ”no discussions” on the issue until the parliament is officially involved.
And asked what preparations have been made for the referendum, she said: ”Absolutely none at all.”
She added: ”I have made it absolutely clear to all of the parliament staff that there will come a time when and if the Scottish Government produce a bill that I will be involved from that point and so will the parliament.
”Up until that time there has been no planning, there has been no preparations because I think it would be very unhelpful if the parliament was to be involved at this moment.
”At this moment the debate is between the two governments, the Westminster Government and the Scottish Government. The debate is not with the parliament and I have been clear that until and if there is a bill for a referendum, then there will be no discussions.”
However, Ms Marwick, the Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, could find herself at the eye of the storm if the two administrations in London and Edinburgh cannot resolve the issues.
The UK Government maintains that the Scottish Parliament has no legal right to hold the referendum as constitutional matters are resolved to Westminster.
Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to temporarily transfer the power to Holyrood under a process known as a Section 30 Order but the two Governments have so far failed to agree on the details of this arrangement, with the wording of the referendum question and timing of the ballot both proving divisive.
Mr Salmond, the SNP leader, has insisted it is unacceptable for the UK Government to ”attach strings” to the referendum and threatened to push ahead with an ”advisory” poll, even without the consent of the UK Government.
Under these circumstances the decision to allow the legislation as legally competent would reside with the presiding officer.
The finalisation of the Referendum Bill is scheduled to take place this winter and be lodged at Holyrood early next year for parliamentary scrutiny.