Nicola Sturgeon is told: Reveal findings of referendum consultation

However the SNP Government has yet to publish the results of its own public consultation on a Draft Referendum Bill, which closed to submissions more than three months ago.

Opposition parties suggested that, with a spate of polls showing most Scots opposed to another referendum, Ms Sturgeon was trying to hide embarrassing results.

When the SNP consulted on the first referendum bill in 2012, it took five months to analyse the 26,000 responses and publish 18,500 of them online.

The current consultation attracted 7500 responses, less than 30 per cent of the previous total, but ministers yesterday said they would merely be published “in due course”.

Announced by the First Minister to huge applause at last autumn’s SNP conference, the consultation ran from October 20 to January 11.

Although focused on referendum mechanics, such as rules and spending limits, it offered both supporters and opponents of independence a chance to have their say on a new ballot.

It contained a commitment to publish individual responses, as well as an overall analysis, but did not set down a specific timetable.

Unionist parties said that given the strong public feeling on the issue, the full findings must be revealed before Ms Sturgeon goes further.

Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie said: “If the responses to the consultation are as colourful as those on the doorstep it’s no surprise the SNP are reluctant to publish.

“People are angry that the SNP are addicted to another independence referendum when so much else is going wrong.

“The economy is teetering on the edge of a recession, education is slipping and the NHS is struggling but all the SNP care about is independence.

“The First Minister should publish the responses before she takes one more step towards an independence referendum."

Scottish Conservative Adam Tomkins said: “The consultation on the referendum bill closed months ago but we’re still to hear anything from the Scottish Government about it.

“Before Nicola Sturgeon presses ahead with her plans for another divisive vote, maybe she should consider the results of this first.

“She should also consider the polls that consistently show a clear majority of Scots fed up with constitutional uncertainty, and having no interest in having another referendum whatsoever.”

Scottish Labour’s James Kelly added: “People will rightly question whether this consultation has yet to be published because the responses don’t fit the SNP narrative.

“Nicola Sturgeon knows a majority of Scots don’t want another divisive referendum, but she is determined to press ahead regardless. She should listen to the people of Scotland and drop her plans for another divisive referendum.”

Almost half the 34 other government consultations which began after October 20 and have now closed have already published responses, with 678 individual statements released.

Ms Sturgeon announced last month she wanted to hold a referendum in late 2018 or early 2019 to let Scots choose between Brexit in the UK and pro-European independence.

After Theresa May rejected that timetable, saying “now is not the time” given the UK focus on Brexit, Ms Sturgeon wrote to the Prime Minister warning of further action.

The First Minister said that if the UK government refused to respect Holyrood’s 69-59 vote in favour of devolving referendum powers, she would “set out the steps that the Scottish government will take to progress the will of parliament".

There is speculation she may bring forward a referendum bill without the full power to put it into effect, then dare the UK government to challenge it.

It emerged yesterday that Mrs May has yet to reply to Ms Sturgeon’s March 31 letter, and the First Minister does not plan to update MSPs for at least another week.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the more than 7,500 responses to the Draft Referendum Bill consultation.

“All responses will be analysed and will be published in due course.”