The Scottish Government has been accused of treating Parliament with contempt after it emerged its flagship white paper on independence is to be launched in Glasgow.
The white paper, in which the Scottish Government will set out in detail its case for independence, will be unveiled on Tuesday at an event in the city.
Ministers propose that MSPs will be informed via the answer to a written parliamentary question, with a Scottish Government spokeswoman insisting they "fully respect the important role of Parliament".
It is also proposed Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will make a statement on the white paper to Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon and it will be debated at Parliament the following day.
Guidance from the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick sets out a number of ways the Scottish Government can make major policy or spending announcements - including both a statement to the Parliament and via an answer to a parliamentary question lodged for written answer.
But opposition politicians have blasted the Scottish Government's plans, accusing ministers of treating the Parliament with contempt by unveiling the crucial paper at a "razzle-dazzle" event before coming to Holyrood.
Scottish Labour's Paul Martin said: "If the white paper is not presented first to the Scottish Parliament, it will be an affront to Scottish democracy and the Scottish people."
He accused the Government of "acting with incredible arrogance" and said: "This white paper process looks more like an exercise in propaganda than serious policy-making.
"This gives the people a glimpse of the SNP's vision for Scotland. They are behaving more like an elected dictatorship than a democratically-elected government."
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said the Government plans showed "nothing but contempt and disrespect towards the parliamentary process", adding that it was a "chilling glimpse of how a separate Scotland would be run".
The Tory hit out: "It's clear the SNP's priority is the glitzy launch of their white paper rather than being properly accountable to the Parliament they are elected to, and to the voters of Scotland."
Scottish Liberal Democrat business manager Alison McInnes insisted: "The white paper should properly be presented to Parliament first, but knowing how fond the First Minister is of razzle-dazzle press launches, it is sadly no longer a surprise that he treats Parliament with such contempt."
But the Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "These claims are wrong. Parliament will be fully informed about the white paper, with a written answer to a parliamentary question published on the morning of its launch, followed by a ministerial statement by the Deputy First Minister later the same day - and then a full parliamentary debate the following day."
She added: "While we fully respect the important role of Parliament, this landmark publication is also first and foremost for the people of Scotland - and ministers are hugely looking forward to taking the compelling case for independence outlined in the white paper to the people in the weeks and months to come."
A Scottish Parliament spokesman confirmed that the Parliamentary Bureau, which proposes the daily business at Holyrood, had met today but said there were "still to be further discussions on next week's business".
He added: "Once those discussions have concluded, a motion will be lodged setting out next week's proposed business."
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