THE STUC has given strong backing to the Scottish Government's plans for an independence referendum in autumn 2014, including the idea of a second question on what it calls "enhanced devolution".

Meanwhile, the think-tank behind a "devo plus" option has called for the Office for Budget Responsibility to come up with accurate costings on all taxation raised in Scotland so people know where they stand before voting.

And in a third response to the UK Government's consultation on the referendum, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations backed giving the vote to 16-year-olds.

The response of the STUC will be particularly welcomed by the Government, given that it endorses various strands of referendum policy, from timing and votes for 16-year-olds through to backing for a second question, and says Westminster must not seek to impose conditions.

General secretary Grahame Smith says the STUC recognises the "enormous value" of Westminster passing a Section 30 order under the Scotland Act, giving Holyrood full authority to conduct the referendum, but says it does "not consider it appropriate to place pre-conditions" on this.

He said: "STUC does not oppose a 2014 referendum and sees some advantages to this timescale which would allow for the resolution of all matters of process, for ensuring the proper legal basis for the referendum is clearly established, and for ensuring that the people of Scotland are able to engage in the widest possible debate on the constitutional future of our country."

He said it would be inappropriate to rule out an enhanced devolution third option.