ALEX Salmond was warned last night not to treat Michael Moore as "David Cameron's warm-up man" as the First Minister and Scottish Secretary prepared for the first of what is expected to be several meetings on the issue of the independence referendum.

UK Government sources made it clear the Prime Minister regarded his Cabinet colleague as being in the lead on the intergovernmental talks from the Coalition's perspective and that the First Minister must be in no doubt about this.

The Herald was told certain SNP figures had let it be known they regarded Mr Moore as the "pathway to the Prime Minister", but it is clear the UK Government is determined to disabuse them of this idea.

Coincidentally, Mr Cameron is expected to visit Scotland as early as this week. However, his main focus is due to be on meeting business leaders. A visit to see the FM will be included in his itinerary, but simply as a "courtesy call".

At 9.30 this morning, Mr Moore and Mr Salmond will meet at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh. Their meeting is due to last just one hour.

While there are a number of issues to be discussed, including the timing of the referendum, the question or questions, the role of the Electoral Commission and whether 16 and 17-year-olds should have the vote, it is likely the discussions will focus on getting a broad agreement over the question of legality and the enabling of Holyrood to hold a legal referendum as a result of a Westminster device known as a Section 30 order.

A Coalition source told The Herald: "We want today's meeting to show that the two governments are ready to work in partnership for a legal, fair and decisive referendum which the people of Scotland deserve. The Secretary of State is optimistic that the start of talks will lead to a just process after the two consultations are completed."

The source added: "It's in the interests of the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the Scottish people that we work together towards an agreement. Not to do so would be seen as a failure of leadership."

Interestingly however, both sides yesterday suggested there was broad agreement on each of their main demands. A UK Government source indicated there was now a "similarity of approach" from Westminster and Holyrood on having a single question on the ballot paper, ie that a second question on devo-max should be ruled out.

Equally, Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister, said there was "broad consensus" on the timing of the referendum, ie that it should be in the autumn of 2014 as announced by Mr Salmond. Yet a senior Coalition source made it clear this was not the case and Mr Moore would continue to push for a referendum next year.

Ms Sturgeon said: "There's no doubt at all that the sooner we can get beyond the issues of process and into, as most people in Scotland already are, the issue of substance – why Scotland would be better off as an independent country with a relationship between equals with other countries in these islands – the better."

David Mundell, the Scotland Office Minister, described the discussions as part of a "positive process", stressing it would be "wrong to suggest individual issues are deal breakers". He said it was "clear everyone, it would appear, apart from the First Minister, wants a single question".

Meantime, the Scottish Liberal Democrats said the SNP had been thrown into "chaos" over plans to give young people the vote in the referendum as they would only cover those aged older than 16 and three-quarters. This was because an autumn 2014 referendum would use the electoral register published on December 1, 2013. This meant only those who will be 18 within the following 14 months are included on the electoral roll.

Jo Swinson, deputy leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "The plans are chaotic. This shows why the franchise should not be fiddled with just for the referendum."