Lord Forsyth last night appealed for clarity from the Coalition after he tabled a motion to halt further debate on the Scotland Bill in the Lords.
The former Tory Scottish Secretary wants to wait until the results of the UK Government's consultation on the independence referendum are published, and before Westminster knows if Holyrood is going to give its consent to extra powers proposed in the legislation.
Speaking before the Bill's committee stage in the upper house on Thursday, Lord Forsyth told The Herald he was not minded to put the motion to a vote – which theoretically could halt it in its tracks – but use it to urge the Government to clarify matters.
"It seems a bit extraordinary, given the Government's respect agenda, to proceed with consideration of the Bill when at the same time you are conducting a consultation and you don't know what the results of the consultation are going to be," he said.
The committee stage of the Bill in the Lords is due to take several days yet the Government has simultaneously initiated its consultation on the referendum, which is due to end on March 9. The current Westminster session is expected to finish in April.
The Scottish Parliament will also be asked to give its consent. Already, a Holyrood committee, which has scrutinised the Bill, has put forward 45 recommended changes, including full fiscal autonomy with others covering borrowing limits, control of alcohol duties, firearms regulation, speed limits, Scottish elections and welfare and benefits.
Linda Fabiani, convener of Holyrood committee, has said she is "seriously concerned" Westminster had failed to respond to its recommendations.
Lord Forsyth also pointed out there had yet to be any Westminster debate about them.
He expressed concern Holyrood could simply refuse to give its consent; it is due to be asked its opinion once the committee stage is completed in February. He added: "We're going to look pretty silly if we spend nights and days discussing this and Holyrood turns round and says we don't want it."
The peer has also tabled an amendment to the Bill, which would slap a surcharge on any Holyrood minister or MSP who spent public money "in excess of the amount that person is entitled to spend or cause to be spent".
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