THE commitment by the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats to give Holyrood additional powers on a specific time­table is not UK Government policy, William Hague has made clear to MPs.

Standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Question Time, the Commons Leader was responding to Tory backbencher Christopher Chope, who pointed out that since 2012 it had been UK Government policy not to offer so-called "devo max" in the event of a No vote.

"If this is no longer the policy of the Government, when and why did it change, and what opportunity has there been for this House to express its view?" asked the MP for Christchurch.

Mr Hague replied: "It has been the policy of the Government for some time to be open to further devolution and I gave examples of what we have done in Wales, for instance, during the lifetime of this Government.

"The statements by the party leaders made on this in the last few days are statements by party leaders in a campaign, not a statement of Government policy today."

It is thought the Plan of Action, timetable and promise of additional powers are not a Coalition announcement because this would break the purdah rules of the referendum campaign.