THE Scottish Government has fuelled fresh speculation over the publication of its independence White Paper after altering its official referendum timetable.
The scheduled release date for the key document, the SNP's detailed blueprint for independence, has been changed to "Autumn 2013" on the Government's website.
It was previously scheduled for "November 2013".
The alteration was made in the past few days and follows rumours that ministers were preparing to bring forward the White Paper to September 18, exactly a year before the referendum.
Government sources poured cold water on that idea and last night insisted that November had not been ruled out.
November was pencilled in for the publication date when Alex Salmond announced his preferred referendum question early last year but a specific date has never been set.
Officials have been less specific about the timing in recent months.
Better Together, the cross-party pro-UK campaign, called on the Government to say when the document would be published.
A spokesman said: "Alex Salmond and his ministers have consistently said that the white paper is a hugely important document that will answer every question people will have about independence. If they are now panicking and bringing forward its publication, this is something that they should be telling the people of Scotland about.
"Concocting some kind of secret plan to get it out there is simply not good enough."
Details of the changed timetable emerged after Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie branded the White Paper a "charade".
He said it would not present the definitive plans promised by ministers as a number of expert policy groups - including one designing a welfare system for an independent Scotland - were not due to report until after its publication.
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