Political parties should meet after indyref No vote to agree further powers for Scotland

But these discussions should only take place after September 18 to prevent "confusion", he said at the launch of the second report of his Home Rule and Community Rule Commission in Edinburgh.

In the meantime, political parties should continue to "refine their proposals" ahead of a gathering convened by the Scottish Secretary within 30 days of a No vote.

The SNP and Yes campaign say the report offers no guarantee of more powers, from a party they said has been promising federalism for more than 100 years but has failed to deliver despite several terms in government.

Sir Menzies said: "My view has always been that we need to resolve the issue of independence or not before we can get on to what I regard as the essential reforms of the governance of Scotland and the UK.

"To start producing anything other than heads of agreement in advance of September 18 seems to me to be likely to cause confusion and muddy the waters."

He added: "Reform Scotland has suggested a Glasgow Agreement, rather than an Edinburgh one, to allow political parties to sign up to heads of agreement before the referendum.

"I believe there is merit in that approach and the parties can now take time to consider whether they will do that.

"But it will be important to respond to the desire for change when there is a No vote and to be able to act immediately, and that is why work from the UK and Scottish governments need to start before the referendum so that matters can be taken forward quickly."

Sir Menzies outlined seven key proposals including a commitment to further devolution in the 2015 Queen's Speech and parties' UK general election manifestos, with analysis on the implementation of these powers to be led by the Scotland Office.

The Scottish Government should publish its civil servants' preparatory work for independence and widen the remit of Revenues Scotland to embrace further tax powers to be set out in a new Scotland Bill, which would also make the Scottish Parliament indissoluble by Westminster, he added.

The "consensual approach" of the No campaign contrasts with the "totalitarian" Yes campaign which stifles any dissent from "Alex Salmond's agenda", Sir Menzies claimed.

"Unlike the Yes campaign, the campaign against independence is not some totalitarian outfit," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.

"There are a variety of contributions from a variety of sources, but what is emerging is a consensus."

Speaking in Edinburgh, he added: "Have you heard any dissent of any kind at any time from any person connected with the Yes campaign?

"Do you really believe that every single one of them is signed up to Alex Salmond's agenda? I don't."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: "There are differences, but the degree of control over the campaign some would regard as quite impressive and something that perhaps other parties would want to aspire to."

Mr Rennie has criticised the Scottish Government's use of civil servants in preparing for independence but Sir Menzies said this experience will be "valuable" after a No vote and called for their advice to made public.

"That work is public work, not SNP work, and it should be available to the public and other parties," he said.

SNP MSP Roderick Campbell said: "The Lib Dems have been discussing federalism for over 100 years.

"The people of Scotland can't wait another 100 years for the No parties to come to a half-baked agreement that falls short of what Scotland needs."

Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said: "We have heard warm words before from Westminster politicians about powers for Scotland in return for a No vote. They came to nothing in 1979 and they'd come to nothing again.

"In the absence of being able to give any guarantee at all to Scotland of more powers, Ming Campbell preferred to indulge in silly name-calling."