NICOLA Sturgeon is under pressure to clarify the SNP's stance on full fiscal autonomy amid claims that statements made by Alex Salmond and her official spokesman are at odds with each other.

Mr Salmond, writing in the pro-independence newspaper The National this week, said clauses in the Smith Commission which stated that neither Westminster nor Holyrood would lose out financially as a result of devolution meant arguments that a multi-billion pound black hole would be blown in a fiscally autonomous Scotland's budget were "ridiculous".

The ex-SNP leader implied that the UK would be obliged to make up any shortfall, currently forecast at £7.6 billion, saying the no detriment principle would apply no matter what was devolved. The SNP has since appeared to endorse Mr Salmond's position, issuing a statement that claims the Smith principles apply to "devolution in general, not the specifics of the Smith package."

However, speaking on March 26, the First Minister's official spokesman categorically denied the suggestion that a block grant from Westminster could continue in any form in the event of full fiscal autonomy.

After being challenged over whether he was suggesting the grant would continue in "some way, shape or form", he replied: "Absolutely not, absolutely not. Obviously, by definition, full fiscal autonomy means that Scotland would be responsible for raising and spending all its own revenues."

Labour's finance spokeswoman, Jackie Baillie, called on Mr Salmond's successor to spell out her position.

She said: "Now we have the former First Minister and the First Minister's official spokesman saying completely different things. They are spinning on the head of a pin over this policy because they know how damaging it would be to the Scottish people and economy.

"It's absolutely clear that under full fiscal autonomy, you raise and spend all of your own money in Scotland. Even Alex Salmond used to agree with that. It's economic fantasy to think you can continue to have the Barnett Formula and the protection of that while at the same time demanding that you raise and spend all of your own revenues in Scotland."

Meanwhile, speaking at Scottish Labour's manifesto launch yesterday, party leader Jim Murphy said: "Their argument now appears to be 'we will as a proud nation keep all that we raise, but that doesn't pay the bills and we'll have some more money please.' It makes no sense whatsoever."

The Herald had intended to ask the First Minister whether she supported Mr Salmond's interpretation of the no detriment principle during a campaign event in Kirkcaldy this week. However, she refused to take questions from print journalists with staffers blaming time constraints.

The party was then asked whether Ms Sturgeon supported her official spokesman's view or that of Mr Salmond, but it refused to expand on a previously issued statement in the name of an SNP spokesperson.

It states: "As Nicola Sturgeon pointed out on Sunday, there would require to be negotiation of the framework for fiscal autonomy - transferring full financial powers would take several years even if the Westminster parties agreed, and a strong group of SNP MPs would ensure that Scotland got a good deal. It is absolutely correct to point out that the principles all parties signed up to in the Smith Commission were agreed to at the start, in other words they relate to devolution in general, not the specifics of the Smith package."