WILLIAM Hague has defended the Conservatives' plan for English Votes for English Laws as fair and democratic but denied it was boosting the cause of Scottish nationalism.

Speaking at the Tories' election campaign event, the Commons Leader made clear the commitment made on giving Holyrood more powers was "not conditional on anything else". Draft legislation on this is due by Burns Night later this month.

He went on: "But it is important to be fair to everyone in the United Kingdom and all parts of the UK. So we do, in addition to giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament, more powers to the Welsh Assembly we're working on and more devolved powers to Northern Ireland in light of the recent agreement...have to make sure we are fair to the voters and the people of England.

"That means that when measures are introduced that have a separate and distinct effect on England, then it is only right and democratic that the consent of the representatives of the English voters will be determined. That is part of keeping the UK together and part of all being able to work fairly together."

He added: "I don't think that in any way has contributed to Scottish nationalism and indeed I don't think there's a strong feeling in Scotland that we should be anything other than fair to the people of England as well."

The Tories are expected to announce their specific proposals on Evel later this month; the key will be whether or not they believe the final say on England-only legislation should rest solely with English MPs or should involve all UK MPs.