The referendum on independence should be held in September 2013, according to a shortened timetable endorsed by a UK Government minister.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said it is feasible to bring forward the vote from the autumn 2014 date proposed by First Minister Alex Salmond.

Mr Moore, a Liberal Democrat MP, set out the quicker approach during an appearance before the Commons' Scottish Affairs Committee.

"I believe you can actually deliver this referendum by September 2013 which, give or take a few weeks, is close to the First Minister's declaration that it would be in the second half of the Scottish Parliament," he said.

The Bill would be introduced by autumn this year followed by Royal Assent in March next year.

The regulated period for the campaign would then begin in June with the question going to the people in September, he said.

Mr Moore said all legal and procedural requirements would be met and criticised the SNP's "go-slow" approach.

He added: "It seems they're kicking the can down the road on this one for no good reason."

According to the Scottish Government's timetable, a Referendum Bill will be introduced at Holyrood early next year.

Consideration of the legislation would end in October 2013 and Royal Assent would follow in November.

The Scottish Government would then introduce a White Paper on Independence before holding the referendum in autumn 2014.

'Due process'

The SNP administration's consultation document, Your Scotland, Your Referendum, states: "Simple good sense, and a respect for due process, all point to the autumn of 2014 as being the right time for the referendum.

"That will ensure there is sufficient time for the fullest debate on what will be the most important decision in Scotland in 300 years."

In a statement issued by the Scotland Office, Mr Moore said no one has explained why people in Scotland should wait nearly three years to make the important decision.

He added: "The timetable I have produced today shows there is no good reason for the Scottish Government's go-slow approach. We can follow all the proper procedures and parliamentary processes and still have a referendum in September 2013.

"Recent polls have certainly indicated that people think we should get on with the referendum and hold it sooner than 2014. That certainly makes sense to me.

"The Scottish Government outlined plans in 2009 where they proposed consulting, drafting a Bill, legislating and holding a referendum all within 12 months. But now, for reasons of their own, they want to kick the referendum can down the road.

"The timetable the Scottish Government have set out has heel dragging built into it. There are months and months set aside for straightforward tasks.

"Their consultation finishes in May and they then propose taking the whole summer to analyse responses and then the rest of the year to amend their draft Bill accordingly. That could be done properly in a much shorter time-frame."

'Full of holes'

He said the constitution must be settled before more devolved powers can be considered.

The intervention comes days after Prime Minister David Cameron gave a speech in defence of the Union to an audience in Edinburgh.

Mr Cameron said there must be a straight yes-no question but held out the prospect of considering further devolved powers in return for rejecting independence.

Scottish Government Strategy Secretary Bruce Crawford said: "This is a silly distraction by the Scotland Office. The more they try to dictate the terms of the referendum from Westminster, the more unpopular the anti-independence parties will become, and the more popular independence will be.

"We have published a detailed timetable to hold the referendum in autumn 2014 and that is when it shall be held. This fully reflects our election commitment for which we received an unanswerable mandate, while the Lib Dems lost every single seat in mainland Scotland."

He said the Scotland Office timetable is "full of holes".