Referendum consultation gets 'fantastic' response so far, according to SNP

Opinion poll: When should the ballot be held and should 16 and 17-year-olds be allowed to take part?STV

The response to the Scottish Government's referendum consultation has been "fantastic", with more than 16,000 contributions received so far.

The consultation, which is examining how the vote should be held, closes on May 11.

As it entered its final week, government strategy secretary Bruce Crawford urged as many people as possible to make their views known.

He said: "The Scottish Government believes the people who live in Scotland are the best people to make decisions about Scotland's future. We have seen a fantastic response from the people of Scotland with over 16,000 contributions so far."

He added: "Whatever your views on what Scotland's future should be, now is the time to have your say on how the referendum should be run.

"The consultation runs until May 11 and I urge everyone to take part and put forward their views on Scotland's historic independence referendum."

The consultation asks for people's opinions on issues such as when the ballot should be held and if 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to take part.

Another key issue being consulted on is whether the vote should be a straight choice between independence and staying in the United Kingdom, or if voters should also be given the option of backing enhanced powers for Holyrood.

First Minister Alex Salmond has already said his preferred question for the referendum is: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?"

However, when the consultation was launched he said if there was wide support for "devo-max", it was "only fair and democratic" that that should be included in the ballot.

Opposition politicians are opposed to this, and the UK Government also favours making the vote a choice between independence and the status quo.

The UK Government has staged its own consultation on the independence referendum, which attracted some 3,000 responses.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said that three quarters of these backed having a single question, and that a "strong majority said that they want to have the referendum sooner rather than later".

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