Scottish MPs could have their voting rights limited

They will call for MPs from Scottish constituencies to be prevented from voting on English legislation.

The plan has been based on a system of certification by the Commons speaker, who will decide which items are genuinely of UK-wide interest.

The government has already dismissed the need for any changes, calling the question a "non issue".

The role of Scottish MPs was thrown into sharp relief by recent votes on foundation hospitals and university tuition fees.

Health and education have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, which meant that neither vote directly applied to Scotland.

But the government needed the votes of its Scottish MPs to push through its plans in both these areas.

Speaker decides

The Conservatives have said this is wrong in principle, and they are now putting the finishing touches to a proposal to prevent similar votes in future.

The plan is for the Commons speaker to decide how legislation affects Scotland.

If it is deemed to be a matter devolved to Holyrood, then Scottish members would be forbidden from voting on it at Westminster.

The West Lothian Question was first posed by Tam Dalyell

The Conservatives have said that such a system of certification by the speaker is the easiest way of resolving the West Lothian Question.

The role of Scottish members of the Westminster parliament was first questioned decades before the establishment of Holyrood.

Tam Dalyell, then the MP for West Lothian, pointed out the potential anomaly of Scottish MPs being able to legislate on policy which would apply in England but not in their own constituencies.

At the time of last year's vote on foundation hospitals, Mr Dalyell described the situation as "the West Lothian Question with a vengeance".

But the proposal to limit the powers of Scottish MPs is likely to cut little ice with the government.