MSPs are to debate Scotland's place in the Union

The discussion at Holyrood followed a blunder in a motion from the ruling Lib Dem and Labour parties.

It appeared to show Scottish Executive support for Holyrood gaining more powers, but was later dismissed by a minister as a "clerical error".

Parliament Minister Margaret Curran attacked the SNP, while Nationalists branded the Union "outdated".

Ms Curran said voters faced the choice at the Scottish elections in May of "tax and turmoil" under the SNP or "prosperity and progress" with Labour.

"The SNP and their policies will affect every individual, every family and every business in Scotland," she said.

The minister said Scotland's best future lay in partnership within the UK, adding: "We came here to change lives, not to perpetually change the constitution."

I believe that Scotland has benefited enormously over the last 300 years from the Union Murdo Fraser MSP Scottish Tory Deputy Leader

An executive motion released on Wednesday stated that parliament believes "that Scotland should retain the benefits of being part of the UK while, where appropriate, increasing the powers available to the Scottish Parliament".

It was later replaced with a motion which noted the respective position of Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

SNP chief whip Alasdair Morgan argued that the 300-year-old union with England was now outdated and told MSPs: "It is time for Scotland to move on."

He continued: "Independence would put Scotland on an equal footing with England and within Europe and the wider world.

"It will give us the responsibilities we need to achieve progress for Scotland politically, economically and socially."

Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser, whose party re-submitted the original motion withdrawn by the executive, said: "We don't want to separate ourselves from the rest of the United Kingdom and I believe that's the case for the majority of Scotland.

"I believe that Scotland has benefited enormously over the last 300 years from the Union.