Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell has confirmed the number of MSPs will remain at 129, whilst Scottish MPs at Westminster will be cut from 72 to 59.

Mrs Liddell will set up an independent commission to look at the problems which may arise as a result of the change.

Scotland's first minister welcomed the decision to retain the status quo at the Scottish Parliament.

Jack McConnell said the last thing Scotland needed was further constitutional disruption.

The first minister welcomed the decision

Under the terms of the Scotland Act the number of MSPs is linked to the number of Scottish MPs at Westminster.

The Act contains proposals to reduce the number of MPs some time after 2007 - a move which would necessitate a reduction in the number of MSPs to keep the same ratio of representation.

In a statement in the Commons the Scottish Secretary said she had given careful consideration before making her decision.

'Chaos and confusion'

She said retaining 129 MSPs would require an amendment to the Scotland Act and a review of Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries.

Mrs Liddell said: "This announcement acknowledges the fact that, as it approaches the end of its first term, the Scottish Parliament is a hard working and effective institution which is committed to serving the needs of the Scottish people.

"It underpins the stability and success of the constitutional settlement in Scotland which has strengthened the United Kingdom."

But Labour's George Foulkes, MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said the proposals would cause "chaos and confusion".

The parliament will still have 129 members

Shadow Scottish Secretary Jacqui Lait queried parliament's need for 129 members.

She said: "Can you tell us why the Scottish Parliament needs all 17 committees and can you tell us why Scotland now needs 23 ministers when the Scottish Office used to get along nicely with five?"

Mrs Liddell said the Tories lecturing the government about devolution was "a bit like the wolf giving Little Red Riding Hood advice on long-term care".

'Sold short'

Alex Salmond, Scottish National Party leader at Westminster, said it had always been intended to retain the status quo.

He said: "The only thing that has changed since then is the growing hostility of Westminster Labour MPs to the Scottish Parliament, which is why this has become an issue at all."

Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie said the Scottish people had been "sold short" and claimed the move smacked of a "self-serving consensus".

But Scottish Lib Dem leader Jim Wallace said the move was crucial in enabling the parliament to do its job properly.