Salmond: 'Independence vote will be Scotland's big decision'
First Minister Alex Salmond has said a vote on independence will be Scotland's biggest decision for 300 years.
In a BBC television interview, he defended his plan to hold a referendum in 2014.
Mr Salmond argued that fundamental constitutional change required a "considered timetable".
The first minister was in London to deliver the Hugo Young lecture, following in the footsteps of politicians such as David Cameron.
Nick Robinson reports.