The Scottish government has agreed to change the wording of its independence referendum question, after concerns it may lead people to vote 'Yes'.
SNP ministers wanted to ask voters the yes/no question: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" in autumn 2014.
The wording of the question now looks set to be altered to: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
The change was suggested by the Electoral Commission watchdog.
Final approval of the referendum arrangements rests with the Scottish Parliament.
The commission, which has been testing the government's proposed wording, said concern had been raised over the phrase "Do you agree" and said more "neutral" language was needed.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon immediately said the Scottish government would accept the commission's recommendations.
The commission also recommended increases in the campaign spending limits proposed by the Scottish government in the run-up to the referendum.
That would see the cap on the two main campaigns - Yes Scotland and Better Together - raised from £750,000 to £1.5m, while there would also be changes in the cap for political parties.
Referendum questions
Proposed yes/no Scottish government question: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?"
Proposed yes/no Electoral Commission question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond previously described his government's question as "short, straightforward and clear", but critics claimed the wording was biased.
Scottish Electoral Commissioner John McCormick said voters were entitled to have confidence in the result of the referendum.
He said: "We have rigorously tested the proposed question, speaking to a wide range of people across Scotland.
Spending limits
Electoral Commission recommendations:
Designated lead campaigns (Yes Scotland and Better Together): £1,500,000
Scottish National Party: £1,344,000
Scottish Labour: £834,000
Scottish Conservatives: £396,000
Scottish Liberal Democrats: £201,000
Scottish Green Party: £150,000
Other registered campaigners: £150,000
Campaigns spending below £10,000 are not required to register.
Scottish government proposals:
Designated lead campaigns: £750,000
Scottish National Party: £250,000
Scottish Labour: £250,000
Scottish Conservatives: £250,000
Scottish Liberal Democrats: £250,000
Scottish Green Party: £250,000
Other registered campaigners: £50,000
Limits cover the 16-week regulated period before the poll.
"Any referendum question must be, and be seen to be, neutral. People told us that they felt the words 'Do you agree' could lead voters towards voting 'yes'."
Mr McCormick also called on the Scottish and UK governments to work together to provide more clarity on the vote.
He added: "People had a clear understanding that 'independent country' meant being separate from the UK.
"But they did want factual information in advance about what will happen after the referendum."
On campaign spending limits - which cover the "regulated", 16-week period of the campaign before the poll is held - the commission based its recommendations partly on information it now had on the likely shape and scale of campaigning.
Mr McCormick said: "The campaign spending limits we have recommended are designed to ensure there are no barriers to voters hearing from campaigners in what will be a historic vote for the people of Scotland.
"We have listened carefully to the views of the Scottish government and to campaigners, and have set out proposals based on our principles that spending limits should allow effective campaigning for all outcomes, deter excessive spending and encourage transparency."
The Scottish government proposed a limit of £750,000 for lead campaigns, on the basis that the total was half the maximum spending limit of just over £1.5m for parties fighting Scottish Parliament elections, and that the referendum will not involve constituency campaigns.
In drawing its findings on the question, commission spoke to voters across Scotland to see whether they could easily understand and answer the question and took advice from "plain language" experts, politicians, academics and others.
The terms of the referendum will be contained in a Scottish government bill, which would need the approval of the Scottish Parliament.
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