25 January 2012
Public consultation on draft Referendum Bill begins

3 May 2012
Local Government elections

11 May 2012
Close of consultation period

Summer 2012
Analysis of consultation responses

Autumn/winter 2012
Practical preparations including testing of the ballot paper

Autumn 2012
Scottish Government Legislative Programme Statement

Autumn/winter 2012
Finalisation of Referendum Bill and development of implementation plan

Early 2013
Introduction of Referendum Bill to Scottish Parliament

Early to mid 2013
Parliamentary consideration of the bill: Stages 1 and 2 (including committee consideration and public evidence sessions)

July to August 2013
Summer Recess

October 2013
Referendum Bill passed after Stage 3

November 2013
Royal Assent to the Referendum Bill

November 2013
Publication of White Paper on Independence

June 2014
European Elections

July 2014
Commonwealth Games

Summer 2014 (16 weeks before referendum)
Start of regulated period (see chapter 3)

(28 days before referendum)
Pre-referendum period (no Government publications etc)

Autumn 2014
Referendum