SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE: 39% SAYS NO 38% SAYS YES 23% UNDECIDED

The three main pro-Union parties are expected to announce their backing for more powers for Scotland later.

It is understood the parties will support a timetable which was set out by former prime minister Gordon Brown.

The announcement comes as a new poll shows the rival Scottish independence referendum campaigns almost tied.

Yes Scotland described the poll as "another breakthrough" while Better Together said it showed there was "no room for a protest vote".

The latest poll shows that of all the adults surveyed, 39% are backing a "No" vote, 38% a "Yes" vote and 23% are undecided.

Of those who said they were sure to vote, the "Yes" and "No" camps were neck and neck at 41% with 18% undecided.

The TNS poll of 990 people was conducted between 27 August and 4 September.

The leaders of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Liberal Democrats are expected to endorse the timetable which was set out by Mr Brown in a speech at the Loanhead Miners Welfare and Social Club in Midlothian on Monday evening, the main points of which are:

• ·         Work to begin on the new legislation on 19 September, the day after the referendum
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• ·         A "command paper" to be published by the present UK government setting out all the proposals by end of October
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• ·         A white paper to be drawn up by the end of November after a period of consultation setting out the proposed powers
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• ·         A draft for a new Scotland Act to be published in January

A spokesman said Downing Street was "content with the proposed timetable", while Labour leader Ed Miliband said he wanted "the process of further devolution under way right after the referendum".

The three main Westminster parties have all set out individual proposals for more powers for the Scottish Parliament previously.