FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon will set out the Scottish Government's "route map" to a second independence referendum next week, it has been revealed.
The FM will make a ministerial statement to Holyrood on the plans on Tuesday, June 28 at 2.20pm, with a question and answer slot from MSPs to follow.
It comes ahead of the Scottish Parliament's summer recess which begins on July 2.
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The First Minister will reveal her plans for how the Scottish Government can move forward with a referendum whilst Westminster withholds consent for a Section 30 order, which would allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate as it did in 2014.
However, current UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused repeatedly to grant such an order.
The Scottish Government revealed the date of the statement during a meeting of the parliamentary bureau on Tuesday 21.
The SNP and Green MSPs are expected to confirm it in a vote, with the Unionist parties – Tories, Labour and LibDems – set to object against it.
Last week, Sturgeon and Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie published the first of numerous white papers in support of independence.
The 72-page document was described as a "scene setter" for independence and compared the UK on a number of factors to 10 neighbouring independent countries. This included wealth, poverty, wellbeing and the gender pay gap, amongst many other topics.
There are more white papers set to follow on issues including currency and the Border, with one expected during the parliament's summer recess.
During a lengthy press conference when the first paper was launched, the First Minister was probed on numerous occasions on how the Scottish Government intended to proceed without Westminster's permission.
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The FM repeatedly stated that she would set this out "very soon" but wouldn't be drawn on what legal advice they had received, but said they may have to proceed without a Section 30 order.
However, this could end up in the Supreme Court if UK law officers decide to challenge whatever route the Scottish Government takes.
The referendum draft bill has not yet been laid before the Scottish Parliament, and it doesn't look likely that it will before recess.
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