Alex Salmond lobbies for tax powers as he unveils independence referendum plans However, the Government has warned the SNP it does not have the power to stage the referendum as constitutional affairs are reserved. David Cameron has offered to give him control over the referendum as long as he asks a single, straight question on independence that is refereed by the Electoral Commission. Mr Salmond is not expected this afternoon to produce detailed legal advice showing the Prime Minister's view is incorrect, but will continue to insist that he has the power to stage an "advisory referendum." The morning started well for him when it emerged the Cabinet minister in charge of challenging his proposals has come down with chickenpox. Michael Moore, the Scottish Secretary, has been laid low with illness when he was expected to spend the day challenging the First Minister on the airwaves. The illness meant a planned meeting on Friday between the pair to thrash out the legal problems could be postponed. However, the First Minister faced renewed criticism after admitting in a speech on London that an independent Scotland would be forced to rely on the Bank of England for future bailouts in financial crises. Miss Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The SNP's preferred option is independence. That's the option we want to see on the ballot paper, it's the outcome we will be campaigning for. The issue of a second question is a simple one of democracy. There is a body of opinion in Scotland that wants to see an outcome short of independence. Our view certainly at this stage is, why should that be ruled out as an option? It's an issue of democracy and we want to hear what people have to say. She said the referendum would be regulated "robustly and properly." The consultation will examine whether 16 and 17-year-olds, who are more favourable towards separatism, will be able to vote. Before he was struck down will illness, Mr Moore said: "I want the Scottish government paper to have a clear acknowledgement that a legal referendum is in the interests of the Scottish people and that the two governments should work together to achieve that. I also hope they will confirm that they support a simple yes-no question on independence. Everyone wants to have a referendum that avoids a courtroom wrangle. We should not start rewriting the rule book in the run up to the most important decision Scotland will ever make. Meanwhile, Mr Salmond told the Hugo Young lecture last night that in a separate Scotland "the lender of last resort would be the Bank of England." This suggests Scotland having to go cap in hand to London to bail out its institutions. He made the admission in response to a question from Lord Myners, the former Labour City Minister, after his main speech. It is a consequence of Mr Salmond insisting that a separate Scotland would retain sterling as its currency. However, Lord Myners ridiculed the proposal, asking: "Is it really credible that the interest rates of an independent Scotland would be set by a bank that has no responsibility for Scotland. It is beyond belief that the Bank of England would be a lender of last resort any more than the Bank of China would be. The burden of bailing out would fall on English / UK taxpayers.