A deal on the Scottish independence referendum could be agreed within just a few weeks, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested.
Ms Sturgeon said she hoped the UK and Scottish governments would strike an agreement within this timescale.
Talks have been taking place between the two administrations over how the crucial vote should be held.
But they have so far failed to reach an agreement on key issues including the question or questions that should be asked, as well as if 16 and 17-year-olds should be able to take part.
While UK Government ministers have previously said a deal on the referendum could be reached by the end of October, the Scottish Government has said these issues need to be "carefully and properly considered".
First Minister Alex Salmond said he would be meeting Prime Minister David Cameron for talks on the referendum "in the next few weeks".
On Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland that she hoped issues regarding the referendum process "are settled over the next few weeks".
She added: "Then Scotland can get into what I think is the most exciting debate that we will ever have had, why Scotland should be independent."
Speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, the Deputy First Minister said: "I believe the Prime Minister has said that he is going to meet Alex Salmond to get these process issues sorted out.
"That will happen over the next few weeks. I hope we can come to a good resolution of these issues, but a resolution that respects what I think is the fundamental principle here, that Scotland's referendum should be built in Scotland. It's not for Westminster to dictate the terms of the referendum."
