Alexander 'wrong' on referendum bill timetable

Wendy Alexander is wrong to say that a bill – such as an independence referendum bill – takes nine to 18 months to go through Holyrood (your report, 5 May). The Scottish Parliament passed the abolition of bridge tolls in less than four months. More significantly, the budget – itself a bill, and a hugely complex one – was passed in three weeks.

The "national conversation" is the referendum bill's consultation, and it already includes a draft bill at the end. Moreover, when that bill is introduced by the government, it will hardly need intensive scrutiny. The choice will basically be to have a referendum or not. Let's be honest here – positions on the constitution in Scottish politics are so entrenched that pretty much everyone in the parliament already knows how they are going to vote in that debate.

If the Scottish Government wanted to and the Labour Party supported it, there could therefore probably be a bill introduced in May 2010 and passed by the summer recess. The referendum would follow in the autumn. I am surprised that Ms Alexander, who has been in Holyrood since day one, continually repeats this line that a bill must take an eternity to pass.

MARCO BIAGI

White Street

Glasgow