U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday hinted he would be prepared to devolve more powers to Scotland's semi-autonomous government in Edinburgh, ahead of a keynote speech in which he is to argue in favor of maintaining Scotland's union with the rest of the U.K.
Cameron told the BBC there are legitimate questions over whether London should cede more powers to the Edinburgh parliament--but only after the independence debate is settled by a referendum.
"We have to settle that question before then going on and asking, I think quite legitimately, is there more that we can do to improve the devolved settlement?" Cameron told the BBC, according to its website.
"Are there powers that could be devolved, how can we make the United Kingdom work better?
"I'm very prepared, I believe in devolution, and I don't just mean devolution in terms of power, I mean devolution in terms of giving people greater control over their own lives."
Cameron is due to meet Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, a staunch supporter of independence, for talks later Thursday.
Edinburgh and London are at loggerheads over a looming referendum on Scottish independence, which Salmond wants held in 2014. London wants the poll held earlier.
The two governments also disagree over extending the franchise to younger voters, which Edinburgh favors and London opposes, and other technical aspects of the vote.
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