A row over childcare flared yesterday after a poll revealed nearly two-thirds of people believe the Scottish government should use its current devolved powers to boost provision.

Only a fifth believe independence is needed before better childcare can be delivered, a YouGov poll commissioned by anti-independence campaign Better Together found.

Labour leader Johann Lamont said the poll showed the Scottish government could "act today to provide better childcare" - but First Minister Alex Salmond argued that his plan for 30 hours of childcare a week could not be provided without the full powers of independence.

Ms Lamont said: "The Scottish government already has the power to help parents who are struggling to juggle family life with their work commitments.

"Alex Salmond could act today to provide them with better childcare but would rather use it as a false argument for breaking up the UK now.

"When the SNP launched their independence white paper last month they claimed childcare was their priority. They could prove this by getting on with the job right now."

The YouGov poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 Scots, also showed that 45 per cent of SNP supporters believe the government should use the powers they have now rather than wait for independence.

Mr Salmond replied that the SNP plan was for broadly the same number of hours of nursery education as children currently receive in primary school.

The equivalent of 30 hours per week for 38 weeks - or 1,140 hours a year - would allow most women with families the opportunity to get back into the workplace.

Mr Salmond said: "People ask why we can't simply introduce these plans now.

"The problem is that the increased tax revenues which would be generated by thousands of women returning to work, as well as the reduced level of welfare payments they currently receive, would be lost to Scotland and go to Westminster instead.

"Under independence that money would stay in Scotland to help pay for the expansion of childcare on a sustainable basis."

The childcare increase after independence would initially be funded by diverting money from nuclear weapons, he said.

Mr Salmond added that 600 hours a year of childcare was already available under the SNP, compared with 412 hours under Labour.