Planning for a second independence referendum can move forward due to the "improved situation" in the fight against coronavirus, John Swinney has claimed.
But the Deputy First Minister would not reveal today when the official campaign would begin - despite the Scottish Government's stated desire for a vote to take place before the end of 2023.
Swinney insisted only "very modest measures" against covid remain in place across Scotland although workers are still being told they should not use an office.
It comes as temporary measures brought in over the festive season to halt the spread of the Omicron variant are finally lifted today.
Pubs and restaurants no longer have to follow social distancing measures while nightclubs can finally reopen.
Nicola Sturgeon used an interview yesterday to announce a legislative timetable for an IndyRef2 bill would be confirmed in "the coming weeks".
Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland: "What we've said all along is that when we get out of the intensity of covid, we will start the preparations for the independence referendum.
"We took the sensible decision back in March 2020 to pause all preparations for an independence referendum - despite having a mandate to do so.
"We've watched carefully the passage of the virus and we now find ourselves in a much, much improved situation.
"We have very modest measures left in place across covid."
Asked about the impact of Omicron restrictions on businesses, Swinney added: "There has been massive disruption to the economy and to society during the course of covid.
"But when we look at data on the progress of the Scottish economy, last week we saw a significant fall in unemployment, and we are seeing recovery in almost all sectors of the economy.
"There is a recovery underway. What we are trying to do as a government is to ensure we take the sensible steps to protect against any spread of the virus, while we focus on the recovery from covid.
Asked when the independence campaign period would officially begin, Swinney said: "The First Minister has made clear that she would set out the timetable for the preparations for a referendum that will take place before the end of 2023.
"Obviously there's a variety of protocalls that we have to follow to enable the passing of legislation to take place in sufficient time for it to be understood by the public."
Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservative spokesman on the constitution, said: "The Scottish people will be appalled at John Swinney’s indefensible admission that the SNP Government have already begun planning for another divisive independence referendum.
"It beggars belief that the SNP consider this appropriate when the country is still subject to their Covid restrictions and all the focus should be on rebuilding our public services and economy in the wake of the pandemic.
"Scotland’s NHS is on its knees amid a staffing crisis and the worst A&E waiting times ever recorded, while the Education Secretary refuses to guarantee that exams will even go ahead this spring.
"Yet against this backdrop, the SNP think it’s time to obsess over the constitution. That shows how warped and self-serving their priorities are."
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