The Prime Minister has asked William Hague to help re-draft the consititution to give more power to the regions.

Although Scotland rejected independence from the UK more than 1.4 million people still voted to leave the Union.

The Scottish electorate's rejection of independence was greeted with delight by Prime Minister David Cameron, who said that the victory margin of around 55%-45 per cent had settled the issue "for a generation... perhaps for a lifetime".

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street shortly after the No vote became a mathematical certainty, Mr Cameron said he would ensure that commitments to further devolution to Scotland made during the campaign would be "honoured in full", announcing the appointment of Glasgow's Commonwealth Games supremo Lord Smith to oversee the drafting of proposals in legislation published by January.

Earlier, Scottish National Party First Minister Alex Salmond acknowledged that his long-cherished dream of leading his nation to independence was over, telling supporters in Edinburgh: "Scotland has by a majority decided not at this stage to become an independent country.

"I accept that verdict of the people and I call on all of Scotland to follow suit in accepting the democratic verdict of the people of Scotland."

In a dramatic announcement, Mr Cameron also announced plans to devolve powers in other parts of the United Kingdom.

"It is time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward," said the PM.

"A vital part of that will be a balanced settlement fair to people in Scotland and importantly to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well."

He has asked William Hague to examine the problem.

Westminster has struggled with the so-called West Lothian question - Scots MPs voting on English issues - for decades.

Mr Cameron unveiled proposals to allow English, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs to vote alone on policies only impacting their voters, mirroring pledges made on fresh devolution to Scotland.

The Prime Minister said he hoped to win cross-party support for the plans, which he outlined in Downing Street shortly after Scotland rejected independence in an historic referendum.

Mr Cameron pledged the unionist parties would keep promises made to Scotland in the heat of the referendum campaign.

But he added: "In Wales, there are proposals to give the Welsh Government and Assembly more powers and I want Wales to be at the heart of the debate for how to make our United Kingdom work for all our nations.

"In Northern Ireland, we must work to ensure the devolved institutions function effectively.

"But I have long believed a crucial part missing from this national discussion is England. We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must also be heard.

"The question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West Lothian Question, requires a decisive answer so just as Scotland will vote separately on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too England as well as Wales and Northern Ireland should be able to vote on these issues.

"All this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace as the settlement for Scotland."

Commons Leader William Hague will draw up the detail of the plans, to be discussed in a Cabinet committee, with the same November deadline as that for the detailed proposals for Scotland.

Mr Cameron added: "It is also important we have wider civic engagement about how to improve governance throughout our United Kingdom, including how to empower our great cities. We will say more about this in the coming days."

Following his promise - made jointly with Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg - of further devolution to the Scottish Parliament in the case of a No vote, Mr Cameron has come under intense pressure from English MPs concerned that their constituents are being sidelined.

Conservative former Cabinet minister Liam Fox said change was "unavoidable" to address the ability of Scottish MPs to vote on devolved issues in Westminster, while Labour's John Denham called for devolution within England.

Dr Fox said the cross-party vow to give more powers to Holyrood created an "imbalance in our constitutional relationship".

He told BBC2's Newsnight: "There are a number of ways that we can address that but I think now it will have to be addressed. Politicians have ducked the question for too long."

The Scot added: "What we must ensure is that Scottish MPs, who cannot vote on issues like health and education in Scotland, should not be entitled to vote on health and education in constituencies like mine in North Somerset.

"It is profoundly undemocratic and unfair. That needs to be dealt with."

Mr Denham told the programme: "First you've got to have a constitutional convention in England. Secondly, we are going to have change in Westminster. It's clear that the more powers that go to the Scottish Parliament, the less you can have Scottish MPs voting on the same issues for England. That's got to change in one way or another.

"Thirdly, though, England is much too centralised. So this isn't just about reducing the influence of Scottish MPs in Westminster, it's about getting English decisions out of Westminster."

The chairman of the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, Graham Allen, said: "If we really believe in devolution, the leaders' 'vow' should apply to all nations in the Union, not just Scotland.

"Devolution needs independent local government, income tax assignment and a federal parliament, not an English one."

And Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole Andrew Percy said: "England must have an English parliament in the event of a No vote. Time for a federal UK.

"We can have an English parliament at Westminster as well as the British seat. England must be heard as much as Scotland."

In a clear warning to nationalists that it would be wrong to seek to revive the independence debate after a vote which engaged more than 80 per cent of the Scottish electorate, Mr Cameron said: "There can be no debates, no re-runs. We have heard the settled will of the Scottish people."

And he added: "The people of Scotland have spoken and it is a clear result. They have kept our country of four nations together and, like millions of other people, I am delighted.

"As I said during the campaign, it would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end and I know that sentiment is shared by people not just across our country but also around the world."

Ukip leader Nigel Farrage called on the Government to scrap the Barnett Formula which gives Scotland more money at the expense of English regions like the North-East.

However, Mr Hague appeared to duck the question on BBC Breakfast when he said the controversial funding formula would become "less important" in future.

n a dramatic night of counting after Scotland went to the polls yesterday, the Yes campaign secured majorities in largest city Glasgow as well as stronghold Dundee, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire, but fell short in key targets like Clackmannanshire and Western Isles, while the No campaign enjoyed a comfortable advantage in capital Edinburgh.

With only the Highlands left to declare, No had assembled an unassailable total of 1,914,187 votes (55.42%), with Yes trailing on 1,539,920 (44.58%).

The referendum was on track to set a new record for turnout in any major election in the United Kingdom since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1918, with 84.4% of registered voters casting a ballot - narrowly beating the 83.9% previous best recorded in the 1950 general election.

Mr Salmond said the referendum and the high turnout had been a "triumph for the democratic process" and promised to meet his pledge in the 2012 Edinburgh Agreement to respect the result and work for the benefit of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

He told supporters: "The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more powers to Scotland.

"Scotland will expect these to be honoured in rapid course - as a reminder, we have been promised a second reading of a Scotland Bill by March 27 next year.

"Not just the 1.6 million Scots who voted for independence will demand that timetable is followed but all Scots who participated in this referendum will demand that timetable is followed."

And the First Minister said: "Today of all days as we bring Scotland together, let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short, let us dwell on the distance we have travelled and have confidence the movement is abroad in Scotland that will take this nation forward and we shall go forward as one nation."

The leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, said Scotland had chosen "positive change, rather than needless separation".

Speaking to activists in Glasgow, the former chancellor said: "Today is a momentous result for Scotland and also for the United Kingdom as a whole.

"By confirming our place within the United Kingdom, we have reaffirmed all that we have in common and the bonds that tie us together. Let them never be broken."

And he told No campaigners - who had never matched Yes Scotland in terms of their visible presence on the streets and in social media: "You represent the majority of opinion and your voices have been heard. We've taken on the argument and we've won. The silent have spoken...

"The vote is over and the Scottish people have now delivered their verdict. We have taken a decision for progress and change for Scotland within the United Kingdom. Come on Scotland, let's get on with it together."

Mr Cameron made clear that the reforms he envisages to the UK's constitutional settlement will involve not only changes to devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but also action to deal with the so-called "West Lothian Question" over why Scottish MPs should vote in Westminster on issues which will involve only England.

"We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of voices of England must also be heard," said the Prime Minister.

"The question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West Lothian Question, requires a decisive answer so just as Scotland will vote separately on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so to England as well as Wales and Northern Ireland should be able to vote on these issues

"All this must take place in tandem with and at the same pace as the settlement for Scotland."

Mr Cameron said: "Just as the people of Scotland will have more power over their affairs, so it follows the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs.

"The rights of these voters need to be protected, preserved and enhanced. It is absolutely right a new and fair settlement for Scotland should be accompanied by a new and fair settlement that applies to all parts of our United Kingdom."