It will come as news to him he isn't prepared to put it before the country by way of a referendum for another 10 years.

That'd be news to everyone. The SNP have said that they wish to have a referendum in 2010, by which time they will have had a full term in office. Doesn't seem unreasonable. So where did the "10 years" come from?

Of course one significance of 2010 would be that by that time it will have become clear whether the English voters wish to put the Tories back in power, and that might affect how Scots vote, especially if there is a Tory landslide in England.