George Foulkes: "Scotland Office has a key role"

Mr Foulkes said: "If you were to listen to the Nationalists, they would do away with the Scotland Office and the secretary of state, not because they care about Scotland's interests and having a strong Scottish voice in Government, but because they want to rip the United Kingdom apart.

"The SNP are exposed for what they are - constitutional nit pickers rather than serious parliamentarians getting down to the business of representing Scotland's interests."

His comments follow criticism of the existence of both the Scotland Office and the post of Scottish secretary - held by Helen Liddell - after it emerged the costs of running the department had risen to �7.3m.

The Liberal Democrats questioned the salaries used to fund the posts of Scottish secretary and attorney general.

Parliamentary partnership

But Mr Foulkes said that since half of the public money spent in Scotland came from areas controlled by Westminster, it was essential the Scotland Office remained.

He said: "The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive is Scotland's voice in the devolved areas.

"But Scotland's MPs and Scotland's ministers in the UK Government also speak for Scotland - loudly and clearly.

"Following devolution, the Scotland Office has a key role as Scotland's voice in the UK Government.

"What the Scottish people voted for in the 1997 referendum and what the Labour Government has subsequently delivered is a partnership of two Parliaments within the framework of the United Kingdom."