Deputy First Minister John Swinney has accused the UK Government of “mucking about” with Scottish international trade missions.
Mr Swinney said he cannot see any value in Scotland Office involvement in missions organised by Scottish Development International (SDI).
He accused the Scotland Office of hastily convening a trade mission to Brazil on the back of a Scottish Government mission to “establish themselves” during the independence referendum campaign.
He also accused Scotland Office ministers of regularly standing-up Holyrood committees after Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael cancelled an appearance at Holyrood on Wednesday.
The Scotland Office commissioned the Wilson Review of Support for Scottish Exporting which found potential for overlap between SDI and its Westminster counterpart UK Trade & Industry (UKTI).
But Mr Swinney said SDI and UKTI have a good relationship and the Scotland Office adds nothing to the party.
“We had a trade mission set up to go to Brazil and then the Secretary of State decided to have one too,” he told Holyrood’s economy committee.
“There has been a little bit of history, particularly in the run-up to the referendum, where the Scotland Office were keen to establish themselves on some of this territory, if I can put it as delicately as that.”
He added: “UKTI has its responsibilities, we (Scottish ministers) have got our responsibilities, as does SDI.”