The SNP has claimed that Scotland is on the “outside looking in” at Theresa May’s government after the Scottish Secretary was not invited to a crunch meeting on the economy.

Prime Minister May chaired the first meeting of a powerful new Cabinet committee tasked with boosting productivity and wages.

But Mr Mundell was not one of the almost a dozen cabinet ministers included.

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No 10 said that Mrs May was committed to creating an economy "for everyone", including Scots.

But the SNP said that his omission raised serious questions, especially given the ongoing crisis facing the North Sea oil industry.

Those not attending the committee include the secretaries of state for the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Home Secretary as well as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis.

The committee's remit is to develop a "strong" industrial strategy, a description widely interpreted as criticism of the former Chancellor George Osborne.

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Members will also work to encourage innovation and creating opportunities for young people.

Mrs May said that to take advantage of "opportunities" presented by the shock Brexit vote "we need to have our whole economy firing".

SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said: “If David Mundell’s job as Scottish Secretary isn’t to be at the table when his colleagues are making decisions about UK wide economic policy then it’s not clear what his job actually is.

“The Tories can’t even claim that the interests of Scotland’s vital oil and gas industries will be represented by the UK Energy Secretary – as they have downgraded that post and divvied up responsibility between an unelected Lord and a newly appointed junior minister.

“The Scottish Government has made supporting the oil and gas industry during the current period of uncertainty an absolute priority. The SNP will support any measures from the UK Government that will do likewise, but despite raised expectations after a change of government at Westminster – it is already starting to feel like Scotland is being left on the outside looking in.”

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A No 10 spokesman said: “In her first statement, the Prime Minister made clear that this Government would strive for an economy which works for all parts of the UK and for people across the Union. One of the tasks for the Committee – as we have already set out – will be to deliver a modern industrial strategy that drives growth across the country, including Scotland.”

Speaking ahead of the meeting in Downing Street, Mrs May said she wanted her government to "build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few" - a pledge she made in her first speech as Prime Minister.

Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson urged Mrs May to use the meeting to signal her support for the so-called 'Northern Powerhouse'.

The project was the brainchild of Mr Osborne.

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Meanwhile, senior Tories defended Mrs May eleventh hour decision last week to delay approval for a major new nuclear power station, due to have been built with Chinese investment.

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine insisted Mrs May's decision to review Hinkley Point did not mean she was "anti-infrastructure".

Former Conservative leader Lord Hague said: “While greater trade and investment with China is clearly beneficial for both countries and is to be encouraged, Theresa May is quite right to take the time necessary to evaluate the Chinese role in our nuclear power.”