SCOTS ministers have denied attempting to create the equivalent of a separate Foreign Office before the issue of independence has even been decided in two years' time.

Critics have seized on an internal Civil Service job advert for the post of director for external affairs as evidence Alex Salmond is creating a foreign affairs function.

A spokeswoman said the advertised post, at a grade paying up to £162,500, "simply adjusts and fills an existing role on a permanent basis, and the posts the successful candidate will lead already exist".

There is already a Cabinet post for external affairs, combined with the culture brief and held by Fiona Hyslop, and the SNP administration has always argued that distinctive representation overseas is crucial to attracting both tourists and inward investment.

Scots Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has complained to the head of the Civil Service in Scotland, describing this as further politicisation of his staff and calling on him to reverse the appointment.

"The Scottish Government has a mandate to hold an independence referendum. It does not have one to use taxpayers' money to build the case for independence ahead of this vote," he claimed.

Government sources point out it was the Labour-LibDem administration under the country's second first minister, Henry McLeish, that first created the external relations role and Jack McConnell extended it.

A spokeswoman said: "The director for external affairs will support Scottish ministers in their relationships with other governments and institutions such as the EU.

"This support has been provided to ministers of all administrations since devolution."