Mundell and Sturgeon to hold talks on Scottish Government's role in Brexit talks

Revealing details of next week's meeting during Scottish Question in the Commons, he said his talks with the First Minister would focus on "how that might be achieved".

The UK Government has set up a Whitehall unit, headed by "Brexit minister" Oliver Letwin prepare for the complex two-year negotiation on extricating the UK from its EU obligations.

Ms Sturgeon has vowed to exhaust all possible options for keeping Scotland in the EU after the country voted Remain by 62 per cent to 38 per cent.

She is holding talks with EU officials and leaders but has indicated a second independence referendum is "highly likely" as a means of enabling Scotland to become a member state in its own right.

However, Mr Mundell - who campaigned for a Remain vote - said the UK-wide Brexit decision must be respected.

"I'm quite clear that a majority of people across the UK voted for the UK to leave the EU and that decision must be implemented.

"But in doing so, we must secure the best possible deal for Scotland and the rest of the UK," he told MSPs.

He dismissed calls from Angus Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, to back Ms Sturgeon's diplomatic charm offensive in Brussels, which also failed to find support from the Scottish Conservatives when MSPs voted on it last week.

Mr Mundell said his Holyrood colleagues had been right to abstain because the Scottish Government "would not take the toxic and divisive issue of a second referendum on independence off the table".

He added: "Anyone who wants to unify opinion in Scotland should not start talking about a second Scottish independence referendum."

He also insisted Scottish business leaders, who held separate meeting with the Secretary of State and the First Minister on Tuesday, "did not want to hear about independence".

"I hope the First Minister was listening," he said.

However, Mr Mundell agreed with Mr Robertson on the need to reassure EU citizens already living in Scotland and said he hoped it would be "possible" to issue guarantees about their right to remain.

The clashes came a day after Ms Sturgeon branded as "inhumane" the failure of the UK Government to offer clear assurances ahead of Brexit talks.

Mr Mundell also faced questions from Dave Anderson, the new Shadow Scottish Secretary.

The MP for Blaydon, in the North East of England, appointed by Jeremy Corbyn following the resignation of Ian Murray, raised concerns about the future of EU agriculture subsidies on behalf of friends of his who farm at Moffat, in Mr Mundell's constituency.

Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson set out her goals for Brexit talks in talks with Europe minister David Lidington in Edinburgh.

She said the "over-riding priority" was for Scotland to retain access to the European single market to protect the economy, jobs and public services,

European Council leaders have made clear that access to the single market requires acceptance of all four EU freedoms - including freedom of movement which was one of the main grievances of the Leave campaign in their efforts to take back control of immigration.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "We both agreed that it is vital for the voice of Scotland to be heard in these talks, and that the Scottish Government should be involved at all stages of the negotiations.

"There is undoubtedly a need for all the devolved administrations to work with the UK Government to ensure we get a deal that reflects the needs of all of us.

"Chiefly amongst this will be our continued access to the single market."

She added: "Protecting our trade with the European Union will boost our economy, sustain jobs and help to fund vital public services."