AN SNP minister has been rebuked by Holyrood's top official for "bypassing parliament" for his party's decision to unveil the council tax freeze and a new Centre of Teaching Excellence to its annual conference rather than to MSPs.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone has revealed she has written to George Adam, the minister for parliamentary business, in light of the major policy announcements which she noted should have been made first to MSPs.

She revealed she had written to Mr Adam in a letter to Labour's education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy who had complained to her about the "unacceptable" education announcement by the SNP which "bypassed parliament". 

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"Long-established good practice guidance on announcements by the Scottish Government states that ministers are accountable to the Parliament for their policies and the decisions taken in their ministerial capacity," Ms Johnstone told Ms Duncan-Glancy.

"The right of elected members to question and hold the Scottish Government to account on behalf of their constituents is fundamental to the proper operation of the Parliament. 

"The guidance embodies the principle that announcements by the Government on matters of importance should not enter the public domain before or without being communicated to the Parliament. 

"As you note, during a recess, the mechanism for making announcements to the Parliament is through written questions initiated by the Government. 

"I am aware that a number of announcements of Scottish Government policy were made at the recent  Scottish National Party conference.

"I have already written to the minister for parliamentary business to ask for an explanation of why these announcements were not made to the Parliament in the first instance using one of the mechanisms that are considered appropriate, including the one you mention on the establishment of a centre of teacher excellence.

She added: "You can use any of the scrutiny mechanisms available to members to raise this issue in the Parliament, and can raise the matter with your business manager. 

"The actions of Scottish Government Ministers are covered by the Scottish Ministerial Code when they are acting in their ministerial capacity."

The Herald previously reported that education secretary Jenny Gilruth revealed plans to launch the new organisation at the SNP conference, but teachers and professional organisations had been left in the dark over the details.

The council body Cosla was also left fuming after it had not been told of the council tax freeze, while the SNP's partners in government were only told of the policy just before it was unveiled to the SNP conference by First Minister Humza Yousaf in his speech.

Ms Duncan-Glancy said: “It is simply unacceptable that the education secretary bypassed parliament and stakeholders to try to extract political benefit out of this proposal.

“The fact is that this SNP government has treated parliament, teachers and pupils with contempt for years.

“Rather than plotting new announcements designed to grab headlines, the education secretary should be listening to the voices of Scotland’s teachers.”

In her letter to the presiding officer the Labour MSP described it as a "disrespectful" approach to governing which has "side-lined" parliament and stakeholders. 

She said: "Setting up such a centre is a significant announcement. It potentially impacts all of the hundreds of thousands of teachers and pupils in Scotland.

"It may also have significant structural implications for education reform, which you will know is a matter of great interest to all parties above, and to Parliament."

She said the announcement could also have significant funding implications, and drew attention to the SNP's announcement to freeze council tax, which was also not made in Parliament. 

Ms Duncan-Glancy wrote: "I therefore seek your guidance as to what options are available to me as a parliamentarian, you as presiding officer, and indeed parliament in general to put right this disrespectful approach to governing which has side-lined parliament, and stakeholders, and thus circumvented all due process that could be considered appropriate for such an announcement?"

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said it will update parliament on education reform later this year. 

They said: "The Centre of Teaching Excellence will be developed in partnership with teachers and professional associations as part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing reform work.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scottish Ministers recognise and respect the right of elected members to scrutinise and hold the government to account for their policies.

“The Minister for Parliamentary Business will respond to the Presiding Officer in due course and Ministers will continue to engage with the Scottish Parliament as policy proposals develop.”