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Scotland's top civil servant has faced criticism in the House of Lords, with peers claiming he has abandoned impartiality to help advise the SNP on breaking up the United Kingdom.
All three party leaders in the Scottish Parliament have made official complaints to the UK's most senior civil servant, Sir Gus O'Donnell, addressing their concerns about Sir Peter Housden.
Speaking during oral questions, Labour's Lord Foulkes of Cumnock asked the government what responsibility the cabinet secretary has for the work of the civil service in Scotland.
The former member of the Scottish Parliament said Sir Peter was "advising the SNP government on the tactics and policy in relation to the break up of the United Kingdom".
He told the upper chamber: "Surely it is the responsibility of Sir Gus O'Donnell to say to Sir Peter Housden that he should be advising the SNP only on devolved areas and not on matters that are reserved to this Parliament, particularly those that are politically sensitive."
Conservative Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, a former Scotland secretary, said: "What on earth is going on when the permanent secretary for the Scottish executive is circulating what is described as an internal blog, this is a newsletter, to civil servants in the Scottish Office which amongst other things advised them to go and see a play about an army of occupation in 11th century Scotland which he said 'does genuinely speak to our present condition as a nation'?
"What on earth is this government doing in standing aside. Surely it is the absolute duty of the Cabinet Secretary to maintain the impartiality of the civil service which is a centrepiece of our constitution?"
Liberal Democrat Lord Stephens thanked Lord Foulkes for raising the "important and controversial issue".
The former Scottish MP said: "Most people in Scotland would far rather highly-paid civil servants spent their time improving the education system in Scotland, the health service in Scotland, the transport networks in Scotland rather than pandering to the party political objectives of our first minister in Scotland."
He said the "core issue" was not about the independence of Scotland, instead it is about the independence and neutrality and objectivity of the civil service.
Lord Stephens continued: "When that is struck at as has clearly happened in this instance that is very worrying not just for Scotland but for all parts of the United Kingdom."
Labour's Lord Sewel added: "Is it proper for the permanent secretary of the Scottish executive to make clear and in public his own personal views on a matter of controversial policy?"
Responding for the government, Lord Wallace of Saltaire said it was "not appropriate for a minister to comment on the behaviour of a senior civil servant" but that Sir Gus would write a letter in response to the complaints raised by the three parties.
He said he understood the views expressed by Sir Peter had been in an "internal blog".
"Members will have their own views on the advisability of blogging and it was leaked to the Scottish edition of the Daily Telegraph," he added.
"There might be a certain lack of wisdom there."
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