Yesterday in an unusual move, the UK Government invited Ms Constance, the SNP Government’s Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, to represent it at a forthcoming EU Council meeting on education, youth, culture and sport. Ms Constance accepted the invitation; it is thought this is only the second time in the past year a Scottish Government Minister has represented the UK in Brussels.

Nicky Morgan, the UK Education Secretary – who was recently rebuked by John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, for suggesting an MP should not ask her a question on education because he was Scottish –  sent a letter to Ms Constance, confirming the invitation.

Alistair Carmichael, the Scottish Secretary, said he was pleased that the Scottish Government Minister had been asked to represent the UK Government at the forthcoming EU Education Council on December 12.

He went on: “I want to see a sensible, professional and responsible working relationship between Scotland’s two governments. Whether its Scotland’s fishing industry or schools and teachers across the country, above all else, they want to see the best possible outcome for our country in Europe.”

He added the Concordat on international relations recognised that the Scottish Parliament as well as the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland had a role to play in relevant EU Council meetings and he was pleased to see this was being taken forward.

Whitehall sources said, following the heat and division of the independence referendum, the UK Government wanted to push the reset button and put its relationship with Edinburgh on a new track.

The Coalition, they said, was seeking to reposition its work in Scotland?? and recognised it faced a significant challenge in setting out to Scots the precise scope of its reserved powers and the benefits they could bring.

“We have let things slide in Scotland and need to have a stronger engagement from the UK Government. This will include having more ministerial visits,” said one Coalition insider.

Another stressed: “For too long, we have allowed the SNP to give the impression there is only one government in Scotland when so much is done by the UK Government. We need to be more pro-active.”

The sources explained that there was a willingness within the Lib-Con Coalition to stop having grievances in public with Edinburgh and have stronger co-operation with the Scottish Government; the invitation to Ms Constance being an example of this.

Last night, a spokesman for the SNP administration confirmed she would attend this month’s EU Council, saying: “We welcome this recognition that Scottish Ministers should be able to lead in EU Council.

“We look forward to the UK Government implementing the Smith proposals and improving consultation and representation of the Scottish Government on European issues,” he added.