Councillor Keenan accused Mr Hosie of “trying to use our pupils for political purposes”.

However, it emerged today that the city council’s education department last year asked the SNP office if it would accept secondary pupils for work experience and a Grove Academy boy subsequently spent a week learning about the workings of government.

The exercise appeared to have been a success as the SNP office was asked if it could accept another pupil on work experience the week after.

Mr Hosie said the education convener appeared ignorant of his department’s own scheme.

He said of Mr Keenan, “He seems not to know that the education department in Dundee offers work experience programmes to senior school pupils, which include placements in parliamentary offices.

“The education convener appears to take exception to my offer for school pupils to take part in an internship programme, where they will learn about the work of the Westminster, Scottish and European parliaments as well as Dundee City Council and local community councils.

“Last year, with the co-operation of the education department, a pupil served a placement at the Dundee SNP Parliamentary office.

“Does the convener not know what is happening in his department or is he more concerned with petty political attacks on representatives of Dundee East constituency?”

Councillor Keenan was also challenged over a council policy which prevented the Nationalists’ Dundee East MSP Shona Robison taking part in the launch of national Walk to School week at Craigiebarns Primary School on Monday. The council said it would not allow political parties to take part in events on council property not normally open to the public.

Ms Robison said, “However it would appear that Kevin Keenan is unaware of previous school visits undertaken by his Labour party colleague, Kate MacLean MSP.

“How can he justify access to schools for Labour politicians, but not SNP members? There is clearly a lot of explaining to be done here.

“I am still awaiting a written response from Dundee City Council as to what rules are in place for politicians visiting schools and other council premises.”

Independent Labour councillor Ian Borthwick was also critical of the council policy regarding school premises, describing it as “negative and short-sighted”.

He claimed he and other opposition councillors had experienced occasions where Labour conveners attended events in schools and other council buildings in the councillors’ own wards without the local representatives even getting the courtesy of an invitation.

Three years ago, SNP councillors and Mr Borthwick voiced their concerns after claiming to have been “snubbed” by the council’s administration by being left off the guest list for important events in their wards.

Councillor Borthwick said, “Many members have commented to me that they have had similar experiences to Ms Robison and that just shows petty mindedness on the part of the council.

“A policy of even-handedness would, I believe, commend itself to the public instead of an unseemly squabble. We have to be big enough to submerge petty differences and rise to the occasion.

“It’s surely desirable to encourage support for initiatives from representatives across the political spectrum to harness their goodwill.

“I think a row like this detracts from the commendable objectives of the Walk to School initiative and many other initiatives. Let’s leave aside egos and remember once again that it’s people and not politicians who are important.”

Councillor Keenan was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

Dundee West MSP Kate Maclean said she was often asked to give talks to schools and take part in events but did so always at the school’s invitation.

She said, “Probably 95% of the time I have any involvement with school-based activities I don’t have a photograph taken and nor do I seek to get any publicity.

“It would probably have been more useful for the SNP to have called the council’s chief executive to find out what the position is.

“I have asked Jill Shimi, the council’s administration leader, to ask the chief executive to write to all elected representatives — MPs, MSPs and councillors — explaining what the council’s rules are concerning access to council facilities.”