As the row over whether the council’s Labour administration has one rule for politicians of its own persuasion and another for the opposition continued, the council’s top officer sought to clarify the position.

Ms Robison said her Dundee West counterpart, Labour MSP Kate Maclean, had been allowed to attend events in schools in her constituency and questioned whether council policy was being applied equally.

This followed the council’s rejection of her request to take part in Walk to Work week at Craigiebarns Primary School.

However, Mr Stephen, in his letter, said, “There have been no changes to the procedures adopted by the council in dealing with these types of request.

“In this particular case my understanding is that you contacted the school direct and not the director of education.

“The education department had already made arrangements for the council to deal with publicity in respect of the National Walk to School Week. The council is supportive of this initiative and this is why it had made its own arrangements about publicity.

“Local councillors will always be involved in promoting the activities of the council and, from time-to-time, the council will invite its MPs and MSPs to assist in these promotions.

“The council’s policy does not normally apply to activities outside premises but, in this case, the policy did apply because school pupils were being involved.

“In general, there have been very few difficulties around our policy in respect of this type of activity and I would suggest that if in future you wish to promote events through our schools you contact the director of education or myself.”

Meanwhile, the row between Ms Robison and Councillor Kevin Keenan continued apace today.

This time the subject was a report suggesting Dundee had no trained PE, music or drama teachers working in its primary schools.

This was picked up by the Dundee East representative and the city council’s education convener was quick to hit back. The two have clashed recently over access to and publicity at schools (see also page 6).

The Statistical Bulletin for Education Services, which gives a breakdown per local authority of primary school teachers categorised by main subject taught in 2005, appears to show that Dundee has no primary teachers specialising in PE, music or art and design.

It was seized upon by Ms Robison, who said that Falkirk, a similarly sized council, had seven specialised PE teachers.

She said, “With one in five 12-year-olds currently obese, it seems strange that more effort has not been made by the council to ensure Dundee’s school children are getting PE from specially trained teachers. It also appears other subject areas are missing out too.

“If Falkirk can manage to have seven PE teachers, four music teachers and five art teachers, then surely one of Scotland’s major cities can improve on having none.

“I know teachers in Dundee do an excellent job, sometimes in hugely difficult circumstances. Each and every one of them is to be congratulated for their commendable attempts to ensure that Dundee school pupils are taught some degree of PE, music and art.

“But surely, if it’s good enough for other schools in Scotland to get subjects taught by specially trained teachers, then it should be good enough for the children of Dundee.

“I will be seeking answers from the city council to find out why this is the case and what action they are going to take to remedy the situation.

“This provides the perfect opportunity for Cllr Keenan to refocus his attention back to where it should be, that is to ensure Dundee pupils are provided with a first-class education service.”

However, the city council said all Dundee teachers were trained to provide physical education.

A spokesman added, “Over and above this, the education department employs a number of secondary-trained specialists who work in our primary schools on a peripatetic basis.

“There are 10 fully trained PE teachers, seven music teachers, 20 music instrumental instructors, six art teachers and four drama teachers working in our primaries.”

Councillor Keenan said Ms Robison’s comments were “yet another unwarranted attack on education in Dundee” and displayed a negative attitude.

He said, “The SNP have a track record of using our schools as a political football to attack the administration. We know from consultation that this has a damaging impact on the morale of our teachers and, in this case, I am concerned about the effect on parents.

“I can reassure them that their children are receiving first-class teaching across the curriculum in primary schools, including PE, music, drama and art.

“The SNP have chosen a comparison with Falkirk Council, I assume because it is SNP controlled. In Dundee, we have 33 visiting specialists in primaries: in Falkirk they have six.

“It is extremely disappointing that a local MSP continues to attempt political point scoring at the expense of our schools. It should now stop so that we can concentrate on the real issue which is the education of our young people.”