In February, children, schools and families minister Ed Balls announced £4.65 million of funding to pay for Auschwitz trips over the next three years and under the Barnett Formula Scotland receives a share of this money — £152,000 — annually.

However, because education is a devolved matter, the Scottish Government cannot be told how to spend the cash and, after originally claiming the cash did not exist, they have refused to commit the money to the educational trips.

The SNP and the Tories voted down an amendment by Labour MSP Ken Macintosh that would have secured the money for the trips because they claim Scotland should not be dictated to by the House of Commons.

They have decided to divide the money among local authorities and allow them to decide how to spend it individually instead.

Mr McGovern said today their decision had been “astonishing”.

“I am very disappointed the SNP and Tories, working together in the Scottish Parliament, have taken this decision to deny Scottish children such a life-changing experience in order to score political points,” he said.

“I know that a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi death camp is indeed life changing, having had the opportunity to accompany pupils from a number of Dundee schools on a visit in October last year.

“One point four million people were murdered in Auschwitz alone, with an estimated six million exterminated throughout the Holocaust.

“By visiting the death camp the pupils generated a more profound and emotional understanding of the Holocaust that cannot be gleaned from books or a visit to a museum.

“It is vital that, as the leaders and decision makers of the future, young people are aware and indeed learn the lessons of the Holocaust, in order to prevent a crime on such an unimaginable scale being committed again.”

Mr McGovern added, “I have spoken very highly of the school trips to Auschwitz in the House of Commons on several occasions.

“Indeed, during the Holocaust Memorial Day debate, SNP MP for Dundee East Stewart Hosie asked ministers what more the Government could do to ensure the voices of the Holocaust continue to be heard.

“I, and many others, would say using the extra £152,000 allocated through the Barnett Formula to allow children to go and experience Auschwitz would be a fitting start.

“I will be strongly urging the Executive to rethink this astonishing decision.”

The Holocaust Education Trust, which organises the trips, has said it will continue to work with the Scottish Government to allow children from every school in the country to take part in the educational visits.

“Whilst the original Treasury funding included all UK schools, the announcement of renewed funding earlier this year from the Department of Children, Schools and Families only caters for English schools,” a trust spokeswoman said.

“We continue our discussions with the government to ensure the trust is able to provide participation in the project for school students and teachers across Scotland.”