The UK Treasury was not informed of a Scottish Government support fund to businesses despite it requiring approval from Whitehall.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the £500m growth fund in her statement to MSPs outlining her programme for government on Tuesday.

The UK Government must approve the scheme, however, as it involves money which is not directly controlled by Holyrood.

The Scottish Conservatives called the lack of communication to the Treasury "amateurish".

Murdo Fraser, the party's shadow finance secretary, said: "This growth fund was the centrepiece of the SNP's programme for government and yet they didn't even bother discussing it with the people they need to work with to make it happen.

"While the SNP was announcing this investment, it turns out that they hadn't even consulted the UK Treasury on whether they would be able to agree this extra funding.

"It's clear that this policy has been cobbled together without any real consultation.

"This is an amateurish approach to conducting the business of government. Scotland deserves better."

Finance secretary Derek Mackay confirmed to MSPs on Wednesday at an appearance before the finance committee that no discussion between the governments had occurred on the loan scheme.

Mackay told MSPs: "We had no conversations with them on this specifically before bringing it to parliament.

"We gave parliament the courtesy of knowing first.

"I have written to the chief secretary to the Treasury and I hope the UK Treasury will be cooperative around this because it has no financial call upon the UK Government but, if delivered, could be of great assistance to the business community in Scotland and be managed by the Scottish Government."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it hopes the Treasury will be "forthcoming" in the matter.

She said: "The Scottish Government is responsible and accountable to the Scottish Parliament, not the United Kingdom Government, therefore we informed the Scottish Parliament first.

"This scheme is entirely within the devolved decision-making competence of the Scottish Parliament and will not require any investment from the UK Government.

"However, it will require their cooperation in agreeing the budgeting treatment of the guarantees and we hope that support will be forthcoming."

The Scottish Government has released the finance secretary's letter to the Treasury: