Holyrood has no control over how key school policy is carried out

The funding allocated to these policies on the ground is also not known by ministers, MSPs heard.

Holyrood's education committee yesterday kicked off an inquiry into the way councils spend their 5.4 billion annual budget on teaching and children's services.

Labour schools spokesman Ken Macintosh questioned the "influence or control" that the government can exert over the way the money is spent at grassroots level.

Government director of schools Colin MacLean said there were only a couple of areas, such as training probationer teachers, where funding is specifically allocated.

The official added: "Beyond that, we have no discussions with councils about the amount of money in the settlement which they allocate to education."

Most spending in schools comes from the 11.8bn which is distributed to Scotland's 32 local councils by the government.

Mr MacLean said agreements on national policies were reached during discussions with councils body Cosla, but education spending is allocated by councils themselves at local level.

But Mr Macintosh added: "Is there any link between budgets and policy? I can't see one at all."

He added: "Class sizes and teacher numbers, for example, you have no figures attached to these policies?"

Mr MacLean replied: "No – we hear from councils, as you will hear from them what they are doing."

The government has control only when it announces a "new or additional" sum, Mr Macintosh added.

"After that, you have no control, because you can't take it back, you can't control where it's spent, you don't measure efficiency, you don't measure the outcome."