Full-time Scots Secretary role under consideration

And the Prime Minister in waiting is understood to be thinking of appointing Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths, a close ally, to the beefed up job.

The Chancellor is understood to have been alarmed at the row between new First Minister Alex Salmond and Downing Street over the deal between the UK and Libya on prisoners being repatriated to the African country.

Following claims that the man jailed for the Lockerbie bombing might be sent home, there was an embarrassing stand-off between Edinburgh and London.

Although outgoing Premier Tony Blair told MPs that the First Minister could have ended uncertainty with a simple phone call rather than making a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Brown wants to make sure there is no repeat of such an embarrassing communications breakdown.

At the moment Douglas Alexander combines the role of Scottish Secretary with UK transport supremo, and Mr Brown was originally minded to create a secretary of state for the nations and regions covering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

But now, following the Nationalist victory and the possibility of an independence referendum, aides say he is looking again at the issue.

As well as Mr Griffiths, who quit as deputy Commons leader over Trident, current Defence Secretary Des Browne, Scotland Office No 2 David Cairns and junior ministers Jim Murphy and Adam Ingram are in the frame for the new job if it is created.