Nicola Sturgeon has warned the Prime Minister to “heed the voice of Scotland” before time runs out, ahead of key Brexit talks.

Scotland's First Minister urged Theresa May to take proposals from the devolved administrations seriously when she chairs this week’s “crucial” meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) in Cardiff.

On the agenda will be a Scottish Government paper setting out options to keep Scotland in the European single market even if the UK leaves, reflecting the majority Remain vote north of the border.

Ms Sturgeon’s statement echoed a committee of Scottish politicians who said that it was crucial for Brexit minister David Davis to appear at Holyrood before EU withdrawal negotiations begin.

Joan McAlpine MSP, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s European Committee, said it is “essential” that the committee hears from a senior member of the UK Government to highlight the many concerns of the Scottish people.

She said the committee also wants to gain clarity on the UK Government’s position in relation to Scotland.

Proposals to remain in the single market have also been put forward by Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood.

A UK Government spokesman insisted that the proposals from the devolved administrations were being “studied carefully”.

Speaking before the meeting, Ms Sturgeon said it was “one of the most important since the result of the EU referendum seven months ago”.

“It comes at a crucial juncture, with the clock ticking down to the triggering of Article 50 and with, so far, no sign whatsoever that the UK Government is taking Scotland’s position remotely seriously,” she said. “The JMC meeting in Cardiff is another chance for the Prime Minister to heed the voice of Scotland and those of the other devolved governments – and she must take the opportunity to do so.”

Ms Sturgeon added the hard Brexit proposed by Ms May could be “economically disastrous” for the UK and “catastrophic” for jobs, investment and living standards in Scotland.

She said: “The Prime Minister has also warned that it could herald a new economic model, which leaves the UK as a low-wage, deregulated country where job insecurity is high and where workers’ rights and social protections are stripped away.

“That is the stark reality of the Tories’ vision for the country, and it is one that will fill most people in Scotland with dread. We have compromised by publishing detailed proposals to keep Scotland in the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves. Those compromise proposals are formally on the agenda for this meeting, and so the Prime Minister tomorrow has a chance to show she is serious about her pledge to properly consider those proposals.”

The Tories’ words on respecting Scotland’s voice had “amounted to nothing more than empty rhetoric”, she said.

Ms Sturgeon also warned that Ms May’s plans to take the UK out of the single market “undoubtedly” makes a second referendum on Scottish independence more likely.

Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Show all 13 1 /13 Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Supreme Court Brexit Challenge People wait to enter the public gallery outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Gina Miller, co-founder of investment fund SCM Private arrives at the Supreme court in London on the first day of a four-day hearing Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waves the EU flag in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Satirical artist Kaya Mar poses with two of his paintings in front of the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin. The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge The eleven Supreme Court Justices will hear the government's appeal, following the High Court's recent decision that only Parliament can trigger Article 50 Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Businesswoman Gina Miller arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of the first day of a hearing into whether Parliament's consent is required before the Brexit process can begin Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Attorney General Jeremy Wright arrives at the Supreme Court in London EPA Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Protesters outside the Supreme Court in London, where the Government is appealing against a ruling that the Prime Minister must seek MPs' approval to trigger the process of taking Britain out of the European Union PA wire Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protesters wearing a judge's wigs and robes stands outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A protester holds up a placard outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters Supreme Court Brexit Challenge Pro-Europe protestors dressed as Supreme Court Justices stand outside the Supreme Court Getty Supreme Court Brexit Challenge A man waiting to enter the public gallery waves a European Union flag outside the Supreme Court ahead of the challenge against a court ruling that Theresa May's government requires parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, in Parliament Square, central London Reuters

A spokesman for the UK Government said: “We have been determined from the start that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged as we form the UK’s negotiating position for leaving the EU. The JMC process gives Scottish Government ministers direct access to the UK Government as we plan our EU exit.