THE Holyrood committee probing the Scottish Government’s botched handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a notice to the Crown Office demanding a number of documents from the former First Minister’s two trials.
The committee has asked for text or WhatsApp communications between SNP chief operating officer Susan Ruddick and Scottish Government ministers, civil servants or special advisers from between August 2018 and January 2019, that may be relevant to the inquiry.
It also wants to see any documents linked to the leaking of complaints to the Daily Record newspaper in August 2018.
It is the first time ever a Holyrood committee has issued such a notice.
Convenor Linda Fabiani said: “This is a step that hasn’t been taken lightly, and is a first for this Parliament, but which the committee felt was needed as it continues its vital work.”
The Crown Office has been given till 5pm on January 29 to respond to the notice.
The cross-party committee is investigating the Scottish Government’s investigation into allegations of misconduct made against the former First Minister.
Salmond had the exercise set aside in January 2019, with a judicial review declaring it “unlawful” and “tainted by bias”. The Government’s botched handling ultimately cost the taxpayer half a million pounds.
At a later criminal case the ex-SNP leader was found not guilty on 12 charges of sexual assault charges.
Fabiani has also once again urged the Scottish Government to waive legal privilege and release legal advice regarding the judicial review.
In a letter to Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Fabiani said: “It is also imperative that this advice is published and that the Scottish Government waives legal professional privilege to enable the Committee to scrutinise the First Minister on the judicial review”.
Meanwhile, there was more discussion over when Salmond could appear in front of MSPs to give his evidence.
Fabiani has now told the ex-SNP leader that if he is not available on February 2 or any alternative dates that week - then the “committee regrets that it will not be able to take oral evidence from you”.
In these circumstances, she said Salmond would be “free to submit further written evidence”.
She described Salmond as being an “important contributor” to their inquiry and that the committee “would very much like to find a date within its increasingly short timescales when you are available”.
He had offered to appear on February 8, but Fabiani said this session - the last MSPs can take evidence - was being saved for Nicola Sturgeon “as this inquiry is about holding the Scottish Government to account”.
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