Alex Salmond to face MSPs over Homecoming

First Minister Alex Salmond has been asked to appear before a Holyrood committee investigating the way public money was spent on a major part of the Homecoming celebrations.

MSPs on the public audit committee are probing the legacy of The Gathering, a showpiece Highland clans event held in Edinburgh last year. The firm behind the venture ran into financial trouble and required a 180,000 loan from the Scottish Government.

It later collapsed with debts of around 516,000 and the loan was written off. Public spending watchdog Audit Scotland has already found the loan was "not unreasonable" but that lessons should be learned.

The committee made the unusual request in private last week.

Committee convener Hugh Henry said: "I see no reason for him not to co-operate in what is a very important investigation."

The First Minister's office said he will reply "in due course".