Clans probe for Salmond

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, the 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 held an investigation, finding it was "not unreasonable" for ministers to lend the company cash but lessons should be learned.