Alex Salmond: Holyrood inquiry will take evidence under oath

A Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government's handling of complaints against former First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed it will be taking evidence under oath.

Alex Salmond will be among the witnesses at the inquiry

A special committee presiding over the probe has today published a document updating its approach, with evidence sessions to get underway in August.

It may recall witnesses to give evidence more than once, with the "culture" in the Scottish Government to be a central theme of the inquiry.

"As with any parliamentary committee, the Committee has the ability to place witnesses under oath," today’s document states.

"The Committee has agreed that it will administer an oath/solemn affirmation for witnesses as a matter of course but that it will review this position in the case of any vulnerable witnesses."

The committee has been established to examine the handling of harassment claims against the First Minister after the Court of Session found this process was unlawful and had been "tainted by bias."

The committee's work has been delayed until the conclusion of a separate criminal case against Mr Salmond which saw him entirely cleared of a string of sexual assault charges.

Mr Salmond himself and his successor Nicola Sturgeon will be among the witnesses, along with Scotland's top civil servant, the Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans.

"The Committee also intends to ask all relevant witnesses about Scottish Government culture as an ongoing theme of its scrutiny,” the approach document states.

And it adds: "The Committee may decide to hear from the same witnesses more than once to ensure each phase of the inquiry covers all of the relevant information."

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