Alex Salmond inquiry to gain access to legal advice report after agreement with Scottish Government

A Scottish Government report that includes some of the legal advice pertaining to Alex Salmond’s judicial review action will be provided to the inquiry leading an investigation into the scandal.

Legal advice linked to the Alex Salmond Inquiry is to be seen by members of the harassment complaints committee.

Members of the committee on the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints will receive a report from the former director general for organisational development and operations at its meeting on December 22 in hard copy.

It comes after months of accusations the Scottish Government was withholding critical information from the inquiry.

While not the full legal advice connected to the judicial review, it is a step towards the release of all of the information the Scottish Parliament has called on the Scottish Government to release twice in unprecedented Holyrood votes.

The inquiry is examining how the botched handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond led to the concession of the judicial review, costing the taxpayer more than £500,000.

Mr Salmond was also acquitted of sexual offence charges in a trial earlier this year.

In a motion agreed by the committee members, the inquiry says it “needs” to see legal advice from counsel and of minutes from meetings relating to the judicial review, and for the detail to be published “in the interests of transparency”.

The committee has also agreed that members will be able to take notes after viewing the newly released report and that questions can be asked of witnesses about details in the report.

Committee convener Linda Fabiani said it was “vital” for the inquiry to see the full legal advice provided to the Scottish Government.

She said: “The committee has been consistently clear on its position on legal advice. The committee believes that to fulfil the vital task that Parliament has set it, it needs to see legal advice including from counsel. It continues to push to see this advice in full and believes that it has to be published.

“In the meantime, the committee has agreed to accept the terms of an offer negotiated with the Scottish Government to read a report which includes some of the legal advice. A redacted copy of this report will publish after the committee sees the full report on December 22.”

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