SNP culture secretary Angus Robertson has “serious question to answer” amid claims he may have misled parliament over the scandal engulfing Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Mr Robertson repeatedly insisted last week that he had never been invited to attend a board meeting of the quango which has been mired in allegations of malpractice by senior officials and operating a toxic workplace culture.
However, a weekend newspaper report contained details of a leaked email highlighting repeated requests from former HES chairman Dr Hugh Hall to Scottish Government officials for the cabinet secretary to attend a full board meeting of the troubled organisation.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr, who has today submitted a topical question on the issue, says Mr Robertson must explain his actions to MSPs.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: “Angus Robertson has some serious questions to answer because it appears that he may have misled parliament.
“At committee last week, the culture secretary was adamant to both myself and my colleague Jamie Halcro Johnston that he had never been invited to attend a HES board meeting. But a leaked email over the weekend suggests that this was not the case and that repeated requests were made to meet with him.
“Angus Robertson must come before MSPs to explain himself. That’s why I have today submitted a topical question to the presiding officer.
“We already knew that the SNP’s culture secretary has been asleep at the wheel while the meltdown at the top of HES unfolded. It’s clear that he ought to have intervened sooner.
“But if he actively ignored invitations to attend board meetings, that is a whole new level of ministerial neglect. It would be an inexcusable dereliction of duty.
“HES receives around £70million of taxpayer money every year. Angus Robertson is ultimately responsible for ensuring it’s spent wisely, yet on his watch the organisation is a basket case, with one allegation after another emerging in the press.”
Notes to editors
Angus Robertson told the culture committee last week that he was never invited to attend a board meeting of HES link.
A leaked email from the former chairman of HES, Dr Hugh Hall, reveals he made repeated attempts to meet with Angus Robertson, including a request for the culture secretary to attend a full board meeting of the quango link.
Topical Question submitted today by Stephen Kerr reads: To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture will correct the record following reports that he told a parliamentary committee he had not been invited to attend a board meeting of Historic Environment Scotland, despite evidence to the contrary.