A Scottish Conservative MSP has today written to the First Minister warning her that she will be guilty of breaking the ministerial code unless she can produce minutes of a key meeting.
Craig Hoy, a member of the Public Audit Committee (PAC), has contacted Nicola Sturgeon in the wake of her appearance before the committee last Friday on the ferries scandal.
The First Minister met the then-owner of Ferguson Marine, Jim McColl, on 31 May 2017 and the issues discussed ought to have been recorded by officials under the regulations.
Nicola Sturgeon told the committee she was unable to say if minutes had been taken, but Craig Hoy insists that there is no excuse for them not to have been recorded – and that they should be made available to the PAC.
He has also challenged her evidence that the requirement for a civil servant to be present at the meeting was satisfied by her special advisor being in attendance.
The South of Scotland MSP writes that under the Code of Conduct for Special Advisors, they “are considered political appointments and not part of the regular civil service”.
Scottish Conservative MSP Craig Hoy said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s meeting with Jim McColl in May 2017 is key to getting to the bottom of the ferries fiasco which has left Scotland’s island communities feeling so betrayed by her government.
“It would be a clear breach of the Ministerial Code for minutes of such an important meeting not to have been recorded, so I can’t imagine those present would have allowed that to happen.
“So, it’s incumbent on the First Minister and her staff to locate the minutes, so that we know the reason for the meeting, what was discussed and who was present at it. That’s why I’ve written to her.
“I’m also seeking clarity from Ms Sturgeon about why she believes her special advisor’s attendance fulfilled the requirement for a permanent secretary or official to be present at the meeting.
“It’s clear to me that special advisors are political appointees and, therefore, don’t constitute independent civil servants.
“Ms Sturgeon has claimed throughout the ferries fiasco that she has nothing to hide and is eager to be as transparent as possible. Now is her chance to prove that.”