Demand for probe into MP’s charity
NATIONALIST MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh is facing calls for an investigation into the women’s charity she founded.
The Scottish Asian Women’s Association gifted only £700 during Miss Ahmed-Sheikh’s time as chairman – despite registering a total income of more than £25,000.
Last night, Labour and the Tories called for the Scottish Charity Regulator to launch an investigation into the charity’s spending.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Serious questions need answered about why a charity which receives £16,000 in public money puts barely a fraction back to good causes.’
OPPOSITION parties have called for an investigation by Scotland’s charity watchdog into an organisation founded by Nationalist MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.
Labour and the Tories last night said the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) should probe the Scottish Asian Women’s Association (SAWA).
The charity was launched amid much fanfare with £16,000 of taxpayers’ cash, but it emerged this week that only £700 went to good causes under Mrs Ahmed-Sheikh’s stewardship – despite registering a total income of £25,047.
Only after she left, having been elected MP for Ochil and South Perthshire in May last year, did donations increase, with £11,000 given to good causes in December.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie yesterday wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and said: ‘This is the latest SNP MP to run into controversy.
‘Do you believe that there should be an investigation by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator?
‘Will you release all internal correspondence and documentation from within your Government about the support provided to this organisation? What auditing process is taking place on this matter to ensure public resources were used appropriately?’
The Scottish Government threw the SAWA a lavish party at Stirling Castle’s Great Hall. Nicola Sturgeon and then-First Minister Alex Salmond both attended the event in April 2012, 48 hours after Mrs Ahmed-Sheikh applied to register it as a charity.
SAWA’s website states it was set up to be ‘a tremendous resource in facilitating our interaction with each other, the Governments within the UK and all those who need to know who we are’.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘We would urge OSCR to investigate SAWA. Serious questions need answered about why a charity which receives £16,000 in public money puts barely a fraction back to good causes.’
An OSCR spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Asian Women’s Association have submitted their accounts to us and these are currently being validated.
‘Where we identify, or receive concerns about any charity, we consider the evidence in line with our published inquiry policy. We will not confirm whether an individual charity is the subject of an ongoing inquiry.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government supported the launch of the Scottish Asian Women’s Association in 2012 but has not provided any financial support since.
‘The charitable organisation was set up to support the development of Asian women in Scotland and since its launch has donated more than £11,000 to good causes. We will respond to Mrs Baillie’s letter in due course.’
MP’s charity paid out only £700 to good causes when she was in charge Daily Mail, January 14