New questions on snooper evidence

SNP ministers are facing a further grilling over accusations that they ‘nobbled’ witnesses due to give evidence on the state snooper plan.

John Swinney has been asked to detail meetings between officials and witnesses who were set to appear before Holyrood’s education committee to discuss the Named Person legislation.

Concerns have been raised that they were systematically targeted ahead of their appearance.

Senior civil servants set up the meetings to ‘provide clarification’, according to emails released under freedom of information laws.

Education Secretary Mr Swinney was asked to provide assurances in November on whether ‘the Scottish Government sought to directly influence evidence to the committee’. But the education and skills committee has written to him for a second time as some members are concerned his previous answers ‘did not fully address matters raised’.

It has set out 16 points for Mr Swinney to address, including dates that witnesses were approached by officials, ministers or special advisers.

The letter also asks if officials acted unilaterally regarding meetings with witnesses or if Mr Swinney or his advisers instructed them.

The letter, from committee convener James Dornan, a Nationalist MSP, said: ‘To give parliament its place, any assurances offered to witnesses by the Government on ways in which policies will be changed or supplemented should be raised with the relevant committee first.

‘This must be the case as this committee moves forward with scrutiny of the Bill, anything less than this could be considered a slight on this committee.’

Labour education spokesman Iain Gray praised the committee’s actions, saying it is ‘demanding answers on the suspicion that Scottish Government exerted pressure on their witnesses prior to evidence on Named Person Bill’.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘As is entirely right and proper, the Government engaged with stakeholders throughout the passage of the Information Sharing Bill and we will continue to do so in the development of supporting materials.

‘We will consider the committee’s letter and respond shortly.’