Top civil servant: We’ll miss Salmond deadline
SCOTLAND’S top civil servant has admitted it is ‘unlikely’ that she will meet a deadline for producing documents relating to the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints made against Alex Salmond.
Leslie Evans told MSPs she may be unable to provide the key evidence ‘before end-August’ – potentially weeks after she is due to questioned on the matter at the Scottish parliament.
The Permanent Secretary will be the first witness to appear before Holyrood’s committee on the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints.
She was ordered to ensure all documentation was submitted by August 4.
However, in a letter to convener Linda Fabiani, Mrs Evans said she would not make this deadline because of the ongoing pandemic – despite being set to appear before MSPs on August 18.
It is understood that this has angered committee members. Mrs Evans could be asked to return to be questioned a second time because of the failure to provide all relevant documentation on time.
In 2018, the Scottish Government investigated two allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Salmond.
He launched a judicial review over its handling of the process – with a court
‘Complex and time-consuming’
ruling the Government probe had been unlawful and tainted by bias.
This led to the former SNP leader being awarded £512,250.
In March, Mr Salmond was found not guilty of 13 sexual assault charges following a criminal trial.
A Holyrood committee has been set up to investigate the Government’s handling of the initial two complaints.
In June, Miss Fabiani set out ‘serious concerns’ regarding the Government’s timetable for producing evidence.
In letters published yesterday, Mrs Evans said: ‘In addition to the increased demands on staff and the remote working impacts of Covid-19, the key issue affecting the timescale for completion of this work is ensuring that we meet our data protection obligations and comply with the legal restrictions which apply to the documentation.
‘These processes... are complex and time-consuming and are unlikely to be complete before end-August.’