Tory MSP demands answers from Swinney over ‘watered down’ report

EDUCATION Secretary John Swinney has been drawn into the row over claims Audit Scotland watered down a report into the college sector amid accusations“undue pressure” was applied by the SNP Government.

Tory MSP Elizabeth Smith wrote to Mr Swinney after it emerged the watchdog had deleted a reference to a 41 per cent drop in college student headcount since 2007/08.

In response to the draft, senior civil servant Paul Johnston questioned the watchdog’s decision to compare statistics as far back as 2008.

In her letter to Mr Swinney, Ms Smith said: “It is my understanding that civil servants and Scottish Government ministers are in a position to ask Audit Scotland to make corrections to a report if it is clear that

Education Secretary John Swinney.

there are factual inaccuracies or errors. However, in the recent review of colleges, documents now reveal that undue pressure was brought to bear by a civil servant to alter the wording and tone of the report.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Audit Scotland is responsible for

the content of its reports. That means Audit Scotland only puts material in its reports that it deems appropriate.

“The report was shared to allow the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council to provide comments or clarification on points of accuracy, in line with their usual processes.” A NEW £1 million factory is being proposed for Scalpay, Harris, to replace a former facility destroyed in a blaze earlier this year.

The steel-framed structure, which was being used as a net-washing facility for salmon farms, was badly damaged in April when the fire was discovered after all the 14 staff had gone home for the weekend.

It took five fire appliances to get the blaze under control and the burnt-out shell was eventually razed to the ground.

Net Services Scotland, which took over the factory nine years ago, was able to continue operating at the pier, but staff had to undertake their duties constantly exposed to the elements.

Now the company wants to construct a new purposebuilt facility on the same