Stephen House is the chief of Scotland’s new national police force

based at Elphinstone House in Glasgow, which is linked to the police network. Questions are also being asked internally about why the SPA needs another building, given that it is trying to rationalise properties across the police estate.

According to the lease, the deal can be terminated after two years, which suggests the taxpayer would foot a £105,700 bill even if the SPA do not move in.

The confusion will raise further questions about whether t he Scottish Government prepared adequately for the introduction of the single force.

Cancelling the Stirling move could also trigger a backlash among MSPs who fear the new force will have a west of Scotland bias.

Pearson said: “When more than 1000 staff are facing redundancy across the service, it is an obscene waste of public money by this SNP government to carelessly lease a building that only months later could be deemed surplus at a loss of over £105,000.

“We have repeatedly asked the SNP government for evidence of its detailed business plans. It is about time Mr MacAskill [Justice Secretary] came clean.”

An SPA spokesperson said: “We are considering what our ultimate headquarter needs will be. Bremner House is clearly an option, but we will require to complete our discussions with the Police Service of Scotland over the allocation of business activities before a full case can be considered.”

A Scottish G o v e r n me n t spokesperson said: “To ensure best value for the public purse and reduce the long- term liability for the property, the Scottish Government negotiated a five-year lease for the SPA’s interim headquarters with several options to break the lease before the point negotiated into the contract.”