Deputy FM John Swinney has submitted evidence to the Holyrood committee probing the investigation of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond. Read John Swinney's submission in full below.
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Nicola Sturgeon's texts, meetings and conversations with Alex Salmond
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Thank you for your letter of 7 July inviting me to provide written evidence to the Committee Inquiry.
The Committee is considering three elements of this question in its work:
• The development of the procedure on handling complaints involving current or former Ministers;
• Decisions on the handling of the individual complaints; and
• The approach to the judicial review. You indicate in your letter that the Scottish Government is making submissions to each element of this inquiry process. I am therefore drafting this letter with the benefit of being cited on the contents of those submissions which will record, in full, the extent of my involvement in my Ministerial capacity in each of the three elements of the Inquiry process. This letter will set out all of the additional, personal material that I have to share with the Committee.
The Committee asks when I first became aware of the sexual harassment complaints against the former First Minister, Alex Salmond, what action was taken in response and by whom and whether this response was appropriate, satisfactory or effective. I first became aware of these complaints in a telephone conversation on 23 August 2018 with the current First Minister, who advised me that a media enquiry on the subject had been received by the Scottish Government and she wished me to be aware of the existence of the complaints. I had no other involvement in handling these complaints.
The Committee wishes to know my personal view of the culture within the Scottish Government. I have been a member of the Cabinet since 2007 and have interacted with many Ministers, civil servants and stakeholders throughout that period. I would describe the culture as formal and respectful between Ministers and Civil Servants. That description should not disguise the fact that there are tensions in those relationships given the sensitivity, difficulty and inevitable conflicts that have to be addressed in the conduct of Government business. It is crucial however, that in all of those discussions, appropriate standards of behaviour, consistent with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code, are observed. It has been my experience that these standards of behaviour have been sustained throughout this period.
The Committee asks if I have any evidence to add in relation to the First Minister’s self-referral under the Scottish Ministerial Code. I have no evidence to submit to the Committee on this question other than to point out that the First Minister has delegated responsibility to me to agree the remit and handling arrangements for consideration of this matter by the Independent Panel.
I hope this is of assistance to the Committee.
Yours sincerely
John Swinney 3 August 2020
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