THE Holyrood committee probing the botched investigation into harassment allegations made against Alex Salmond has hit out at the Scottish Government the former First Minister, accusing them of “prevarication and obfuscation”, 

Linda Fabiani, the SNP MSP who chairs the inquiry said the evidence being shared with her and colleagues lacked "detail and indeed usefulness".

“This is both deeply problematic and deeply disrespectful,” she said.

It’s the second time in just over a week that Fabiani has publicly criticised the two sides. 

In a letter to John Swinney, Fabiani called the Scottish Government’s delay in handing over documents, “unacceptable”.

She warned that the absence of documentation will leave the committee with no choice but to move to oral evidence to look at the complaints handling process in the absence of relevant documentation.

“This is likely to mean that Scottish Government officials will need to spend more time in Committee covering matters in person that should have been covered by the Scottish Government’s written statement and associated documentation. The Committee has evidence from the inquiry phases on the development of the procedure and the judicial review and other sources of information it can draw upon to inform these sessions.”

READ MORE: Deadline for John Swinney to hand over Alex Salmond legal advice to MSPs

Earlier this week it was revealed that Nicola Sturgeon’s principal private secretary John Somers had met with one of the women who eventually lodged a complaint against Alex Salmond, just days before the First Minister backed a new harassment policy that would apply to former ministers.

The revelation fuelled suspicions among Salmond’s supporters that the complaints policy was designed to get him.

News of the meeting came in a letter from Swinney to the inquiry.

Fabiani was furious that details had only emerged now. 

She told Swinney: “The Committee notes that your letter dated 6 November provides details of the involvement of the PPS to the First Minister. The Committee wants to know why this is the first time this information has been given to the Committee, including why it did not feature in the Scottish Government’s chronology of events relating to the development of the Scottish Government’s harassment policy.” 

“The interaction between other officials and the complainants was referenced so the Committee fails to understand why this interaction was never mentioned.”

In a letter to Salmond, she said MSPs are still waiting for his written submission. She says that part of the committee’s remit is to “identify what meaningful changes can be made to the Scottish Government’s procedures and practices”.

That means that the MSPs “must report to Parliament in good time to ensure the report of its findings can be agreed, published, considered, and the recommendations responded to by the Scottish Government.”

Given that there’s a Holyrood election just months away, the there is only a little time to achieve this.

Fabiani told the former First Minister: “I write again to impress upon you the urgency of this matter.”

In a statement, Fabiani said the Committee would do its job despite the delays:“Week after week the Committee is in a position where it is clear to us that the evidence being shared with the Committee lacks detail and indeed usefulness. This is both deeply problematic and deeply disrespectful. 

“I have, on multiple occasions, made it clear exactly what evidence the Committee wants to see. There is no doubt that we have received a large amount of information. But we are receiving very few clear answers.

“I am in a position today where I am, yet again, writing letters to express my frustration at the delay, the prevarication and obfuscation. But this goes beyond frustration. This must end and we will complete our work and do the job given to us by the nation’s Parliament.”

A source close to Salmond told The National: "Alex has done his level best to help the Committee providing not just his successful petition for Judicial Review but also his own private legal advice which demonstrated why the Government’s behaviour was unlawful. Significantly the Government’s legal advice paid for by public money remains hidden from the Committee.

"Alex will not submit partial evidence, as he is required under oath to tell the whole truth. As was explained in a letter to the Committee Convener back on 29th September, the Crown have threatened potential prosecution if Alex reveals even to the Parliamentary Committee, evidence disclosed during the criminal case.

"To their credit the Committee have since attempted to clear this obstacle with the Crown Office and no doubt will be able to prevail directly upon the Lord Advocate next week. In addition given much of this evidence is government sourced and obtained by Crown search warrant the Committee may wish to ask why they don’t already have it.

"Once that road block is removed Alex will be able to submit a statement as planned.”