Alex Salmond submission to be published 'early next week'

The Holyrood committee investigating the handling of complaints against Alex Salmond has confirmed the former first minister's submission will be published early next week. 

It comes after the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) agreed it was possible for Salmond's submission on the ministerial code to be published. 

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh wrote to the convener of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints confirming it had "collectively agreed" on the matter after two meetings today. 

The evidence which will be published will be Salmond's revised submission, which was sent to the committee yesterday. 

A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: "The committee notes the decision of the SPCB. Mr Salmond’s submission will now be processed in line with the committee’s statement on the handling of information, ahead of publication early next week.

"The committee will be writing to Mr Salmond to invite him to give evidence to the committee on Wednesday 24 February."

The inquiry last night referred the decision to the Corporate Body after again voting narrowly against publishing further written submissions from Salmond.

Macintosh said in his letter to Linda Fabiani today: "As you might imagine, the corporate body takes these legal obligations very seriously and has given careful consideration to your request.

"Following two meetings of the SPCB today, at which a range of opinions were aired, the SPCB collectively agreed that on balance it is possible to publish the submission by Alex Salmond on the ministerial code. 

"The corporate body has considered the key elements of the matter you placed before it, but is mindful that this decision in principle to publish must now be followed by the processing of the submission in line with the committee’s evidence handling statement."

The committee was set up to examine what went wrong with a Scottish Government investigation into harassment complaints which was later ruled "unlawful" at the Court of Session and cost the taxpayer over £500,000 in legal fees.