INVESTIGATION: David Steel�s niece will organise Homecoming event in Scottish parliamentBy Paul Hutcheon
A FIRM owned by former presiding officer David Steel's niece has been awarded at least £40,000 of public money to organise a Homecoming event in the Scottish parliament.
The Scottish Diaspora Forum, which has Sir David Steel on its advisory committee, will be held at Holyrood later this month.
But the company being paid to stage the forum is run by Steel's niece Kirsty MacGregor - who then used the politician's wife as a consultant and hired another of his nieces to handle the event's public relations.
MacGregor has denied using the connection with her uncle to profit from the arliament.
The forum, which will meet in the parliament's debating chamber, will focus on engaging with the millions of "diaspora Scots" across the globe.
The event will feature speeches from diaspora experts such as Professor Tom Devine, as well as contributions from politicians and business people.
However, the prominent role of former presiding officer David Steel's family has raised questions about cronyism by Holyrood politicians and the project's value for money.
Steel, as well as sitting on the forum's key committee, has a moderator slot on one of the event's panels.
It can be revealed that the funding for the conference has gone directly to his niece's firm, MacGregor Events & Consulting Ltd.
The Scottish government stumped up £30,000 and jobs quango Scottish Enterprise made available funding of up to £7500.
A spokeswoman for EventScotland, a public body key to promoting the Homecoming, said it approved a £5000 funding bid.
Sir David's wife Judy is listed as the event's "artistic consultant", while Fiona Duff, who is also Steel's niece, is dealing with the event's PR.
The forum's website includes quotations from French philosopher Voltaire and novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as an approving quote from Sir David on its homepage. Steel's comment paid tribute to famous Scots abroad, adding: "The forum is a chance to recapture that history and magic."
MacGregor and her uncle are also under pressure to provide a breakdown of how the £42,500 is to be spent. MacGregor told the Sunday Herald that she was not in a position to give a breakdown at present.
Holyrood is providing its debating chamber free of charge, while most of the 16 participants are based in Scotland.
According to MacGregor Events & Consulting's latest accounts, the firm has £8171 of "net assets", while its loan section states that the company is due MacGregor £8463.
The firm's website also mentions that MacGregor produced a climate change conference in the Cairngorm National Park, co-hosted by "Lord David Steel".
The former LibDem MSP later endorsed the event, which he said had "exceeded all my expectations".
MacGregor Events has as its mission statement: "At a time of unprecedented challenge to the delicate balance of nature and the relationship between human beings and the earth, we at MacEC look for ways in which we can effectively give of sic our resources."
Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald: "I am utterly astonished at these arrangements. The Homecoming was sold as an occasion for all Scottish families, not just one. It is not unreasonable that the exact breakdown of costs should be published."
MacGregor told the Sunday Herald that the funding had gone on staff costs, PR services, a website and fees to the parliament, as well as costs for speakers at the event.
She also said her uncle would be paid, as would her sister, but not her aunt, Judy.
She said: "I have been impressed with the quality of what we are producing. That should be the marker. It's a shame if a really good initiative gets attacked."
Put to her that several members of David Steel's family were benefiting financially from the event, she said: "Have you heard about family businesses? Have your heard about Grants? Have you heard about Menzies?"
Asked how much public money she was receiving to handle PR for the event, Duff declined to comment.
Steel could not be contacted.
