NICOLA Sturgeon has ruled Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop acted appropriately in the row over the government's decision to award the T in the Park music festival £150,000.
The First Minister has ruled Ms Hyslop did not breach the ministerial code by giving the event public funding after attending a meeting brokered by Jennifer Dempsie, a former adviser to Alex Salmond.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who asked Ms Sturgeon to investigate the deal, said it remained unclear why a profitable company was given £150,000 by taxpayers.
Ms Dempsie secured a meeting on May 28 between Ms Hyslop and Geoff Ellis, the chief executive of DF Concerts.
At the time she arranged the meeting, Ms Dempsie, the partner of SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, was employed by the promoters.
After Mr Ellis raised unexpected costs caused by T in the Park relocating from Fife to Perthshire this summer, Ms Hyslop signed off an “ad hoc state aid” package in July
In response to Mr Rennie's request for an investigation, Ms Sturgeon said: “I have looked into this matter carefully and taken advice from the Permanent Secretary. It is clear to me that the Cabinet Secretary for Culture acted entirely appropriately in her handling of this issue.
“The decision to award funding to support the T in the Park event was based solely on the merits of the case following an objective assessment by Scottish Government officials.
“The facts and rationale for the Government’s decision to award funding were laid out in comprehensive detail in a written [parliamentary] answer from Fiona Hyslop on 14 August.
“I am satisfied that neither the Cabinet Secretary’s decision nor the objective assessment undertaken by officials was in any way influenced by factors external to the merits of the case."
She added that on the basis of the evidence there was no breach.
Mr Rennie responded: “Many will be disappointed with the First Minister’s response. It remains unclear why a profitable company was granted £150,000 of state aid.
“With ministers and former advisors at the heart of this matter, we need far greater transparency from the SNP Government.”
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