Taxpayers handed £280,000 to the official body which represents Scotland's senior police officers last year.

The subsidy for wages, expenses and office costs is paid for by the Scottish government. It has now brought into question the independence of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS).

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said the subsidy raised questions about the organisation’s ability to speak freely about government policy.

Last week the Sunday Herald revealed how the official bodies that are supposed to scrutinise or carry out research into the single force have strong links to the police.

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, both of which probe the force, are dominated by former officers.

However, the spotlight is now on the staff associations that act as the negotiating bodies for high-ranking officers.

The ASPS represents the 150 or so superintendents and chief superintendents north of the border, while the Scottish Chief Police Officers Staff Association (SCPOSA) works in the interests of the top brass.

They are technically not trade unions, but perform a similar function in terms of representing their members.

ASPS, for instance, plays a key role in the official bodies that determine the pay and conditions for all ranks in the police service.

Craig Suttie is its general secretary and Niven Rennie is the organisation’s outspoken President.

In the last two years, ASPS scooped £560,000 from the public purse and SCPOSA received £20,000.

The £280,000 yearly “grant” assists the ASPS in paying the salary bill and “on going costs” of the President, General Secretary and office manager, and amounts to up to 60% of all its income.

By contrast, Unison, which represents thousands of police staff in the lower reaches of the salary scale, received nothing.

Critics wonder how ASPS can be critical of the Government if it is dependent on the taxpayer for paying its salaries.

Kenny MacAskill stepped down as Justice Secretary last year amid criticism of his performance and policies.

When MacAskill quit, Rennie tweeted that he would be a “hard act to follow” and described him as a “statesman”.

However, ASPS has criticised the Government over maintaining police officer numbers.

The Home Office also contributes towards the costs of the equivalent superintendents association south of the border.

Findlay said: “The SNP’s handling of Police Scotland, the closure of stations and huge cuts to backroom staff have caused staff morale to hit rock bottom. This is the time for staff associations to speak out about these disastrous changes.

“However, the fact that the Scottish Government, amongst other things, helps pays the salary of the President and General Secretary of the ASPS will surely raise questions about the freedom of these individuals and the organisation to speak openly and freely on these vitally important matters affecting policing in Scotland.”

Rennie said ASPS is an “independent” voice, adding: “If we didn’t have the government grant we couldn’t operate. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a lot of money.”

He added: “We couldn’t be overtly supportive of the Government, as our members would not support it. I don’t think we have had any great need to be critical of the Government.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The grant for ASPS is paid to assist the Association to meet the costs associated with the salaries and on-going costs of the President, General Secretary and Office Manager; appropriate travel and subsistence expenses to meet the needs of the Association; associated office costs and expenses; and appropriate miscellaneous expenses.

“The grant to SCPOSA is paid to assist the Association to meet the fees for the General Secretary; appropriate travel and subsistence expenses to meet the needs of the General Secretary; and appropriate miscellaneous expenses.”