NICOLA Sturgeon has been told not to delete any of her personal emails, texts or mobile phone data by MSPs investigating the botched sexual misconduct probe into Alex Salmond.

The First Minister has also been told the SNP, which is administered by her husband, must not destroy any records relevant to a special Holyrood committee of inquiry.

The cross-party group of MSPs set out the instructions - which imply they will demand to see the emails and texts in future - in a newly published letter to Ms Sturgeon.

Separately, the group also demanded a " categorical assurance" from Ms Sturgeon's top official that every possible step was being made to preserve evidence.

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The Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment was set up to examine the collapse in January of the Government’s misconduct probe into Mr Salmond.

The former First Minister, who was accused of misconduct by two female civil servants relating to his time in office in 2013, successfully challenged the process in court.

He forced ministers to disclose previously secret files which showed the lead investigating official had been in prior contact with his two accusers.

That rendered the process unfair, unlawful and “tainted by apparent bias”, and left taxpayers with a £500,000 legal bill after Mr Salmond won a judicial review at the Court of Session.

The MSPs' committee is examining the “actions of the First Minister, Scottish Government officials and special advisers” in relation to the misconduct probe.

It is also looking at Ms Sturgeon’s secret meetings and calls with Mr Salmond during the government probe, which her critics say breached the ministerial code.

Ms Sturgeon has said it was a “party” matter, and so outwith the ministerial code.

However she also said her husband, Peter Murrell, the SNP’s chief executive, was not informed of the content of her discussions with Mr Salmond.

The committee is largely working in private to avoid prejudicing separate legal proceedings involving Mr Salmond, who appeared in court in January charged with two counts of

attempted rape, nine of sexual assault, two of indecent assault and one breach of the peace.

He strongly denies any criminality.

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In its new letter to Ms Sturgeon, the committee said its work “has an obvious bearing on information that you may hold”.

It goes on: “The Committee acknowledges that it is difficult at this stage to separate what may relate to Government matters and what may relate to party matters.

“In which case, it is seeking ways to ensure that all of the information you hold which may be relevant to the Committee’s inquiry is being preserved until such time as the Committee commences its inquiry.”

Noting Ms Sturgeon’s previous promise of full cooperation, it adds: “The Committee would therefore welcome confirmation from you that, in keeping with this commitment, you will ensure that all hard copy and electronic documents (including emails and electronic messages) which you hold, and which may be either directly or indirectly relevant to the inquiry are being preserved; this will include any personal communications such as email and mobile phone data.

“Documents to be preserved include electronic data which would otherwise be deleted in accordance with a document retention policy or in the ordinary course of business.

“In addition, the Committee would also welcome confirmation that you will ensure that details (i.e. names, position, and contact details) of any party members, party staff and other persons employed by you who may have had any involvement whatsoever, directly or indirectly, with, or in connection with, the complaints and actions which are the subject of the Committee’s inquiry are preserved.”

The committee also wrote separately to the Scottish Government’s top official, the permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, to seek “reassurance” on the government’s procedures.

It asks her to define her previous reference to “specific staff” being told not to destroy documents; asks to see the instructions issued to them; and asks whether any material has already vanished through “automatic deletion”.

It adds: “The Committee would further be interested to know whether these instructions also cover personal communication such as emails and mobile phone data.

“It is the Committee’s expectation that this information will be preserved and so it is seeking assurances that instructions to this effect have been issued.

“While all of this may require additional work, I am sure you will appreciate that the Committee’s intention is to ensure that all the necessary information will be available to it when it commences its inquiry.”

“It is therefore important for the Committee to seek categorical assurance that every possible step is being taken to ensure that all the information that could be relevant to its inquiry is being preserved.”

The committee gave Ms Evans until May 1 to respond, as it plans to meet again on May 9.

Ms Sturgeon's official spokesman said: "The First Minister wil comply with the request from the committee."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said Ms Evans had received the committee's letter and would cooperate fully with the inquiry.