Scotland’s Culture Secretary has been urged to “come clean” over what he knew about the alleged misuse of public funds by a senior member of Scotland’s scandal-hit heritage body.
Emails released under freedom of information requests show that in September, Scottish Government officials raised concerns about a press release from Historic Environment Scotland which sought to play down claims the employee used an exclusive dining room at Edinburgh Castle for a private dinner during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
HES at the time insisted the meal, set in a private room estimated to cost around £12,000 to hire, had been paid for by the individual.
But the emails show a Government official raised concerns about the claims and said the room “wasn’t paid for” and that the staff member “potentially used their position to utilise the facilities that no-one else could have done”.
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The official also warned the heritage body about comments issued to the press which “state that nothing improper has happened” and added: “HES do not appear to know all of the facts 24 hours after those lines were deployed, so those lines were potentially misleading.”
In emails exchanged between Scottish Government officials and HES officials over the course of the following fortnight, it emerged the director involved in the initial claims was also involved in the issuing of press lines, along with one other communications official.
An HES official noted this was “not appropriate, given there appears to be a pattern of behaviour, we are trying to ensure that is not continuing”.
Scottish Labour said despite Scottish Government officials having this correspondence at the time, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson did not clarify this issue when he appeared at the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee two months later, in November.
Neil Bibby, Labour’s culture spokesman at Holyrood, said: “It is extraordinary that Angus Robertson did not see fit to disclose to MSPs that behind the scenes, his own officials expressed concerns about potentially misleading information regarding an HES director using their position to enjoy an exclusive dining room at Edinburgh Castle.
“This is despite the claims having been raised with Mr Robertson, and the minister having been urged to investigate.
“However, Mr Robertson appears to have decided to keep MSPs in the dark.
“This was at a time when Historic Environment Scotland was facing serious questions about misconduct by staff, and just weeks after the resignation of its chairman.
“We have previously been told that Mr Robertson did not meet with the board of HES for more than four years, and this further adds to concerns that he does not have any grip on the organisation.
“This is a body that receives millions of pounds of public money each year, and so it is absolutely imperative that we have full transparency around the governance and conduct of those at senior levels.
“It is simply not good enough for Mr Robertson to use taxpayers’ money to fund his trips around the world, whilst seemingly turning a blind eye to the serious issues that exist at HES.
“He must come clean about these emails and tell Parliament why he did not act.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The email exchange demonstrates Scottish Government giving advice in its sponsorship function to a public body on a matter which is under investigation.
“Following his appointment by the Culture Secretary, Sir Mark Jones’s priorities as chair are to ensure HES has the trust of the public and its partners.
“The Culture Secretary and the Scottish Government will continue to support him in this endeavour to resolve the leadership and governance issues that have been raised.”
A spokeswoman for HES said the organisation “strongly rejects the suggestion that we deliberately issued misleading information”.
She said: “HES considers the media statement issued on September 11 to be factually accurate based on the information known at the time and is supported by an email exchange between the director of marketing and engagement and the catering contractor.
“The information available was used by the media team to draft the response to the questions being asked – this was done independently of the director of marketing and engagement.
“In line with HES media protocols, the final media lines were reviewed and approved for release by the duty director.
“An investigation has subsequently been launched which Scottish Government are aware and supportive of.
“While we are committed to transparency, it would be inappropriate to comment on individual personnel matters or on any active investigative process.”
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