Adequacy of the Scotland Act 1998

In a statement to the House of Commons, a minister has raised serious concerns about the handling of an investigation into allegations against former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. The minister claims that the Scottish Government's investigation was unlawful and tainted by bias, and that the subsequent inquiry by the Scottish Parliament was thwarted by "delay, prevarication and obfuscation" from the Scottish National Party (SNP) government. The minister alleges that senior figures in the Scottish Government and the SNP colluded to ensure that Salmond was reported to the police, despite the Court of Session finding the government's actions to be unlawful and procedurally unfair. The minister claims that the Crown Office, which oversees prosecutions in Scotland, has been "enthusiastic in its pursuit" of those who have published evidence in the case, including jailing a journalist. The minister argues that the dual role of the Lord Advocate as both the public prosecutor and the Scottish Government's legal adviser is "fundamentally wrong" and has led to a lack of accountability. The minister also criticizes the Scottish Government's handling of the independent inquiry led by James Hamilton, claiming that the report was heavily redacted and that special advisers were involved in the redactions. The minister calls for legislative action to strengthen the investigative powers and legal protections of the Scottish Parliament, and to separate the powers of the Scottish Law Officers from their roles in administering criminal justice and providing advice to the government. The minister emphasizes that this is not just about Alex Salmond, but about ensuring that such events never happen again and upholding the rule of law in Scotland.