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Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks what is the difference between a request and a direction.

Mr Flanagan says it was not request from the justice secretary but he thought it better to avoid confrontation.

Committee convener Jenny Marra says Mr Matheson used the word request in the chamber yesterday.

Dd you feel you have any other course of action available to you other than what had been suggested by Mr Matheson, Daniel Johnson asks.

Andrew Flanagan says the best course of action was to pause because he felt the issues could be resolved relatively quickly.

I don't think it's clear what the basis of the chief constable's current leave is, says Mr Flanagan.

He says it is for the justice secretary to decide whether there needed to be a political direction.

"If the cabinet secretary wishes to make that direction, he should make it."

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson asks what the justice secretary said the consequences were of the "bad decision" to return Phil Gormley to his duties, at the first meeting.

Mr Flanagan says: "He indicated that he thought it was a risk to the stability to the senior team."

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He says he indicated he did not agree wit the justice secretary.

Mr Johnson asks if the second meeting with Michael Matheson, with three officials, felt offical.

Mr Flanagan says: "It felt rather one sided, if I can put it that way."

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Committee convener Jenny Marra asks if Dr Marchant and Mr Hume share concerns expressed by a previous board member about a lack of transparency.

Mr Hume says yes, he shared those concerns.

Ms Marra asks if those concerns were made to Mr Flanagan privately and Mr Hume says there were several minutes taken of him sayin g that.

Current SPA chair David Hume says there was no proposal tabled to reinstate the chief constable.

SNP MSP Alex Neil says queries who first proposed the reinstatement of the chief constable.

Mr Hume says there was a discussion around the feedback from Pirc, public interest and the National Police Chiefs Council.

He says that as a board member, he came to the conclusion the conditions for suspension had not been met and the reasons for special leave were no longer issues.

SPA deputy chair Dr Nicola Marchant says the board listens to input from the committee.

Mr Neil says the SPA executive "utterley failed in their duty" and says they can't be proud of their record.

Dr Marchant says: "We continue to strive to improve."

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Current SPA board member David Hume agrees with the comments his fellow board member made.

Mr Hume says: "There are obvious improvements"

He adds: "I don't accept in whole what you're saying."

"We took this matter extremely seriously."

Turning to Nicola Marchant and David Hume, Alex Neil suggests the SPA board is a "pantomime".

"You haven't brought your notes, you haven't brought you minutes, you don't seem to be well prepared at all", he says.

He suggests it is time for them and other board members to "fall on their sword."

SNP MSP Alex Neil suggests Mr Flanagan should have told DCC Livingstone that he needed to speak to the cabinet secretary first, not that deliberations were ongoing.

Andrew Flanagan says he had not spoke to the chief constable at this point to confirm his return.

He accepts his conversation with DCC Livingstone must have taken place on the Wednesday, not the Thursday as previously stated.

Alex Neil presses on the sequence of events regarding which discussions took place when.

"I bet you don't remember," he says.

Mr Neil says the acting chief constable is saying in words of one syllable you lied to him..

Mr Flanagn says: "No, I don't think I did."

Mr Neil he certainly implied that the former chair of the SPA did.

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

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This morning's (23 January) session of the justice committee at Holyrood was a fairly cautious affair. The tone was set from the outset, quite justifiably, by the convener, Margaret Mitchell.

She reminded members of the committee - and their witnesses - that the topic concerned existing investigations into the chief constable of Police Scotland and other senior serving officers.

As such, nothing should be said which would impede those inquiries.

Not that the witnesses needed reminding. Both Iain Livingstone and Susan Deacon have core roles to play in the future of Police Scotland.

And so both were cautious. However, alongside that, they contrived to be frank. There was no attempt at soothing platitudes, no "move along please, nothing to see here."

• Look back on the justice committee on Holyrood Live
• New SPA chair backs minister over Gormley
• Read more here

SNP MSP Alex Neil asks what stage the chief constable was informed of the board's decision, and when was Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone told.

Andrew Flanagan says Gormley was told on Wednesday, while DCC Livingstine was told on the Thursday.

Mr Neil raises evidence received by Livingstone earlier this week, where he revealed he was told on Wednesday that deliberations were ongoing.

Andrew Flanagan says the first step was to advise the cabinet secretary, after which he should advice the constable designate.

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Mr Neil asks if the chief constable was informed that his future would be discussed at the 7 November meeting.

Not the details, says Mr Flanagan, but he would have been aware his return would be discussed.

Mr Neil says the acting chief consatable was not aware of this, Pirc was not aware of this and the cabinet secretary was not aware of this and you'rer not sure board members were aware about the 7 November meeting.

Mr Flanagan says he believes the board members knew that the chief constable's position would be discussed.

SNP MSP Alex Neil asks if board members were told the proposal to reinstate the chief constable was on the agenda.

Dr Marchant says she is not sure.

She says she does not have records to show whether the members were or were not aware.

"You are the deputy chair", Mr Neil says.

He adds says: "Are you seriously expecting me to believe you don't know that?"