Alex Salmond offered new date for Holyrood probe evidence
- Published
Alex Salmond wants to see his written submission published before he agees to appear before the committee
The Holyrood inquiry into the botched handling of complaints against Alex Salmond is to issue a new invitation for him to give evidence.
Earlier a lawyer for Mr Salmond said he had "cleared his diary" for next Wednesday for a potential appearance.
But Mr Salmond has previously insisted that the inquiry publish certain documents before he would attend.The committee again rejected this, but also voted to refer the issue to the body that administers the parliament.
It remains unclear whether the former first minister will attend in the few weeks remaining before Holyrood breaks up for the election, and thus when his successor Nicola Sturgeon will face MSPs.
The Holyrood inquiry is examining what went wrong with the Scottish government's investigation of two internal harassment complaints against Mr Salmond.
The government conceded its process had been "unlawful" and agreed to pay the former SNP leader more than £500,000 in legal expenses after he launched a judicial review action in the courts.
He was expected to appear before the inquiry on 9 February, but this was cancelled when the committee voted, along party lines, not to publish one of his written submissions.
A majority of MSPs argued there were legal reasons why the paper - which accuses Ms Sturgeon of misleading parliament and breaching the ministerial code - could not be published.
Mr Salmond, however, has insisted he could not live up to an oath to "tell the whole truth" without being able to refer to this document.
Ms Sturgeon has expressed frustration at her own witness session repeatedly being postponed
Since then a senior judge has clarified a court order - dating back to Mr Salmond's criminal trial in which he was acquitted of sexual assault charges - to ensure MSPs know what they can and cannot publish.
When the committee met again on Wednesday to consider the implications of Lady Dorrian's ruling, members again decided by five votes to four not to publish the submission.
The four SNP members were joined by one independent MSP to reject publication, with a spokeswoman for the group saying that "the scope of the [court] order has not changed".
However, members also voted to refer the matter to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for a final decision on publication.
The Holyrood management panel - which consists of, external one member from each party along with the presiding officer - is expected to discuss the matter on Thursday.
A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman said: "The committee is keenly aware that publication is for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and has tonight agreed to refer this to the SPCB for a decision on its publication.
"The committee is pleased to hear that Mr Salmond is willing to give evidence next Wednesday.
"He can, as a minimum, give evidence on all of his published submissions and records. As such, the committee plans to write to him tomorrow to invite him to attend next Wednesday."
Ms Sturgeon has said she is "relishing" the prospect of facing the committee to put her side across, but members want to call her last - meaning her session has repeatedly been put off while they try to strike an agreement with Mr Salmond.