Court unable to release all evidence to Alex Salmond inquiry without legal order

Alex Salmond was awarded £500,000 after his successful Court of Session case (Jane Barlow/PA)

Scotland’s highest civil court cannot provide all evidence sought by MSPs investigating the Scottish Government’s botched handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond without a court order.

Pam McFarlane, the director and principal clerk of the Court of Session, confirmed the position in a letter to the convener of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints.