SNP deny 'misusing' civil service

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The Scottish Government has dismissed concern that First Minister Alex Salmond misused civil service resources for party political ends.

The denial came after Mr Salmond used government-compiled figures to claim an independent Scotland would prosper during his SNP conference speech.

Labour raised a "possible breach" of the ministerial code of conduct.

A government spokesman said Scotland's most senior civil servant was satisfied no misuse had taken place.

In his keynote speech to the SNP annual conference in Aviemore on Sunday, Mr Salmond told delegates: "I am releasing figures compiled by the Scottish Government which demonstrate that with control of our own resources, with independence, Scotland would move from 10th to third in the European league of prosperity.

In this case there is a very real worry that the SNP may have misused civil service resources Jackie BaillieLabour business manager

"Only Luxembourg and Ireland would be above Scotland in wealth per head. In the world, we would be sixth."

Detailed figures issued later showed Scotland's ranking and the full European league table, but Labour said the figures had not been publicly available.

The party's business manager Jackie Baillie said: "There are very clear rules which stop civil servants being used for party political purposes.

"In this case, there is a very real worry that the SNP may have misused civil service resources."

The Scottish Conservatives also raised concern that ministerial announcements were made at the conference - the SNP's first since winning the May election - instead of at the Scottish Parliament.

'Oversight' call

A section of the code dealing with civil servants and party conferences states: "If a minister wishes to have a brief for a party political occasion to explain Executive policies or actions, there is no reason why this should not be provided.

"It cannot however contain material which could be construed as designed to promote one party's line or to anticipate criticisms from other parties."

A Scottish government spokesman said Scotland's top civil servant, permanent secretary Sir John Elvidge, was "completely satisfied that the information was not provided specifically for use at the SNP party conference".

"Therefore, there was no misuse of civil service resources for purely party political purposes," said the spokesman.

"The figures are as quoted, and a full analysis will be published in due course."

Liberal Democrat chief whip Robert Brown said he would submit a parliamentary motion calling for Holyrood to have oversight of the operation of the Scottish administration, local government and associated quangos.