Exclusive:SNP minister Angus Robertson denies misleading Parliament over Historic Environment Scotland scandal
The Tories previously said Angus Robertson, the senior SNP minister, had ‘serious questions to answer’
Senior SNP minister Angus Robertson has denied claims he misled the Scottish Parliament over the scandal engulfing Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The Culture Secretary repeatedly insisted last week that he had not been invited to attend a board meeting of the heritage quango, which has been mired in allegations of malpractice by senior officials and a toxic workplace culture.
However, a leaked email published in The Herald over the weekend showed former HES chair Dr Hugh Hall wrote to the most senior civil servant in Mr Robertson's department in August to invite the Culture Secretary to a full board meeting.
In an email to Kenneth Hogg, director for culture and external affairs at the Scottish Government, Dr Hall said he had previously “reiterated my request for a meeting with the Cabinet secretary”.
He wrote: “In the circumstances, it would seem apt for the Cabinet secretary to meet with the full board. I was asked to put our request to officials and it would be passed on. I would be grateful if you could take this as a formal request.
"I remain puzzled that I have not had a meeting with the Cabinet secretary since he took on responsibility for HES early last year."
Dr Hall resigned as HES chair on September 5 and was replaced by Sir Mark Jones later that month.
Earlier this week, Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr said: “Angus Robertson has some serious questions to answer because it appears that he may have misled Parliament.”
He said Mr Robertson “must come before MSPs to explain himself”. An urgent question is due to be taken in Holyrood later on Tuesday.
Asked if he had misled Parliament, Mr Robertson told The Scotsman: "No."
He added: "There are new board members as well as a new board chairman, and I've said I will be happy to come along and speak to the board as they make the necessary changes.
"The invitation that was extended from the outgoing chair, which was communicated to civil servants, was around the time that he was demitting from office, and that is the reason why it was not communicated to me about the invitation to go to a board meeting at that stage."
Mr Robertson added: "The Scottish Government was fully engaged with Historic Environment Scotland and has been throughout this process."
The Culture Secretary said he was “very sorry that the leadership of Historic Environment Scotland is in the state that it has been”, adding: “But I'm pleased that with a new and very capable chairman, and with new members of the board, and with an incoming chief operating officer, that Historic Environment Scotland will be in the place that it should be."
HES manages more than 300 properties of national importance across Scotland, but has been hit by a series of damaging allegations in recent weeks.
These include an internal racism row and claims a senior leader was sanctioned after “twerking” in front of actor Martin Compston.
Last month, Sir Mark Jones told MSPs “a series of investigations into grievances of various kinds” are taking place at the organisation.
Mr Robertson previously said government officials had attended all nine HES board meetings that have taken place since May 22.
“I have been advised by my senior officials about what has been proceeding in these meetings, and that has helped us to be able to make the right decisions,” he said.
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