Government investigation launched into Covid briefing leak
The Scottish Government is set to investigate the leaking of details of Nicola Sturgeon's Covid update, which presiding Officer Alison Johnstone called "extremely disappointing"
An investigation has been launched in Holyrood after details of the First Minister's Covid-19 statement were leaked.
Hours before speaking in the chamber, the details of what the First Minister was to announce were reported.
It's not the first time such an incident has occurred.
The FM went on to announce the removal of a 500 person cap on outdoor event attendance.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone spoke before Nicola Sturgeon's speech, clearly frustrated by the leak.
She described it as "extremely disappointing and disrespectful to this parliament".
Responding to the Presiding Officer, Nicola Sturgeon said an investigation would be launched into the leak.
"Aside from disrespect to parliament, which is a very serious matter, let me also assure you there is no benefit or advantage to the Scottish Government in the contents of these statements being known in advance of me delivering them to parliament," she said.
"I have asked my officials to look into this matter and I can advise the chamber that the Scottish Government's chief information security officer will be undertaking appropriate inquiries to establish if there has indeed been a leak of some of the contents of this statement in advance of me delivering it and, if so, what the circumstances and the source of that are."
Ms Johnstone has previously been firm when details of major announcements appear in the press, warning Health Secretary Humza Yousaf in September she may cancel future government statements and move straight to opposition questions after a newspaper reported the fire service would be called in to aid the ambulance service.
Ahead of the statement, the Presiding Officer said: "Before I call the First Minister, I am aware that details of today's Covid-19 update have been reported in the media prior to being announced to the parliament.
"I should not be reading in the media that they have seen a draft copy of the statement before it has been made to this parliament.
"This is extremely disappointing and is disrespectful to this parliament and its elected members.
"I have spoken to the minister for parliamentary business about this and he has informed me that the government will be undertaking an inquiry into the leak.
"Now I will allow this statement to be delivered today because I cannot be assured that all elected members have seen the full draft and also that it's important that the public hear the full detail."