Destruction of Sturgeon’s memos condemned

First minister’s handwritten orders not retained
The content of Nicola Sturgeon’s notes is put into emails, but the originals are not kept
The content of Nicola Sturgeon’s notes is put into emails, but the originals are not kept
KEN JACK/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES

Nicola Sturgeon’s handwritten notes dictating government policy are destroyed by government officials in a potentially unlawful attempt to avoid scrutiny, opponents say.

Unlike Whitehall departments including No 10, the Ministry of Defence and the Scotland Office, the first minister’s private office does not retain the official records.

Ms Sturgeon also avoids using the government email system and this combination has led to claims that she operates under unprecedented levels of secrecy and is striving to keep her involvement in decision-making away from the public gaze.

The Conservatives will report the first minister to Scotland’s keeper of the records today for a potential breach of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.

The government insists it complies with official rules on keeping records.

Ms Sturgeon has