Government launches appeal over disclosure in Sturgeon investigation.

The Scottish Government has appealed an Information Commissioner's ruling that it wrongly withheld evidence from the investigation into Nicola Sturgeon, saying release would risk contempt of court; the government has lodged an appeal at the Court of Session.

The Scottish Government has lodged an appeal at the Court of Session after the Information Commissioner found it had wrongly withheld information linked to an investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the ministerial code. The dispute concerns a freedom of information request for written evidence used in the independent inquiry. The government says releasing the material would risk breaching contempt of court orders and that the commissioner "erred in relation to the law." The appeal challenges the commissioner's decision to require disclosure. Key facts: - The Information Commissioner ruled last November that the Scottish Government had wrongly withheld some evidence from a freedom of information request tied to the investigation into Nicola Sturgeon. - The Scottish Government says releasing the material would risk contempt of court and has filed an appeal at the Court of Session to challenge the decision. - The investigation referenced was carried out by independent adviser James Hamilton KC, who cleared the then first minister in March 2021. - Some material was released in January 2024, but the commissioner found the government had failed to identify and disclose other information within the scope of the request. Summary: The appeal places the dispute over disclosure before the Court of Session. The Scottish Government argues the commissioner was wrong on the law and that publication could risk contempt of court; the Information Commissioner had ordered further disclosure. The timing and outcome of the appeal are undetermined at this time.