Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of trying to cover up the latest agricultural payment delays as one-in-five farmers across the north-east face a shortfall.
The first minister was asked last week whether the Scottish Government had made a request for an extension to the EU deadline for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments but said she did not know.
After it emerged she and her cabinet had been informed such an extension would be sought days earlier, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson put pressure on her to explain why she had pleaded ignorance.
Speaking at FMQs, Ms Davidson said: “We now know her Government had contacted the European Commission and we also know the First Minister was aware of that.
“Why did she try to hide it when she came before the Parliament last Thursday?”
Ms Sturgeon responded: “What I said in the chamber last Thursday was that we continue to discuss contingencies with the European Commission.
“That is what a request for an extension is: a contingency that we are seeking to put in place.
“I do not want anyone, particularly those who are working to deliver the system, to think that we are in any way relying on getting an extension, so that we take our foot off the pedal in any way in delivering the payments.”
Speaking afterwards, Ms Davidson said voters would want to know if parliament had been misled.
She said: “People watching will have rightly wondered if this was a case of misleading parliament.
“Farmers have been badly let down by the SNP, and it’s no wonder they’ve turned their back on the nationalists.
“But parliament needs an explanation too, because the ministerial code is clear about ministers providing accurate and truthful information.
“The SNP fell far below those standards in recent weeks.”
