Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of a lack of transparency over the Government’s support of a charity which Labour dubbed a “publicity vehicle” for an SNP politician.
Perthshire MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh faced questions earlier this month on why the Scottish Asian Women’s Association charity she founded in 2012 spent just 3% of its income on donations during her time as chairman.
The Scottish Government handed over £16,000 for SAWA’s launch party, which was held two days after the organisation’s application for charitable status.
Senior Labour MSP Jackie Baillie wrote to the First Minister asking why the cash was spent on the event and whether she supports an independent probe into the charity.
She also called for Ms Sturgeon to release all correspondence and documentation surrounding the decision to support the launch.
Unsatisfied with her response, Ms Baillie said: “Nicola Sturgeon has ruled out providing any sense of transparency here not even committing to releasing documents and refusing to say whether or not there is an audit of whether government support has been used appropriately.”
She added: “As it stands just now the only tangible thing the Scottish Asian Women’s Association appears to have promoted is the public image of Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh during her time as an SNP candidate.”
The Scottish Government said it has not provided any grants or funds to SAWA since its launch.
Ms Sturgeon wrote in her letter: “Information held by the Scottish Government in relation to the launch of SAWA, which I understand you attended, and the Scottish Government’s support has been made available under FOI (Freedom of Information) legislation and was widely reported in the media in 2013.”
She added it would be inappropriate for her to comment on the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator’s role, saying “it is for them to interpret charity law and how to apply it to situations they encounter.”
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, who has represented Ochil and South Perthshire since last May, said her fundraising efforts helped put the charity on a strong footing before she stood down to focus on her role as MP.
A party source said the association’s focus is on hosting awards and providing network opportunities rather than just handing out donations.