A pro- SNP academic tasked by the Scottish Government to lead an “independent review” into the school grades scandal was hired in a £22,000 deal which failed to comply with contract rules.
Professor Mark Priestley was given the job of investigating the way the SQA awarded qualifications when exams were cancelled during lockdown.
The contract was between the Scottish Government and Stirling University.
Emails released under Freedom of Information show government officials botched the procurement process which brought Priestley in.
One way of awarding work is through “non-competitive action” (NCA), which permits a contract without competition to be awarded.
But an email stated: “Please be aware that as Procurement Policy have not approved the NCA, it has not been approved and what we are dealing with is rectifying a situation where a contract has been awarded without the correct procurement route being followed or the correct authorisation being given and trying to minimise the reputation risk of the SG.”
Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “The fact these warnings were made by independent civil servants should have caused SNP ministers to think again.
“But instead, they arrogantly ploughed on regardless and completely undermined any residual faith of school pupils, parents and teachers.”
Education Secretary John Swinney was forced into a U-turn after he announced 120,000
downgraded school results would be reversed.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The FOI release acknowledges a Non-Competitive Action was an appropriate approach to awarding a contract of this value and supportive material for this decision was set out.
“The review has been welcomed by stakeholders and the Scottish Government is working to deliver against the recommendations made in the report.”
