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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| CBI chief criticises Trump probe | CBI chief criticises Trump probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The director of CBI Scotland has questioned the conduct of the Holyrood inquiry into Donald Trump's plans for a golf resort in Aberdeenshire. | The director of CBI Scotland has questioned the conduct of the Holyrood inquiry into Donald Trump's plans for a golf resort in Aberdeenshire. |
| Iain McMillan told BBC Scotland that the inquiry risked sending a message to the world that the country had a "troublesome" attitude to business. | Iain McMillan told BBC Scotland that the inquiry risked sending a message to the world that the country had a "troublesome" attitude to business. |
| His comments came as it emerged the Trump Organisation is now willing to appear before the committee of MSPs. | His comments came as it emerged the Trump Organisation is now willing to appear before the committee of MSPs. |
| The third hearing into the affair is due to be held on Wednesday. | The third hearing into the affair is due to be held on Wednesday. |
| Mr McMillan said an investigation would be justified if there was evidence or informed suspicion of wrongdoing, but that so far neither had been turned up. | Mr McMillan said an investigation would be justified if there was evidence or informed suspicion of wrongdoing, but that so far neither had been turned up. |
| Strong message | Strong message |
| He asked why the inquiry by the local government and communities committee went ahead despite Scotland's top civil servant, Sir John Elvidge, judging that nothing improper had taken place. | He asked why the inquiry by the local government and communities committee went ahead despite Scotland's top civil servant, Sir John Elvidge, judging that nothing improper had taken place. |
| And he warned that if the inquiry continued simply as a "fishing expedition", it would send a strong message to the world that Scotland was not open for business. | And he warned that if the inquiry continued simply as a "fishing expedition", it would send a strong message to the world that Scotland was not open for business. |
| "Act on evidence, act on reasonable suspicion - but where there is none, close the investigation down and let this development application run its course," he said. | |
| "That's what's best for Scotland - let's do what's best for Scotland, and for heaven's sake stop being our own worst enemy." | |
| Donald Trump's team has now agreed to attend the hearing | Donald Trump's team has now agreed to attend the hearing |
| The committee's inquiry is taking place after the Scottish Government called in the planning application to build a £1bn golf resort, featuring two courses, a hotel and housing, on the Menie Estate in the north east of Scotland. | The committee's inquiry is taking place after the Scottish Government called in the planning application to build a £1bn golf resort, featuring two courses, a hotel and housing, on the Menie Estate in the north east of Scotland. |
| Planning consent had been refused at a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee in November. | Planning consent had been refused at a meeting of Aberdeenshire Council's infrastructure services committee in November. |
| MSPs on the committee have already questioned both First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney twice on the government's involvement in the affair. | MSPs on the committee have already questioned both First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney twice on the government's involvement in the affair. |
| They have also taken evidence from the government's chief planner, Jim Mackinnon, and Alan Campbell, the chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council. | They have also taken evidence from the government's chief planner, Jim Mackinnon, and Alan Campbell, the chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council. |
| Change of heart | Change of heart |
| Representatives of the Trump Organisation had previously turned down an invitation to appear before MSPs, claiming they had nothing to add to their investigation. | Representatives of the Trump Organisation had previously turned down an invitation to appear before MSPs, claiming they had nothing to add to their investigation. |
| But Duncan McNeil MSP, the convener of the local government and communities committee, said the Trump team had now had a change of heart. | But Duncan McNeil MSP, the convener of the local government and communities committee, said the Trump team had now had a change of heart. |
| Mr McNeil said George Sorial, Mr Trump's right-hand man, had been in touch with the committee to say: "While we do not think it is necessary to appear before the local government and communities committee, we would be honoured to do so." | Mr McNeil said George Sorial, Mr Trump's right-hand man, had been in touch with the committee to say: "While we do not think it is necessary to appear before the local government and communities committee, we would be honoured to do so." |
| Mr McNeil said he hoped they would now appear before MSPs "sooner rather than later". | Mr McNeil said he hoped they would now appear before MSPs "sooner rather than later". |
| He added: "I am pleased they have relented and agreed to come along to the committee." | He added: "I am pleased they have relented and agreed to come along to the committee." |