John Swinney has defended Neil Gray after it emerged that the Health Secretary took an official limo to and from a movie premiere.
The First Minister said it was appropriate for his colleague to be at the screening of Saoirse Ronan’s The Outrun, as the film deals with alcohol and drug abuse.
Deputy Tory leader Rachael Hamilton said it appeared Mr Gray was simply “on a jolly” especially as the government was already represented at the opening night of the Edinburgh International Film Festival by Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.
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Official records show Mr Gray was taken in the car from his office at St Andrew's House to a “personal address” and from there to the cinema.
He met representatives of Screen Scotland at a “reception” and discussed “culture.”
The Scottish Tories told the Daily Mail Mr Gray appeared to have been acting more like a film fan.
Earlier this month, Mr Gray apologised to parliament over his use of ministerial cars to attend four Aberdeen games.
The Dons fan was driven by a chauffeur to watch three games at Hampden, as well as a home match.
He apologised to parliament for having 'given the impression of acting more as a fan and less as a minister'.
He registered the events as official government visits.
Mr Swinney was asked by journalists why Mr Gray attended the premier, the First Minister replied: “We've set out the details of this in the material that we've published about the journey which was on government business and that's the best detail I can give to you.”
Pushed further, he replied: “He was attending a film which is addressing the issues of drug addiction and alcohol addiction and mental health and well being, and therefore relevant to his portfolio interest as the Cabinet Secretary for Health.”
The Outrun, based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot, tells the story of Rona, a young woman who returns to her childhood home in Orkney as she recovers from alcohol addiction.
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Ms Hamilton told the Daily Mail: “Neil Gray needs to come clean on why he thought it was appropriate for him to attend this event.
“Given Angus Robertson, as Culture Secretary, was already at the premiere, the Health Secretary appears to have simply been on a jolly.
“His continued defence of using the ministerial limo to enjoy his favourite hobbies beggars belief. Neil Gray has taken the taxpayer for a ride far too often.
“He must be upfront about these trips - including whether a family member was driven to and from the film premiere - otherwise the scandal engulfing him rightly won't go away.”
According to official records, Mr Robertson met the film's star, Saoirse Ronan, as well as the Film Festival's director Paul Ridd and its chair Andrew Macdonald.
Unlike Mr Gray, he was driven directly from St Andrew's House to the cinema, not via any personal address.
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