John Swinney receives report into Angela Constance misconduct claims

It is understood the First Minister received the report overnight.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “I can confirm that the First Minister received a report from the independent advisers and will look to make the outcome of that as quickly as possible.”

Over the Christmas recess the independent advisers on the ministerial code announced they had launched an investigation into the conduct of Justice Secretary Angela Constance.

Opposition parties claim she misled parliament when she said Professor Alexis Jay, an expert in child exploitation, did not want a grooming gangs inquiry in Scotland.

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It was quietly clarified that Professor Jay was referring to England and Wales when she made this statement, and did in fact support further evidence gathering in Scotland.

Ms Constance survived a vote of no confidence just before Christmas.

If she has been found to have broken the ministerial code, it is expected she would have to resign or be sacked as a frontbench minister.

Ms Constance was at a meeting of the Scottish cabinet on Tuesday morning, where she updated ministers on the ongoing winter weather.

However, she is not answering a topical question on the winter weather in Holyrood this afternoon, despite being in charge of resilience and leading the government’s response to emergencies - instead Mr Swinney will answer this question.

Tuesday’s parliamentary diary has been updated and now includes a ministerial statement from Ms Constance.

Asked by journalists on Monday whether he would sack Ms Constance if she is found to have breached the ministerial code, Mr Swinney said: "I'll wait until I hear from the independent advisers and give them the respect that their independent scrutiny deserves, which I always would do."