A committee looking into the handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond should receive unredacted documents from the Scottish Government, opposition MSPs have said.

On Thursday, the Scottish Government published evidence it was giving to the Holyrood committee, discussing the judicial review of its investigation of the former first minister.

However, it said some information could not be released as it concerned legal advice and was therefore legally privileged.

The evidence describes the process leading up to the £512,250 payout to Mr Salmond after his successful legal challenge.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, a member of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, said MSPs should see the unredacted information.

The Lib Dem MSP said: “This evasiveness on the part of the Scottish Government does not serve them, or the people of Scotland, well.

“This saga has already cost the taxpayer more than £500,000. It is a slap in the face to not allow the Parliamentary inquiry access to unredacted versions of these documents.

“The First Minister should acknowledge where the public interest lies and order unredacted versions of these documents to be handed over.”

Transparency is absolutely key to ensuring the wider public know exactly what went on

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “This committee is going to be vitally important in scrutinising exactly what went on in this case.

“Transparency is absolutely key to ensuring the wider public know exactly what went on.

“We would hope that will be fully considered by the Government in any requests for evidence going forward from the committee.”

In its evidence to the committee, the Scottish Government summarised its approach to the judicial review and the decision to settle with Mr Salmond were taken.

It said: “The Scottish Government asserts its privilege over all communications it holds about or in relation to legal advice to the Scottish Government and litigation involving the Scottish Government.

“That is not to say that the Scottish Government will not give a full account of its legal position at various points, just that, in accordance with usual practice, it will not disclose the internal processes of taking and receiving advice or the scope and nature of any requests for legal advice or any legal advice provided.”

The evidence said legal action was raised by the former first minister in late August 2018.

They agreed to settle the case in January 2019 after conceding that the internal investigation into the complaints was “procedurally unfair and tainted by apparent bias”.

Mr Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell – the SNP chief executive – are among those listed to appear as witnesses in the committee’s investigation.

We are providing all the relevant information requested by the committee, taking account of the confidentiality, data protection and other restrictions that apply

Responding to the comments from opposition parties, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “We remain committed to working with the committee.

“We welcome the opportunity the parliamentary inquiry will bring to address issues which have been raised – and we will not pre-empt that process.

“We are providing all the relevant information requested by the committee, taking account of the confidentiality, data protection and other restrictions that apply.”