Torcuil Crichton MP has lodged Freedom of Information requests with the Scottish Government quango, NatureScot, to establish how its board has been recommended to reject a licence for the annual guga expedition from Ness.

Mr Crichton said his understanding is that the recommendation being considered by the board today (Monday 3 August)  had been "reverse-engineered" and that earlier drafts of advice from officials would have cleared the way for a licence to be granted on the same terms as last year for a limited cull.

The MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar said: "My information is that the guidance which came from very senior levels was that the board should be offered grounds to reject the application.

"It is quite clear that the situation has not changed since last year but somehow the science and the recommendation have. It is essential in the interests of public confidence, for full transparency in respect of the process which led to the recommendation, at each stage of its formulation.

“That’s why I have lodged Freedom of Information requests which cover both NatureScot's internal communications and also those between NatureScot and the Scottish Government"

Mr Crichton said the information is unlikely to be released until the end of August but with the board meeting imminent a decision on this year’s guga harvest should be postponed and that the Scottish Government should oversee a review of the process.

Mr Crichton added: “NatureScot is answerable to Gillian Martin, the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural affairs. She should call in the evidence and publish all the relevant documents so we can see how this recommendation was made.”