Holyrood requests 'coke' evidence

The Scottish Parliament, where cocaine was allegedly found

A newspaper is being asked to make available evidence of drug-taking inside the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Daily Mail reported having found traces of cocaine in a men's toilet near the debating chamber.

The alleged discovery was part of a survey by the paper of cocaine use throughout Scotland.

A spokesman for the parliament said any information provided by the Mail would be passed to the police and advice was being sought on security precautions.

"Drug-taking in any form is clearly a serious matter," he said.

"If information is provided to us which shows this has occurred on parliament premises, that would be clearly unacceptable."

The newspaper reported that the drug was found in a toilet used by ministers, MSPs and key staff as well as in nine out of 10 bars and clubs tested.

MSPs' reaction

The Scottish National Party's justice spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "These findings will rightly shock parliamentarians and the public alike.

"They highlight the spread of drug use throughout Scotland and warn against any complacency."

The Conservatives' deputy leader, Annabel Goldie, said: "This is deeply worrying as it seems to show the recreational use of cocaine, which is a hard drug, is far more widespread than we suspected.

"It shows there is no sector of Scottish society unaffected by drug use."