Child Abuse Inquiry on Friday, the Deputy First Minister said there was clear division between ministers on the decision to hold a public investigation.
He said an inquiry was authorised "after the change of First Minister had taken place". James Peoples QC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said that on Thursday Mike Russell told him "influential figures, including Alex Salmond, Kenny MacAskill and the then lord advocate Frank Mulholland were not persuaded" of the need for an inquiry.
Swinney agreed, saying: "In 2014, there was a difference of views in Cabinet in the summer of 2014 if there should be an inquiry."Peoples said: "Mike Russell described it as 'quite robust'.
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