THE SCOTTISH government has been criticised over talks with a controversial party donor on drugs policy.

Bus tycoon Brian Souter's charity was granted a private meeting with an SNP minister on the new administration's "pro-abstinence" strategy.

The same organisation, the Souter Charitable Trust (SCT), was linked to the £1 million campaign in 2000 against the promotion of homosexuality in schools.

The charity, whose aims are the "relief of poverty" and "advancement of religion", funds organisations which help people with drink and drug-related problems.

Deputy justice minister Fergus Ewing is taking the lead on formulating a new approach to combating drug use, and plans to publish his strategy in the spring.

The January meeting, which took place at Holyrood, has worried opposition politicians, who believe the SNP should not be giving preferential access to party donors. The Sunday Herald last year revealed how the SNP dumped their policy of re-regulating the bus network after Souter donated £500,000 to their election campaign.

A government spokesman said: "This was one of a number of recent private meetings arranged with the voluntary sector to discuss the new drugs strategy and in the hope of building consensus around our new approach. The discussion centred on the Souter Charitable Trust and drugs projects."

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "Brian Souter's donation has already tilted SNP transport policy in favour of bus operators and against the travelling public. Ministers should be very wary about letting him tinker with social policy too. If the history of drugs policy over the last 30 years shows one thing, it's that just say no' just doesn't work. I hope the SNP understand that even if Brian Souter doesn't."