John Swinney has denied any "political interference" in the Scottish covid inquiry after several members of its legal team resigned last week.
The Deputy First Minister was called to the Holyrood chamber today to answer urgent questions after the panel's chairwoman, judge Lady Poole, decided to quit.
But he could not offer a date on when the inquiry would begin hearing evidence from bereaved families.
It was revealed yesterday that four further members of the inquiry have also walked away - despite it only being established in February.
The panel is supposed to be examining the Scottish Government response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The equivalent inquiry looking at the UK Government response held its first public session on Wednesday - but there is no date for when a similar hearing will take place in Scotland.
Swinney told MSPs he had to follow rules which allowed public inquiries to operate independently of government.
He said: "For the record - there has been absolutely no political interference in the inquiry".
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader, said: "It is the government's responsibility to ensure the inquiry system works and that it is adequately resourced.
"Can he tell me when the inquiry will start, when will it hear from the families in person, when will the inquiry report, and what is the revised costs now?"
Swinney responded: "Jackie Baillie invites me via those questions to break the law. Because she invites me to interfere in the running of the inquiry.
"I simply will not do it."
Swinney added that he had already spoken with some of the groups representing families who lost loved ones to covid and would meet others next week.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Lib Dem leader, said: "The bottom line is that bereaved families need answers.
"The inquiry has yet to hold a session, it has yet to set out the parameters of its investigation and now, there is a raft of resignations.
"The Deputy First Minister has already eroded the trust of parliament by withholding information about resignations.
"It undermines the reasons given for Lady Poole's departure and without clarity, we can't be sure that the conditions experienced by the next set of post holders won't lead to further resignations."
"No wonder we are hearing reports of families feeling let down."
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