Mr McNulty said ministers had considered a relocation appraisal report by Registers of Scotland, which envisaged a partial, phased move.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Edinburgh and East | Registers agency move put on hold

The report also found only 52% of staff had received an appraisal in the past 12 months, but the service said this had now risen to 70%.

BBC: Hygiene alert at ambulance station run by Wiltshire trust