The Professional Standards Unit of Lothian and Borders police has told The Firm that it "does not accept" the force failed to engage with a media inquiry that has remained outstanding for six months, and has not yet been answered.

On 31 January The Firm asked Lothian and Borders police to formally deny they were the source of the leaked Gail Sheridan interview tapes, broadcast following the conviction of Tommy Sheridan on perjury charges, after earlier statements did not fully address the position.

Earlier this month, Lothian and Borders police Chief David Strang also declined to address the query, which had remained outstanding for six months, despite repeated follow up requests.

Complaints about the extent of the delay had also been lodged formally by email, and copied to the Holyrood Parliament's Justice Committee as well as counsel for Mrs Sheridan, Paul McBride QC and the Sheridan's family solicitor, Aamer Anwar.

The Firm has now received correspondence from Superintendent Craig Naylor of the Professional Standards Unit, which once again did not address the query, and claims that the previous statements from January provided "Lothian and Borders police view on this."

"As you had recieved acknowledgement of your email, I do not accept this was a failure to engage," he said.

"You asked why your inquiry had not been responded to, and I reiterate, as above, that your email was acknowledged."

No explanation is given as to why the query itself was not addressed.