Jack McConnell in a heated response to questions

Questioned by opposition leaders in parliament, Jack McConnell said the row was an "unwarranted intrusion into an entirely private family holiday".

But the Scottish National Party's Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon said the matter was of public interest.

She cited the fact that Ms Wark's production company had earned thousands of pounds in executive contracts.

The clash over Mr McConnell's New Year break to Spain with the BBC Newsnight presenter, her husband, Alan Clements, and their families came during the first Question Time of 2005.

The first minister said: "Kirsty Wark and Alan Clements are two of the most decent, hard-working, honest and caring people that I have ever known.

Holyrood tapes

"To question their integrity, or mine on this issue, is, I believe, fundamentally wrong - and I believe the people of Scotland know it."

Ms Sturgeon and Tory leader David McLetchie both raised the issue of a project involving Ms Wark's production company.

Wark Clements, the firm run by Ms Wark and Mr Clements, had won a contract from the BBC to produce a programme about the building of the new Scottish Parliament.

But the many hours of tape for the broadcast became the focus of controversy during the Fraser Inquiry.

There is absolutely no question that I received a gift or, in my view, hospitality from Alan Clements, Kirsty Wark and their family Jack McConnell

Lord Fraser wanted the not-yet-aired footage, including interviews from the late first minister Donald Dewar and Holyrood architect Enric Miralles, to be presented to the inquiry.

However, the BBC refused permission for the tapes to be handed over.

Mr McLetchie asked - following comments from Lord Fraser that he was now bound to question Mr McConnell's efforts to obtain the tapes - whether the integrity of the inquiry had been compromised.

Mr McConnell replied: "The integrity that is being questioned here is myintegrity and the integrity of Kirsty Wark and Alan Clements and our right to have a private family holiday with friends."

The first minister, who pointed out he and Mr McLetchie had played golf on Arran two years ago without adverse publicity, added: "There is an issue about the failure of the BBC to hand over the tapes.

Ms Wark and her family holidayed with Mr McConnell and his family

"I made it absolutely clear that they should hand over the tapes. When it came to a vote in this chamber, the Conservatives didn't even vote for the motion that demanded that to happen."

Mr McConnell said that there had been nothing wrong in two families, who had known each other 16 years, from going on holiday together.

He added: "It is wrong to bring it to this chamber, it is wrong to use it in the media, it is wrong to divert our attention away from more important issues - and it is certainly wrong in relation to the members of those families who deserve some sympathy when they are on holiday like everybody else."

But Ms Sturgeon accused Mr McConnell of missing the point, "I hope not deliberately".

She quoted the ministerial code, saying that if a minister acceptedhospitality from a source that "might reasonably be thought likely to influence his action", it should be declared.

'Not hospitality'

Ms Sturgeon added: "If hospitality from a source with a significant financial relationship with the Scottish Executive does not fall within the ministerial code, can the first minister tell us what on earth would?"

Mr McConnell told her: "There is absolutely no question that I received a gift or, in my view, hospitality from Alan Clements, Kirsty Wark and their family.

"I do not believe that two families sharing a house that is owned by one of those families - families that have been friends long before any were national public figures - I do not accept that is in any way wrong.

"I do not accept that it is a gift or hospitality."