I thoroughly believe that we need an independent examinations authority that is not corrupted and is not influenced by the government - but on the other hand, what we have got just now is simply not working

Henry McLeish, Lifelong Learning Minister

And the education committee, which is also taking evidence, has heard that some Standard Grade students are still waiting for their results.

Education Minister Sam Galbraith earlier told the lifelong learning committee that the sacking of the SQA board was "an option".

Mr Galbraith was asked by new committee convener Alex Neil about the make-up of the SQA's board.

The minister said this was "a live issue" and when asked if the board could be removed, he said it was "always an option to sack the board between now and December".

Mr Galbraith said such a decision would be taken by Mr McLeish, who has overall responsibility for the SQA - but added that he would be consulted.

Mr McLeish agreed that both ministers and the committee had to look at the board - but said they had to go "much, much further" to ensure there was no repeat of this year's problems.

"I thoroughly believe that we need an independent examinations authority that is not corrupted and is not influenced by the government.

"But on the other hand, what we have got just now is simply not working," he said.

Single system

The SQA was formed three years ago to marry Scotland's existing academic and vocational awards into a single system.

Mr McLeish pointed out that, unlike in England, one body was responsible for both exam accreditation and awarding of certificates.

He said one idea was the introduction of a new commissioner - a prospect first disclosed by BBC Scotland.

"We could make an examinations czar that would be around to ensure that, at that point, the quality control and assurance systems covering management systems and data systems would be properly focussed," he said.

Markers worked overtime

Meanwhile, a compromise deal has been reached over SNP demands for access to internal government documents as part of the inquiry.

SNP members on the enterprise and lifelong learning committee wanted Mr Galbraith to hand over documents containing advice from civil servants to ministers on how the crisis should have been handled, arguing that they were in the public interest.

Mr Galbraith told the committee: "Every Freedom of Information Act and system allows for ministers to receive advice in confidence from officials.

"I think before we consider removing that, we have to consider the undermining that that would do to the whole system of government."

However, the documents were already available to consultants conducting an independent inquiry into the crisis for the Scottish Executive.

Thorough examination

Now a compromise deal has been struck which will allow the chairmen of the education and the enterprise and lifelong learning committees to see the documents.

Two further investigations are planned - an internal SQA inquiry and the independent inquiry ordered by Mr Galbraith.

Referring to the internal inquiry, Mr McLeish said: "There are big sticks being wielded in that organisation and Bill Morton is doing a thorough, thorough, thorough examination of what needs to be done."

The education committee later heard that some Standard Grade pupils still do not have their proper results.

Ministers warned

Alex Easton, rector of Falkirk High School, also told MSPs that the exam timetable had already started to slip for next year.

Teaching unions told the committee that, although they did not foresee the computer problems, they had warned ministers they were pushing through the introduction of the new Higher exams without enough resources.

The committee also heard from former SQA chief executive Ron Tuck and former director of awards David Elliott.

Both said that they believed the results would come out correctly and on time until the very last minute.