JACK McConnell's office last night dismissed as 'complete and utter b****cks' claims that he was involved in awarding an ?80k contract to a firm run by his friend Kirsty Wark. It emerged yesterday the TV presenter's company, Wark Clements, were given an ?80,000 Executive contract in 2003 for an education department website.

The month before, McConnell and his family had spent a holiday with the Warks at their villa on Majorca.

The two families have been friends for the past 16 years.

McConnell's spokesman said: 'The First Minister is not involved in any way with the awarding of Executive contracts.

'Any suggestions of a conflict of interests is complete and utter b **** cks. He never discusses business with either Kirsty Wark or her husband Alan Clements.'

McConnell has been under fire for spending this New Year with the Warks at their villa on Majorca.

And last night, the Tories claimed the contracts row showed there had to be an inquiry into the relationship between the Warks and the McConnells.

Tory leader David McLetchie said: 'This is more evidence of the close business links between Wark Clements and Jack McConnell's Executive and all the more reason for a full and open disclosure of the gifts of hospitality.'

Wark Clements were one of two firms who tendered for the contract to make a reading website for the education department in January 2003. Not long after they won the contact, Wark Clements sold the division who make websites and they received only £35,000 of the £80,000 contract.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said McConnell should have declared his most recent holiday with Wark on the MSPs' Register of Interests.

But McConnell said there was no need to declare the New Year holiday as the accommodation did not amount to more than the £250 limit set in Parliament rules.

McConnell's spokesman said: 'If the First Minister had exclusive use of any property, he would have registered it.'