THE Scottish Government offered to pay for Alex Salmond's repatriation but a private plane was quicker, it has been confirmed by Alba.

The former first minister died from a heart attack in North Macedonia on October 12.

It has now been revealed that the Scottish Government offered to pay for the return of Alex Salmond to Scotland from North Macedonia, "which the family were grateful for".

READ MORE: Anger as private plane to bring Alex Salmond home and not RAF

However, when a private donor came forward to offer to repatriate Salmond, the family "was happy to accept" as it allowed Salmond to be returned home quicker.

The revelation comes after First Minister John Swinney said Sir Tom Hunter had approached the Government to offer to fund a private plane.

Salmond arrived back in Scotland on Friday.

Swinney told reports on Tuesday: "We were in dialogue with Alex Salmond family about the arrangements for the repatriation of his body. So Tom Hunter, as a matter of fact, came forward offering to pay for that flight, and I welcomed the intervention.

"At all times, what we have tried to do is to work and as appropriately with Alex Salmond family to support them at this incredibly difficult time, and that's what's been uppermost in my mind."

Alba acting leader Kenny MacAskill confirmed Swinney's comments, stating: “We can confirm that the Scottish Government did offer to pay for Alex Salmond’s repatriation to Scotland which the family were grateful for but his wife Moira was happy to accept Sir Tom Hunter’s kind offer as it allowed Alex to be returned home more quickly than would otherwise have been the case.”

Hunter said he was covering the cost because the former first minister and his family deserved the "dignity" of a private return home to Scotland.

In a statement released to the media by Hunter, it was also made clear that the flight was paid for personally by him, and not through his philanthropic foundation.

“Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth,” Hunter said.

“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Both Sky News and The National were initially told that the Scottish Government would be footing the bill to fly Salmond’s body back to Scotland.

However, the Scottish Government did not confirm or deny those sources’ comments, as news of Hunter's funding came to light.

Former Tory MP and friend to Salmond, David Davis, had led calls for the RAF to bring Salmond’s body back to the UK. Alba general secretary Chris McEleny said there had been a series of engagements with the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for Scotland and the Chancellor on the issue. 

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes met with representatives from the UK Government to also press the case.