27 June 2003
The inquiry into the vastly over-budget Holyrood Parliament project in Edinburgh will identify the lessons to be learned for the future procurement or construction of major public buildings, First Minister Jack McConnell has pledged.
Announcing details of the inquiry, McConnell also warned that anyone who refused to give evidence to the inquiry would be 'named and shamed'.
The inquiry, due to begin 'as soon as practicable', will be conducted by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, a former lord advocate for Scotland and Conservative MP, and Robert Black, the auditor general for Scotland.
It will review the policy decisions taken before and since the project was transferred from the former Scottish Office to the Scottish Parliament corporate body on June 1, 1999.
McConnell said it would build on the auditor general's existing findings on procurement, cost control and contractual and project management arrangements. 'The investigation will produce a full account of the key decisions,' he said.
On June 24, McConnell discussed the administrative arrangements
for the inquiry with Fraser. A spokeswoman for the first minister said he had promised Fraser his full support and told him he should 'leave no stone unturned to get at the facts'.
The building project has become the subject of intense controversy over cost rises. Its latest estimate of £375m compares with an original figure of £40m.
PFjun2003
