Holyrood cost report due

Wednesday, 15 September 2004 12:00 AM

The results of the investigation into the rising cost of the Scottish Parliament building are set to be unveiled today.

Conservative peer Lord Fraser of Carmyllie is expected to heavily criticise the way Holyrood's construction has been delayed and completed well above budget.

Lord Fraser's inquiry into the commissioning and building of the Scottish parliament first began to take evidence in October 2003 and took closing submissions this May.

He heard from 60 witnesses in a 43 day-period during the inquiry, which was held in the Scottish Land Court in Edinburgh.

The Parliament is now estimated to cost £430 million, up from initial estimates of £109 million in 1999.

Lord Fraser is expected to say that the construction timetable was unrealistic, criticise the lack of an overall management structure and draw attention to the fact that many politicians acted with undue haste in their attempt to get the building in place.

The new Parliament's construction was severely hampered by the untimely deaths of two of its leading proponents.

First the Spanish architect who designed the building, 44-year-old Enric Miralles, died of a suspected brain tumour in July 2000 and then the Scottish first minister Donald Dewar died in October of the same year from a brain haemorrhage.

Lord Fraser will make his findings public at 11:00 BST today.

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