Holyrood inquiry to be launched

First minister and Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell will call for an investigation into the controversial Holyrood project if the party retains power in next month's elections.

In a letter to the independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who carried out a report into the project and its apparent failings to achieve best practice during procurement, McConnell acknowledged that the contract had "become a liability".

"I share the sense of anger that the early years of devolution have been marred by the escalating costs and delayed timetable for the new building," he said. "There must be a full public investigation into the process."

The flagship building project, which is still not finished, was originally priced at £40m - the current figure is nearer £400m.

However the scheme has been dogged by controversy since its inception in 1997.

Key decisions about the building, such as its location near Edinburgh's Royal Mile, were taken by Downing Street before the Scottish Parliament existed.

When the plans were first raised, the cost was put at between £10m and £40m.