Scottish Parliament apologises over rising Holyrood costs

The Scottish Parliament's (SP) presiding officer George Reid has apologised to the electorate over the delays and rising costs of the Holyrood building project.

Speaking at a recent session of the Fraiser Inquiry, which is investigating why the project's costs have soared from £37m to £338m, Reid said that "design, construction, cost, delay, management, media, human relations and politics have all become inextricably intertwined".

He added: "As presiding officer I apologise for all of this. I trust that the inquiry will be a salutary experience for all of us and that, in time, it will be seen as a cathartic and cleansing process from which we must learn."

It is anticipated that Lord Fraser's report will be published in the summer, once MSPs have moved into the new building.

Closing statements will be made on 25 and 26 May by counsel for the inquiry John Campbell QC and others, including lawyers for the SP and the Scottish Executive.