Holyrood 'name and shame' threat

The current price tag is put at £375m

The man appointed to lead the inquiry into the cost of the new Scottish Parliament building has warned of tough action if his inquiry is blocked.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie said his threat to name and shame those failing to be open about their role in the controversy would be enough to persuade them to give evidence.

Under the terms of the inquiry, the former Tory Lord Advocate has no powers to compel witnesses to give evidence and has no staff reporting exclusively to him.

But he told BBC Scotland that he was confident he had the backing and resources to carry out a thorough investigation into the project, the estimated cost of which has now risen to £375m.

If anyone does try to stop me or tries to withhold anything from me I will have no hesitation in naming and shaming them Lord Fraser

Speaking on The Politics Show, he said he was more concerned about being "snowed under" with evidence than about those involved holding facts back.

He said: "I really do not underestimate how much people regard their own reputations.

"I don't think any commercial organisation would find itself in much favour if it sought to have me name and shame it and put it in such circumstances that in Scotland they enjoyed a rather tarnished reputation."

Admitting he was taking on "a very large task", Lord Fraser said that the inquiry would not be completed until the building itself was finished to allow a full reckoning of the project to take place.

He also said he was considering dividing his probe into two sections - pre and post devolution.

Full support

Lord Fraser expressed his confidence that he would receive maximum support from politicians during the inquiry.

He said: "It has been made very clear to me by Jack McConnell that it is for me to determine what support I need and that I will take on.

"Both the Westminster government and the Scottish Executive have made it absolutely clear to me that any documents that I want from them will be forthcoming.

"And if anyone does try to stop me or tries to withhold anything from me, as the First Minister says, I will have no hesitation in naming and shaming them."

Appointed to head the inquiry earlier this month, Lord Fraser will work alongside Auditor General Robert Black when the probe gets under way.