Tories renew Holyrood tapes call

An inquiry is being held into the Holyrood project

The Conservatives have accused the BBC of "double standards" over its refusal to hand over untransmitted interviews to the Holyrood Inquiry.

The Scottish Tories said the decision contrasted sharply with cooperation given to the Hutton inquiry.

The BBC refused to release the tapes and said interviewees had been promised that nothing would be shown until the building was completed.

The corporation said it would consider any fresh approach from the inquiry.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who is conducting the inquiry, has asked to see interviews with the late Donald Dewar and architect Enric Miralles.

Editorial policy

They were recorded by independent production company Wark Clements for a documentary series tracing the course of the building project.

BBC Scotland said that releasing the tapes would breach editorial policy, as well as the promises given to contributors.

Opposition parties have already challenged the BBC to rethink its decision.

The approach of the BBC in relation to the interview with the late Dr Kelly is in sharp contrast to that of BBC Scotland concerning its as yet untransmitted interviews with the late Donald Dewar and Snr Miralles David McLetchie Tory leader

Now Tory leader David McLetchie has written to Lord Fraser urging him to take "a fresh approach" over the issue.

He said that the BBC Panorama programme broadcast on Wednesday contained a short clip from a previously untransmitted interview with David Kelly.

The late weapons expert apparently committed suicide after being named as the suspected source for a BBC story on claims that Downing Street "sexed up" the government's Iraq weapons dossier.

Mr McLetchie said the BBC had confirmed that a transcript of the interview was disclosed to the inquiry into his death.

"The approach of the BBC in relation to the interview with the late Dr Kelly is in sharp contrast to that of BBC Scotland concerning its as yet untransmitted interviews with the late Donald Dewar and Snr Miralles," he said in his letter.

"I have previously suggested that you should be either shown the BBC Scotland interviews in camera or given transcripts of their content.

No request

"Given the apparent double standards being applied by the BBC, I wonder if a fresh approach to them is now appropriate."

The corporation's governors backed the earlier decision not to hand over the material, saying that was in line with production guidelines.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BBC said it had not received any request from Lord Fraser about manuscripts.

"If we do so, we will of course give any such request our full consideration," said a spokesperson.