Holyrood report due in September

The Queen will officially open the building on 9 October

The publication of the report into the spiralling cost of the Holyrood building will be published in early September, it has been confirmed.

Lord Fraser heard closing statements in May and said his findings would be published in late August or the early part of the following month.

The SNP voiced concern over what it said was a delay in publication of the inquiry findings.

However, a spokesman for Lord Fraser said he was still on schedule.

The Scottish Executive and the parliament both said Lord Fraser should be given the time he needs to finalise his report.

An executive spokesman said: "The publication of his report is a matter for Lord Fraser himself.

'Last thing we need'

"We realise that the public want to see his findings published quickly, but it is also important that it is done properly."

A spokeswoman for the parliament said: "As co-commissioners, the parliament has been committed to a full and thorough inquiry and subsequent report.

"The parliament remains committed to that process regardless of the timing, which is entirely a matter for Lord Fraser."

The SNP's Fergus Ewing said the timing of the report could not be dismissed and voiced concern that it could overshadow the official opening of the £431m building by the Queen on 9 October.

Lord Fraser will make his findings known in September

Mr Ewing said: "After all the delays in completing the building, the last thing we need is a delay in the report.

"The opening of the new parliament building is a chance for devolution to make a fresh start and for politics in Scotland to leave behind the disappointments of the last five years.

"The whole point of the inquiry was to learn lessons from the farce of the Holyrood Project and, crucially, draw a line under what has been a tremendously damaging episode.

"We cannot afford to allow the Holyrood debacle to dribble on and ruin the best chance Scotland has to move on."