Recommendation ETI-1: Public Inquiry Efficiency
From Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report, published 19 September 2023.
Recommendation
Scottish Ministers should undertake a review of public inquiries to determine the most cost-effective method of avoiding delay in the establishment of an inquiry, including consideration of establishing a dedicated unit within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and publishing regularly updated guidance for people involved in the establishment and progress of public inquiries.
In brief (written by this site)
In November 2023, Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, stated to the Scottish Parliament that ministers were "working through all of these recommendations", adding that additional guidance on the efficient establishment and delivery of public inquiries was in development and had been shared with recent inquiries (Màiri McAllan response, Nov 2023). The record holds no update since the Scottish Government's response of November 2023 (Màiri McAllan response, Nov 2023).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
We are working through all of these recommendations, but I can report that additional guidance similar to that suggested is already in development with reference to the efficient establishment and delivery of public inquiries and has been shared with recent inquiries as they have been established.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: The statement gives this passage once, for the four recommendations it says refer to the establishment and delivery of public inquiries. Recommendation 4 carries the Cabinet Secretary's answer on it in the chamber the same day, so the same words are recorded on ETI-1, ETI-2 and ETI-3.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Scottish Government has been found in the sources searched (last checked 31 January 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Scottish Government
Response