Recommendation ETI-4: Inquiry Cost Transparency
From Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report, published 19 September 2023.
Recommendation
In reporting the cost of a public inquiry Scottish Ministers should report its net cost to the public purse, after discounting expenditure already incurred on accommodation, staff and other resources, as well as the total cost appearing in the accounts of the sponsor department.
In brief (written by this site)
In November 2023, Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, stated that she did not agree with the recommendation to present only net inquiry costs less accommodation and staff, adding that "Full transparency on costs and publication of them are in the public interest" (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
I note that one of Lord Hardie’s recommendations was about presenting only the net costs of public inquiries, less the costs for accommodation and staff. To be frank, I do not agree with that recommendation. Full transparency on costs and publication of them are in the public interest.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: This is the Cabinet Secretary's answer to a member's question after her statement to the Scottish Parliament on 2 November 2023, as recorded in the Official Report.
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