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I am determined that the Inquiry should be as full,
transparent and exhaustive as possible. I intend to examine all the
relevant facts without getting lost in a forest of detail.
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The people of Scotland expect the truth, they deserve the truth
and I am determined that they will get the truth.
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If a whitewash was expected, the wrong person has been appointed.
My Inquiry will be independent and free from political pressures.
Nothing is ruled in, nothing is ruled out.
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I am confident that I have sufficient powers to secure the co-operation
of all those I invite to give evidence to the Inquiry and I will not
hesitate to ‘name and shame’ anyone who does not take
up my invitation. To fail to co-operate with the Inquiry is to thwart
the will of the Scottish Parliament and I do not believe anyone would
want to do that lightly. I have been offered and expect co-operation
from both Holyrood and Westminster Ministers.
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The Lord Advocate has written to me giving an undertaking that anything
which a witness says in evidence in the course of the Inquiry will
not be used against him or her at any criminal proceedings in Scotland.
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As this early stage I cannot predict the length of the Inquiry.
However, it will not be completed until the Parliament building is
finished and occupied. I anticipate submitting at least an interim
report to the First Minister and Presiding Officer for publication
thereafter by the middle of next year, assuming the building work
is finished, as is anticipated.
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I have been asked to build on the work already undertaken by the
Auditor General. I am very keen to do so and gratified to be working
alongside him. His earlier reports and that of the Audit Committee
are invaluable but my formidable task will be to gather all the pieces
of the Holyrood jigsaw and put them together after the most detailed
scrutiny.
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July
8th 2003