27th April 2004

INQUIRY RESUMES ON 6TH MAY

The Holyrood Inquiry will sit for two days next week to hear evidence from Dr. John Gibbons, who was unable to appear last month due to illness, and the Project’s structural engineers Ove Arup & Partners.

Dr Gibbons, Architectural Adviser to the SPCB, will appear on Thursday 6th May when he will address his role in the Holyrood Project since June 1999.

The Inquiry also felt that evidence was necessary from the structural engineers, Ove Arup & Partners, and David Lewis of that company will appear as a witness on the morning of Friday 7th May.

These sessions will complete the primary evidence gathering phase of the Inquiry.

Since the last public sitting on April 2nd, Lord Fraser and the Inquiry Team have reviewed the 41 days of evidence.

The Inquiry is satisfied that the extensive evidence it has heard, when considered alongside the very substantial volume of documentation received, has provided Lord Fraser with sufficient material to prepare his report without the need to recall particular witnesses.

A number of issues are being clarified in writing and all such correspondence will be placed on the Inquiry website in due course.

The principal parties to the Inquiry were also given the opportunity to request that individual witnesses be recalled but no such requests have been received.

Four days were originally set aside in early May to resolve areas of uncertainty or incompleteness if that was felt necessary but these will not now be required for that purpose. Two days will be utilised for Dr Gibbons and Mr Lewis.

Closing statements to Lord Fraser remain on course to take place on Tuesday 25th May and Wednesday 26th May.

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