Edinburgh trams inquiry reaction
There are calls for an inquiry into the inquiry
A Scottish Government minister has criticised the long-awaited inquiry into the Edinburgh Trams failures, saying its delivery was "too long and too costly" while some of its conclusions were not supported by evidence.
Transport Secretary Mairi McAllan said she received Lord Hardie's full report on Tuesday morning, shortly before publication.
An inquiry into the delays and cost overruns of the project to build a tram line between Edinburgh Airport and York Place was ordered by Alex Salmond in 2014.
The full report runs to nearly 1,000 pages and makes 24 recommendations, including a review of how future inquiries should be conducted.
READ MORE HERE: 'Litany of avoidable failures' in Edinburgh tram project
Lord Hardie said he holds Edinburgh City Council's arm's-length tram company TIE, the council and Scottish ministers "principally responsible for the failure to deliver the project on time, within budget and to the extent projected".
Part of his report said the decision of John Swinney, who was finance secretary in 2007, to scale back the involvement of Transport Scotland was a mistake.
As politicians reacted to the report, SNP minister Ms McAllan took aim at the cost of the inquiry itself.
Lord Hardie said the inquiry cost £13.1 million to the end of July but the net cost to the public purse was kept to £8.7 million by using existing resources.
Ms McAllan said: "The Scottish Government places the highest importance on the efficient spending of public money.
"It is why the public inquiry was set up and given statutory powers to thoroughly investigate matters.
"It is also why we committed significant resources to diligently support the inquiry and to engage meaningfully and openly with it.
"However, the inquiry took too long, was too costly and in some instances the evidence heard does not support the conclusion drawn."
She said she would make a more detailed statement to the Scottish Parliament in due course.
The Scottish Conservatives said Mr Swinney had questions to answer.
MSP Miles Briggs said: "Lord Hardie's report is a scathing critique of the SNP government and City of Edinburgh Council's roles in a national scandal.
"After years of delays and millions of pounds of public money, we at last have some conclusions on the appalling mishandling of Edinburgh's tram network."
He added: "He is clear that ministers failed to protect the public purse and acted in the SNP's political interests, rather than the public interest.
"John Swinney, especially, has questions to answer for removing safeguards that would have protected grant funds."