Scottish civil servants have been slammed for deliberately misleading the public over the cost of the Scottish parliament building.
A report by the parliament's audit committee said a decision not to inform the public that construction costs on the controversial project had spiralled to 拢108m from an original estimate of 拢62m was "unnecessary and wrong".
Audit committee deputy convenor Nick Johnston said: "The fact that the auditor-general undertook an examination of the Holyrood project when the building shall not be completed for well over two years is a sign of the seriousness of concerns over the project's stewardship, and the amount of public expenditure it will incur."
The cost of the building is now estimated at 拢195m, plus 拢14m for landscaping surrounding parkland.
The scheme's problems were highlighted in March's Spencely report, which said costs could run to 拢230m.
