Holyrood Finance Committee Warns of Rising Costs and Calls for Budget Controls on Scotland's Public Inquiries
Holyrood's finance committee has raised concerns over the rising costs and resource strain caused by statutory public inquiries in Scotland, highlighting a lack of financial oversight. The committee's eight-month investigation, the first cost-effectiveness review of public inquiries in Holyrood, revealed that since 2007 the costs of public inquiries in Scotland have increased by £30m this year, reaching approximately £258.8m (in 2024-25 prices). Of this, £42.6m was spent on five inquiries from 2007 to 2014, while £204.8m was spent on six inquiries since 2014.
Currently, four inquiries are underway, including those focusing on the Covid-19 crisis, hospital safety, child abuse, and the death of Sheku Bayoh, with a recent inquiry into the murder of Emma Caldwell also commencing this month. The committee emphasizes the impact of inquiries on other public services due to diverted resources and the effect on the wider justice system, noting that inquiries can pull judges away from court work.
Finance committee convener Kenneth Gibson warned that the escalating costs threaten other public services if unchecked. The report calls for clearer financial management by setting defined budgets and timelines for inquiries. It advocates that extensions to timelines or budgets should require justification and approval from Parliament.
The committee also highlighted perceived shortcomings in clarity and openness regarding how inquiries are established. It recommends new guidance and that statutory inquiries be considered only after all alternative options have been exhausted. As a benchmark, the report points to Sweden's model, where inquiries typically conclude within two years with capped budgets.
The Scottish government welcomed the report and indicated plans to respond to its recommendations.
