It's fixed - now who pays bill?

THE debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament reopened yesterday to fresh controversy over who is going to pay the £500,000-plus cost of repairing the roof.

The chamber was closed in March after a beam swung loose, almost crashing into a glass screen and ending up dangling over the heads of the Tory benches. Now, more than six months on, it has reopened in time for Jack McConnell, the First Minister, to kick off a debate on the future of Scotland today.

Over the summer recess, builders installed 128 stainless steel pins, or dowels, on the end of 64 beams to ensure they remain in place. But questions remain over who should pay.

The costs include £250,000 for hiring temporary accommodation while the chamber was closed, £30,000 for temporary straps to make the beams safe and £130,000 to design and install the metal pins. It is thought scaffolding cost about £100,000. Possible contenders to foot the bill include Arup, the structural engineer that designed the roof; MSD Design, which made the parts, and Laing O'Rourke, which installed the roof.

Parliamentary officials have vowed to do everything possible to recoup the costs to the taxpayer. A spokeswoman said: "We were always clear that we had three priorities: public safety, getting the chamber fixed and cost recovery.

"With the chamber reopened, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body's sight is now firmly fixed on liability. We can confirm that the matter is receiving full and careful consideration."

But Margo MacDonald, the independent MSP, said she was "not holding her breath".

She said the fact liability had not been decided before repairs began would make it difficult to ascertain who was responsible.

"Much of the parliament building process was based on the concept that it will be all right on the night, and when it is not all right on the night, there is no answer," she said.