The Tory peer said no stone would be left unturned

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie said he is "determined" to get to the truth in the inquiry into how the Scottish Parliament building costs rose to �375m.

He said: "The people of Scotland expect the truth, they certainly deserve the truth and I'm determined that they will get the truth.

"If a whitewash was intended, then the wrong person has been appointed.

"My inquiry will be independent and free from political pressures but I stress that nothing is ruled out or in."

Launching the inquiry in Edinburgh, the peer promised that people would be free to give information without fear of prosecution or persecution.

He said: "The lord advocate has written to me giving an undertaking that anything which a witness says in evidence in the course of the inquiry will not be used against him or her in any criminal proceedings in Scotland.

HOLYROOD COSTS July 1997: Rough estimate of �10m to �40m December 1997: �50m for construction of Holyrood building January 1998: Total costs, including VAT, fees and fitments, is �90m May 1999: Total revised to �109m January 2000: Speculation that costs have risen to �230m March 2000: Report confirms top cost is �230m, but with savings could be �190m April 2000: Corporate body firms up costs at �195m December 2001: New cost stands at �260m, resulting from increase in contingency funds October 2002: Increase to �295m, largely due to added bomb proofing December 2002: New figure of �325m caused by ongoing delays

"It is against that background that I'm confident I will be able to get full and truthful answers from anyone that comes before us."

Lord Fraser said whistleblowers would be given the opportunity to contact the inquiry by accessing the special website and using the "send a secure e-mail" option.

He said: "I would anticipate we would be able to identify who has got something serious to tell us.

"I would then anticipate seeing them probably in the first place in private and if I could persuade them to repeat it in public I would hope to do that as well."

So far, no list of witnesses has been drawn up and no-one has been invited to give evidence.

The peer did not give a deadline for the completion of the inquiry but said an interim report would be published by the middle of next year if the Holyrood building is completed to schedule.