Jack McConnell said he expected both sides to have held talks

MSPs voted against ordering the BBC to hand over untransmitted tapes to the inquiry before the project is complete.

Instead, parliament supported an amendment calling for Lord Fraser to be given "appropriate access".

During First Minister's Questions, Mr McConnell said he was angry that the two sides have not been in discussion.

The tapes include interviews with the late First Minister Donald Dewar and Holyrood architect Enric Miralles.

The material was recorded for a BBC Scotland programme by independent production company Wark Clements.

Reputation 'damaged'

Scottish Tory leader David Mr McLetchie had led calls for BBC Scotland to be forced to hand over the tapes and pressed the first minister on what discussions have been held to resolve the dispute.

Mr McConnell said he was "not aware" of any meetings but said there had been "several attempts" to get BBC Scotland and the Fraser Inquiry team to hold talks.

He said: "I felt that was in the interests of the inquiry, I felt it was certainly the will of this parliament and as a result I have sanctioned occasional, sometimes regular, contact with both parties to try and ensure that they come together.

"I am not just disappointed but angry that that has not come about.

"The will of this parliament is that the BBC should co-operate with the inquiry and allow Lord Fraser to see these tapes.

David McLetchie pressed the first minister on the issue

"That will should now be implemented by the BBC in Scotland. They are damaging their own reputation by their refusal to do so and they need to co-operate, and co-operate quickly."

But Mr McLetchie said the first minister had pledged to take action if Lord Fraser accused anyone of failing to co-operate with his inquiry.

The Tory leader added: "Are the powers to which the first minister referred the same powers which he and his colleagues now find so unacceptable?

"If the BBC is judged by Lord Fraser to have failed to co-operate satisfactorily with his inquiry, will the first minister still oppose the use of these powers?

"This is simply not good enough. Holyrood is the biggest political scandal of devolution."