 McAlpine lost out on the Holyrood contract to Bovis |
A construction firm has vowed to sue the Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body (SPCB) for more than �4m over the way the Holyrood contract was awarded. In a statement, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd said it had been left with "no alternative".
Building firm Bovis Lend Lease, which was awarded the Holyrood contract, said it did not act illegally.
The SPCB said it would "vigorously contest" McAlpine's �4.31m legal action.
Sir Robert McAlpine's bid in 1998 to build the new parliament building was unsuccessful.
 |  The company has taken this action after requests for a meeting failed to produce a meaningful response  |
In its statement, McAlpine said: "Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd has taken legal action against the Scottish Executive regarding alleged breaches of European procurement procedures in connection with the award of the contract for the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh. "The company has taken this action after requests for a meeting failed to produce a meaningful response.
"Therefore, due to legal time constraints, the company has been left with no alternative."
The SPCB said it was aware that legal proceedings had begun.
'Substantial sum'
It said in a statement: "This award process was discussed in depth during the Fraser Inquiry.
"Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd is claiming for the sum of �4.31m, a substantial sum that would have to be found from the public purse if this action is pursued and is successful.
"If the SPCB and Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd come to court over this matter, the case will be vigorously contested at the best defence of the public purse."
The SPCB added that the procurement process was managed by the Scottish Office.
Royal opening
"The Scottish Office subsequently awarded the contract to Bovis Lend Lease (Scotland) Ltd in January 1999," the statement went on.
"This decision preceded the establishment of both the parliament and the SPCB in May 1999 and the transfer of all Holyrood contracts to the SPCB in June 1999."
Scottish Tory Party leader David McLetchie said the legal action was a direct consequence of the "absolutely disastrous and incompetent political decisions taken in 1998 by Donald Dewar and the Scottish Office".
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald said it was in the public interest to find out why Bovis was awarded the contract.
The new parliament building at Holyrood was officially opened by the Queen in October.
It was dogged by controversy and opened three years late at a cost of �431m.
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, who led the inquiry into the project, said some decision-making was "flawed", but concluded that there was "no villain of the piece".
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