Lord Steel has told the Holyrood inquiry that he hid from the public a row with the architect of the controversial Scottish parliament building within weeks of taking responsibility for the project.
The parliament’s former presiding officer said the row was about the shape and seating arrangements of the main debating chamber.
Enric Miralles had drawn up “theatre-style seating” but Lord Steel had made clear the Edinburgh-based parliament wanted a semi-circular arrangement.
Lord Steel said it took more than a month of letters and warnings that the architect’s plans put the budget and building programme seriously at risk to resolve the problem.
References: Financial Times 05/02/04 page 4
