Lord Weir says hearings will go ahead in September

The procedural hearing heard from Alastair Duncan KC.

Mr Duncan provided an oral submission on behalf of Scottish Ministers, in their capacity as sponsor for the Inquiry.

Mr Duncan told the procedural hearing that the issues affecting the hearing suite at Waverley Gate relate to compliance with fire safety regulations.

He said that work will have to be carried out on the walls outside the hearing suite to ensure that they meet required building standards.

Mr Duncan told the hearing that the building's landlord was in the process of identifying and procuring contractors to develop a design and specification plan for the work, and then to carry out the work.

No timeline for this work was available at the time of the procedural hearing.

Mr Duncan said Scottish Ministers were unable to provide assurances that the Inquiry would be able to use Waverley Gate for full, in-person hearings by September this year.

The Inquiry expects to be kept up to date on the progress of the works at Waverley Gate and will pass on as much information as we can to core participants.

The Inquiry wishes to use Waverley Gate for its hearings.

If that is not possible, the Inquiry expects the Scottish Government to provide a suitable alternative venue in time for our hearings in September.