Audit Scotland has been invited by the Government to review the procedures used to forecast costs for the proposed Edinburgh tram and airport rail link projects.

The review will cover the approach, the methodology and the scope of the assessment used to identify costs.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
"My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real benefit to the travelling public and the Scottish economy.

"I want to be absolutely sure about the calculation of the costs involved in these projects, and the assessment of risk involved, before they progress any further.

"This independent work by Audit Scotland will form part of the review we are undertaking on major transport projects.

"The Audit Scotland report will help to give objective and factual information on these projects.

"No decisions have been taken on either project. The final trams business case is due later this year and this work will help our consideration of that business case.

"Audit Scotland will report by June 20th. Ministers will consider the report and set out their position to Parliament before the summer recess."