The Scottish civil service is facing massive reform after a report strongly criticised the role played by senior officials in the building of the new Scottish parliament.

Lord Fraser, publishing the report of his public inquiry said that much of the blame should be directed towards top civil servants, including Sir Muir Russell, the former permanent secretary to the Scottish Executive.

He accused the civil service of choosing the wrong construction method for the building, without asking for ministerial approval, and concealing information about the costs from ministers.

John Elvidge, Sir Muir's successor as permanent secretary, said: "Lord Fraser has confirmed previous findings by the auditor general that there were points in the process at which civil servants fell short of the standards which we expect of ourselves and which ministers and the public are entitled to expect of us."

Jack McConnell, the first minister, said in response that that a sweeping reform of the way the civil service operates is now on the way.