Scottish parliament: existing chamber

A fresh row has broken out over the size of seats in the new Scottish parliament building.

The latest controversy surrounds £17,000 tailor-made window seats being built into each MSPs' office.

MSPs have complained that half of the seats - which are being built into the glass, oak and steel units - are not wide enough for their posteriors.

Some have complained that the 40 centimetre "contemplation chamber" width is not enough and compares poorly even with the worst airline seat.

"I know we are supposed to be trying to get a good cross-section of people into the Scottish parliament, but at this rate the next parliament will need to have a percentage of people with restricted growth, because they're the only folk who could squeeze themselves in," said independent MSP Margo MacDonald.

The latest row will add to the catalogue of embarrassments that the widely-panned project has already suffered.

There are doubts as to whether the building will be finished by the end of the year.

From the original estimate of £40 million, predicted costs have leapt to around £380 million which equates to roughly £80 per person in Scotland.

Other problems have included the death of the project's architect and delays over the glass fitted in the debating chamber.

The latest row about the seats also followed criticism of the building's architects by presiding officer George Reid, for failing to meet a deadline for to agree on fees.

A parliament spokesman defended the seat units, which form part of the exterior plans for the building.

"The architects' plan for the MSP office accommodation includes a number of variations to the design of bay windows," he said.

"The intention is to give the west elevation a more distinctive and less uniform frontage. Some windows include the external oak detailing, and they are also fitted in a number of different shapes and depths."