Tram inquiry witnesses to be forced to co-operate KEY players in the Edinburgh tram project will be compelled to give evidence to an inquiry into the fiasco after chairman Lord Hardie revealed today it had "not received the participation it requires." The reluctance of people to co-operate with the forthcoming inquiry prompted Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to announce today it would be switched from a non-statutory to a statutory basis, which will require witnesses to produce evidence and be questioned at hearings. She described the lack of cooperation as "clearly unjustifiable." Several senior officials at former city council tram developers Tie have told The Scotsman they would be happy to take part, including Richard Jeffrey, its chief executive at the time of the major dispute with contractors which threatened to derail the scheme. The Scotsman has also been told that leading members of the construction consortium which built the Edinburgh Airport to city centre tram line, including German firm Bilfinger Berger, would be delighted to be able to finally tell their side of the story publicly after failing to persuade councillors to give them a hearing during the row. Lord Hardie said the changed status of the inquiry would not affect its cost or timescale, but the date of the start of hearings has still to be announced. The inquiry follows the eight-mile line, which finally opened in May, being completed three years late, with its cost rocketing to £776 million, more than twice the original estimates for the initially planned two-line network. Ms Sturgeon said: "It was the view of the Scottish Government that a non-statutory inquiry with the co-operation of those with knowledge of the project was the simplest way to ensure the swift answers that people want. Lord Hardie has however now reported a lack of co-operation by some, which is clearly unjustifiable. I have therefore given the Inquiry the statutory powers he has requested to ensure that the necessary evidence is secured and a robust final report produced. Lord Hardie has assured me that converting the Inquiry to a statutory basis will not increase the costs and time required as he had intended to apply similar procedures. I continue to attach great importance to an inquiry that is quick, efficient and cost effective. Lord Hardie said: "The inquiry was initially non-statutory but was converted to statutory by Scottish ministers following my request, to ensure it can be carried out thoroughly and efficiently and to allow me to produce a comprehensive, fair and balanced report. The inquiry is currently in the preliminary investigation stage, which includes retrieving and reviewing a large body of documentary evidence, scoping the work to be carried out, identifying potential witnesses, as well as securing sufficient staff and technical resources to manage material recovered. Edinburgh trams become latest tourist attraction Cyclist blamed for Edinburgh tram crash Faces of medieval skeletons found during tram dig