CalMac boss to face MSPs in ferry row
The boss of CalMac's going to be giving evidence to MSPs investigating what's gone wrong with the building of two new ferries.
The ships being built at Fergussons in Port Glasgow is years late and costing twice as much as planned.
Last month the yard's former owner Jim McColl told Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee them the ferry company didn't want the dual-fuel design.
Today Robbie Drummond, the managing director of CalMac Ferries, and Duncan Mackison, the chief executive officer of parent company David MacBrayne, will give evidenceat Holyrood.
It comes after two MSPs called for First Nicola Sturgeon to appear before the inquiry in the absence of her former finance secretary Derek Mackay.
Mr Mackay called for the inquiry in December after it emerged two ferries contracted to be built at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow would be delayed by several years and could cost double the initial price to complete.
At the time, he blamed mismanagement from leaders at the yard for the problems.
Ex-Ferguson Marine director Jim McColl told the inquiry during an evidence session last month that Mr Mackay's comments were "defamatory'' and "nonsense''.
Following the resignation of the finance secretary last month after it emerged he had sent 270 unsolicited messages to a 16-year-old boy, there have been calls for the First Minister to appear before the inquiry in Mr Mackay's absence.
Colin Smyth, Scottish Labour's transport spokesman, along with his Conservative counterpart Dean Lockhart, both said in the Sunday Post that Nicola Sturgeon should appear before the inquiry if Mr Mackay would not.
The Scottish Government took the yard into public ownership last year in a bid to save it from closure but problems with the ships - 801 and 802 - were discovered, leading to the overspend and delays.
Mr McColl, who is also one of the First Minister's economic advisers, pushed for a public inquiry to be held into the matter, saying: "This needs a lot more investigation.
"The reason that I would like it to go to a public inquiry is I would like there to be a judge and I would like people to be under oath.
When asked if he believes some who had been called before the inquiry were not telling the truth, Mr McColl said: "I want them to be compelled to come and answer, rather than something less forceful.''
During his appearance before the committee last month, Mr McColl rubbished claims by the Scottish Government's turnaround director Tim Hair that internal processes were generally "found to be poor or non-existent to control a project of this magnitude'' - claiming Mr Hair's assertion were "absolutely scandalous''.
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