Finance secretary hits back at ex-yard owner in ferries row

The Finance Secretary has accused the former owner of Ferguson Marine of trying shift the blame over the Calmac ferries fiasco.

Kate Forbes hit back after Jim McColl claimed the Scottish Government was conducting a "fabulous propaganda exercise".

The dispute was aired in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday as opposition MSPs asked her to respond to the businessman's claims that procurement of two long-overdue ferries was rushed "for political purposes".

a 'multitude of failings'

Last week, it emerged that the two CalMac vessels would not be completed until 2023 and would cost about £240 million, more than twice their original price tag.

An Audit Scotland report highlighted a "multitude of failings" and said Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), the Government-owned company which owns ferries and ports, had concerns about the lack of a refund guarantee.

Ms Forbes said it was "entirely wrong" to suggest the contract award for the ferries was rushed for political purposes.

She told MSPs: "Contrary to what Jim McColl said this morning on the BBC, it was the chief executive of Cmal and Jim McColl himself who signed the contract.

"This is a man with a clear interest in shifting the blame on others when the root cause ultimately to the delays of these important vessels was the construction under FMEL (Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited)."

Scottish Government insists procurement process was followed correctly

Mr McColl bought the shipyard out of administration in 2014, though it was nationalised at the end of 2018.

Ms Forbes said the procurement process was undertaken "in good faith following appropriate due diligence".

She continued: "When concerns were raised, mitigations were put in place, that is all very well documented in the Audit Scotland report."

However, opposition MSPs said Ms Forbes had failed to provide clarity on exactly which ministers took the relevant decisions.

Opposition parties say questions still remain

Scottish Tory MSP, Graham Simpson, asked: "We need some straight answers to straight questions here, was it Keith Brown who approved the contracts for the ferries?

"Why was the advice from Cmal not to go ahead ignored?"

Ms Forbes said ministers abided by collective responsibility.

She said no concerns were raised when FMEL was announced as the preferred bidder for the ferries in August 2015, but concerns around the lack of a refund guarantee emerged later.

The Finance Secretary said: "Audit Scotland have covered in detail the mitigations that were pursued as a result, including around the schedule of payments."

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.