Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has said he hopes payments made to Ferguson Marine for the completion of two overdue and over-budget ferries will be the last – but he refused to commit to it.
The Glen Sannox and as-yet-unnamed Hull 802 are set to be delivered by May of this year and March of next, which is five and six years later than planned.
The vessels have been a long-running sore for the Scottish Government, which brought the Port Glasgow yard into public ownership in 2019, with two committees and the Auditor General launching inquiries into the procurement and construction of the ships.
The Government allocated £60.9 million to the shipyard in its 2023-24 draft budget to finish the vessels, but appearing before the Economy and Fair Work Committee on Wednesday, John Swinney could not give his assurance this funding will be the last.
“I certainly hope that is it, yes,” he said in response to questioning from Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson.
When pressed on the issue, with Mr Simpson saying his response was “not a commitment”, Mr Swinney added: “I’m required to give the committee honest answers, and I hope that is the last that we have to contribute for the construction of 801 and 802.
“Let me be absolutely crystal clear about this, that’s what I hope… the assessment from the yard of what they require is what I’ve provided for both in the additional commitment of around £15 million that I’ve allocated in this current financial year and the sum that’s provided for in the budget for 23-24.
“I am responding to the plans put to me by the yard, and obviously the Government looks very closely and scrutinises those propositions put to us, so I hope that is the last of the contributions that we have to make.”
After the committee session, Mr Simpson said it is “deeply alarming” Mr Swinney could not guarantee the funding allocation will be the last.
He added: “Given the huge sums of public money already shelled out on these lifeline vessels, which are more than five years late, taxpayers will be appalled that the best the Deputy First Minister can do is say he ‘hopes it will be the last’.
“The SNP’s breathtaking incompetence throughout the ferries scandal means few people will be prepared to take these assurances on trust.”
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