This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63498082
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sturgeon faces inquiry questions on ferry scandal | Sturgeon faces inquiry questions on ferry scandal |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon launched Glen Sannox in 2017, when the yard was owned by Jim McColl, but the ship is still not finished. | Nicola Sturgeon launched Glen Sannox in 2017, when the yard was owned by Jim McColl, but the ship is still not finished. |
| Nicola Sturgeon is to give evidence to MSPs investigating the delays and huge cost overruns in the construction of two new CalMac ferries. | Nicola Sturgeon is to give evidence to MSPs investigating the delays and huge cost overruns in the construction of two new CalMac ferries. |
| Holyrood's public audit committee is following up on a damning Audit Scotland report. | Holyrood's public audit committee is following up on a damning Audit Scotland report. |
| The ships are five years late and could end up costing more than £300m. | The ships are five years late and could end up costing more than £300m. |
| The first minister has previously said that while former transport minister Derek Mackay approved the deal, the "buck stops" with her. | The first minister has previously said that while former transport minister Derek Mackay approved the deal, the "buck stops" with her. |
| The £97m "fixed price" contract was awarded to Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow in 2015, a year after it was rescued by businessman Jim McColl, a prominent SNP supporter who sat on the first minister's council of economic advisers. | The £97m "fixed price" contract was awarded to Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow in 2015, a year after it was rescued by businessman Jim McColl, a prominent SNP supporter who sat on the first minister's council of economic advisers. |
| Dossier suggests ferry deal may have been rigged | Dossier suggests ferry deal may have been rigged |
| Ferries deal awarded without financial safeguards | Ferries deal awarded without financial safeguards |
| The build for the two ships, Glen Sannox and the unnamed Hull 802, soon ran into trouble, with the yard going back into administration again in 2019. | The build for the two ships, Glen Sannox and the unnamed Hull 802, soon ran into trouble, with the yard going back into administration again in 2019. |
| It was later nationalised but neither ferry has yet been delivered. | It was later nationalised but neither ferry has yet been delivered. |
| The Glen Sannox ferry has still not been delivered | The Glen Sannox ferry has still not been delivered |
| An Audit Scotland report in March identified "multiple failings" including the lack of a "full builders guarantee", a standard feature of major shipbuilding contracts which protects the buyer if things go wrong. | An Audit Scotland report in March identified "multiple failings" including the lack of a "full builders guarantee", a standard feature of major shipbuilding contracts which protects the buyer if things go wrong. |
| It also criticised a lack of record keeping on why the decision was made. | It also criticised a lack of record keeping on why the decision was made. |
| The Scottish government later published emails that confirmed Derek Mackay approved the deal, but in Holyrood exchanges Ms Sturgeon said that as first minister she took ultimate responsibility. | The Scottish government later published emails that confirmed Derek Mackay approved the deal, but in Holyrood exchanges Ms Sturgeon said that as first minister she took ultimate responsibility. |
| She said: "The buck stops with me and I have never tried to shy away from that on any issue. I am not defending the cost overruns or the delay to the construction of these ferries, it is completely unacceptable." | She said: "The buck stops with me and I have never tried to shy away from that on any issue. I am not defending the cost overruns or the delay to the construction of these ferries, it is completely unacceptable." |
| Derek Mackay was transport minister when he approved the contract award | Derek Mackay was transport minister when he approved the contract award |
| Mr Mackay, who left government in 2020 over messages he sent to a 16-year-old boy on social media, appeared before the public audit committee in September. | Mr Mackay, who left government in 2020 over messages he sent to a 16-year-old boy on social media, appeared before the public audit committee in September. |
| He said he also took responsibility, but that he believed at the time that some of the financial risks had been mitigated by other means. | He said he also took responsibility, but that he believed at the time that some of the financial risks had been mitigated by other means. |
| Since then, a BBC investigation has revealed a dossier of leaked documents which suggest the procurement process may have been rigged in favour of Jim McColl's company, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL). | Since then, a BBC investigation has revealed a dossier of leaked documents which suggest the procurement process may have been rigged in favour of Jim McColl's company, Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL). |
| The BBC's Disclosure programme found evidence that FMEL was allowed to substantially modify its bid and reduce its price after the tender deadline, and that it had access to a key specification document that was not available to rival bidders. | |
| The government's ferries agency CMAL has said it found no evidence in its files to support the BBC allegations, and has defended the procurement process. | The government's ferries agency CMAL has said it found no evidence in its files to support the BBC allegations, and has defended the procurement process. |