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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| CalMac tendering 'cost millions' | CalMac tendering 'cost millions' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The process of putting Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services out to tender has cost the Scottish taxpayer more than £17m, it has been revealed. | The process of putting Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services out to tender has cost the Scottish taxpayer more than £17m, it has been revealed. |
| The figure, more than half the annual subsidy for CalMac, was obtained by the SNP from the Scottish Executive. | The figure, more than half the annual subsidy for CalMac, was obtained by the SNP from the Scottish Executive. |
| CalMac has been the only bidder for the package of more than 20 Clyde and Hebrides routes. | CalMac has been the only bidder for the package of more than 20 Clyde and Hebrides routes. |
| The executive insisted it had no choice but to go ahead with the tendering process under EU competition law. | The executive insisted it had no choice but to go ahead with the tendering process under EU competition law. |
| The figures break down to a cost to the executive of more than £2m and £15m to CalMac itself to cover the cost of preparing to defend itself against private competition. | The figures break down to a cost to the executive of more than £2m and £15m to CalMac itself to cover the cost of preparing to defend itself against private competition. |
| The SNP's transport spokesman Fergus Ewing said the executive had wasted £17m because the tendering process was not legally necessary. | The SNP's transport spokesman Fergus Ewing said the executive had wasted £17m because the tendering process was not legally necessary. |
| "Other countries in Europe did not go ahead with tendering and were not penalised," he said. | "Other countries in Europe did not go ahead with tendering and were not penalised," he said. |
| "The executive were supine in the face of pressure from the European Commission, the only pressure being that someone may sue the executive." | "The executive were supine in the face of pressure from the European Commission, the only pressure being that someone may sue the executive." |
| We were presented with no alternative but to tender Scottish Executive spokesman | We were presented with no alternative but to tender Scottish Executive spokesman |
| The costs were obtained by the SNP's Jim Mather, who said the expense was regrettable and entirely avoidable. | The costs were obtained by the SNP's Jim Mather, who said the expense was regrettable and entirely avoidable. |
| Mr Mather said ministers could have mounted a much stronger defence against the EU's demand that the routes were put out to tender. | Mr Mather said ministers could have mounted a much stronger defence against the EU's demand that the routes were put out to tender. |
| Scottish Conservative transport spokesman David Davidson said the Labour/Lib Dem executive's handling of the tender had been a "farce from the start". | |
| He said: "Successive Lib Dem transport ministers have taken a frivolous attitude to the use of taxpayers money, and Tavish Scott should now consider his position very carefully." | |
| A Scottish Executive spokesman said its priority was always to protect lifeline ferry services. | A Scottish Executive spokesman said its priority was always to protect lifeline ferry services. |
| He said: "We were presented with no alternative but to tender in order to ensure that the subsidy was in line with European law. | He said: "We were presented with no alternative but to tender in order to ensure that the subsidy was in line with European law. |
| "Tax liability was an inevitable part of the tendering process. | "Tax liability was an inevitable part of the tendering process. |
| "Restructuring was an essential part of the tendering process and was required to keep the routes securely in public ownership." | "Restructuring was an essential part of the tendering process and was required to keep the routes securely in public ownership." |