Former minister Derek Mackay has defended his decision to award a controversial ferry contract without the normal financial safeguards.
The two ships, which are still being built at the Port Glasgow yard, will be at least five years late when they finally come into service and costs have risen hugely from £97m to £250m. He said he had confidence in the recommendation but appreciated that risks had been identified and understood to be resolved.
Shortly after being named as preferred bidder, Ferguson Marine notified CMAL, the government agency which owns and procures ships for CalMac, it could not provide the full Builder's Refund Guarantee - which was stipulated in the contract. He said he had "confidence" in the recommendation to proceed with awarding the contract as the submission had followed the "necessary process, procurement assessment and milestone stages".Opposition politicians criticised the former minister's submission and said many questions remained unanswered.
"There is no clarity whatsoever on why the SNP government were so determined to forge ahead with this contract against any and all warnings."
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