OFFICIALS aren't able to locate a minute of a meeting between Nicola Sturgeon and the former owner of Ferguson Marine, the First Minister has said.
The First Minister met with Jim McColl on May 31 2017, as concern about slippage on the contract to build two ferries at the shipyard emerged.
She was asked about this meeting when she appeared at Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee in November.
The committee is investigating the two overdue ferries at the Port Glasgow shipyard, which are years late and almost three times over budget.
During her committee appearance, Sturgeon said she did not know whether a minute of the 2017 meeting had been taken, but a special adviser had been present with her.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon did not breach ministerial code, James Hamilton finds
She said McColl had expressed concerns about the structure of milestone payments to the yard and the amount of money involved in a surety bond.
The Public Audit Committee later wrote to the First Minister asking for any minutes or notes relating to the meeting.
She has already provided the committee with an email from a special adviser which was sent just afterwards.
The email said the First Minister had asked for a briefing on the surety bond and any legal advice regarding further changes to the contracts.
In her latest correspondence with the committee, which was published on Monday, the First Minister said there was no further note of the meeting.
Sturgeon said: “Officials have been unable to locate a note of this meeting over and above the document already provided.
“As I confirmed in my last letter, in compliance with the ministerial code, a special adviser was present at the meeting and actions arising were relayed to officials and clearly indicate the topics discussed.
“The committee already has that email.”
The Tories later accused the First Minister of being in breach of the ministerial code.
MSP Graham Simpson (above) said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s admission that officials have been unable to locate a note of her meeting is a damning indictment of this Government’s evasive and secretive conduct, as well as an obvious breach of the ministerial code.
“She should refer herself for investigation immediately.
“When huge sums of taxpayers’ money are involved, the public expects and deserves complete transparency and accountability.
“This kind of response to the Public Audit Committee is unacceptable.”
The contract for the two ferries: the Glen Sannox and the as-yet unnamed Hull 802, was awarded to Ferguson Marine while under McColl’s ownership.
However, it later fell into administration and was nationalised in 2019.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel