MSP claims Forth crossing cost 'cover-up'

Published on Thursday 24 February 2011 13:37

The amount of money the Scottish government could be forced to pay if work on a new bridge across the Forth damages an underground pipeline has been covered-up, an MSP claimed today.

Green Patrick Harvie claims talks between BP and Transport Scotland over a potential 100million liability had been happening since before Parliament backed the new crossing, but Holyrood was not told.

Two committees which debated the crossing were not given the information on liablity, he said, meaning their decision did not take the potential extra cost into account.

Mr Harvie said: "All the evidence points to a serious cover-up here on several fronts.

"Ministers knew about this issue years ago, yet they withheld the information from Parliament until the legislation had been passed."

The final bids to build the bridge, which could cost a total of 2.3billion, were submitted last month.

The Scottish parliament's finance committee held a private meeting this week to discuss the issue this week.

Mr Harvie added:"It now appears though, from BP, the operators of the pipeline in question, that discussions have been ongoing with Transport Scotland regarding precisely this for months and well in advance of that Bill being brought to Parliament.

"No opportunity was given for public scrutiny either in the Hybrid Bill Committee, or Finance, or the Transport Committee at that time."

He added: "Does there need to be clearer guidance for the basis on which private meetings can be held in order avoid any assumption that there could be something as traditional as a good old fashioned cover-up going on."

Mr Harvie also asked Holyrood's Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson to investigate whether proper procedures had been followed.

Approval to fund the bridge was a key element of the SNP's budget, passed through the Scottish parliament earlier this month.

Transport Scotland said that they had been in "lengthy and detailed" talks with BP and insurers over the issue of the 100 million liability, but there had "not been sufficient detail to discuss this meaningfully" prior to Tuesday`s Finance Committee, a month after the Bill received royal assent.

The information that Transport Scotland`s insurance liabilities had not yet been finalised was not disclosed to Parliament when MSPs passed the Bill.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The Finance Committee hearing this week was the first opportunity to speak meaningfully with Parliament on this issue, following lengthy and detailed engagement with BP and the worldwide insurance market over recent months seeking the best possible solution for the public interest.

"While security issues would have still meant that we would have sought a private hearing during the Bill process, there would not have been sufficient detail to discuss this meaningfully over that period."