Labour seeking review of ‘disgraceful’ Forth bridge decision
The FCBC consortium are outsourcing steel from China and the EU. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
THERE should be a review into the “disgraceful” decision to give a contract to supply steel for the new Forth crossing to overseas firms, Scottish Labour said today.
Johnann Lamont, the party’s leader, raised the issue after it was announced that Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, the consortium responsible for delivering the principal contract for the crossing, had struck deals with “major international steel suppliers in China and the EU”.
She told MSPs: “The Chinese got an £800 million steel contract and we got two pandas.”
Steel workers from the Community trade union have written to Prime Minister David Cameron, asking him to intervene. Now Labour has called for a review of the contract.
Ms Lamont demanded: “Will the First Minister stand up for Scottish workers and instruct an immediate review of this disgraceful contract which will have huge consequences across our communities?”
However, Mr Salmond told the Labour leader that the steel contract only represents 5%-10% of the total value of the Forth replacement crossing principle contract which is is worth £790 million.
He added: “I’m not sure if Johann Lamont knows this but we dont actually have manufacturing fabrication facilities for steel in Scotland, thanks to the degradation of past Westminster governments.”
The First Minister also insisted that the new Forth road bridge would deliver a “substantial good deal to Scotland”.
He said 118 of the 155 subcontracts on the project had gone to firms in Scotland, while Scottish companies are benefiting from 870 of the 1,041 supply orders.
The First Minister said: “The Forth replacement crossing project will support 1,200 Scottish jobs and secure an additional 3,000 more.”
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Comments
There are 68 comments to this article
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thinking
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:21 AMWhy do so many posters blame Governments, of whatever ilk, for business failures? Businesses make money, thus providing employment and bringing wealth to a country. If they don't make money they go bust. Here, in Scotland, mines, steel works, ship yards etc etc have gone because they were losing money This has happened throughout the UK, not just Scotland (in some instances because of the intransigence of unions but mostly because costs were higher in the UK than other countries, or, in the case of mines, they were petering out). Because they were big employers tax payers' money (no such thing as Government money) was used to prop them up. There comes a point, though, when you have to say, 'enough is enough, and stop the financial drain.
Ancient Wisdom
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:03 AMThe whole FRBridge situation is a disaster. It's costing eight times the original (allowing for inflation since then, etc) yet uses less labour, steel and shares many existing roads. A causeway with intelligent locks could have been built by now, far far cheaper, designed and built in Scotland by Scots with Scottish materials; solving all crossing problems. Yet where are the comparative public costings so we can judge for ourselves ?
Family guy
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:40 AMThe Chinese will reward Scotland for not only getting the contract but taking their pandas. They will buy ever more of our whisky and salmon. They will lift the beef sanctions and buy our beef. They will fly over and spend oodles in our golf resorts and highlands. They will, in turn, award certain contracts to Scottish firms. It'll work out fine.
Family guy
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:37 AMLabour seeking review of ‘disgraceful’ Forth bridge decision--------------------------please read between the lines. In reality, Labour are being pressured by their cronies who own factories, land and "taxi" firms in Glasgow. It's a pantomime. Lamont, who looks like wee jimmy Krankie, is shouting "he's behind you!".
Hector the Lessor
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:58 AMOK, in my imagination, I have the contract to build the New Forth Road bridge. I look for materials and maybe pick a Scottish supplier. Although the cost is slightly above international levels it is well within our original estimates. Unfortunately you have to put up with Union involvement so your material costs may increase. You select a local builder, very much capable of producing your requirements at an agreed price. What do you know, there costs have increased dramatically and the tea boy is now on 40,000 a year. Do you really wonder why with companies who would prefer to look after their own nationalities, they are forced to go offshore.
Dennis
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:22 AMI grew up as a staunch Labour man like, probably, a lot of recent SNP supporters. I changed my allegience due to the fact that Scottish Labour have done nothing for my country and merely follow the diktats from London. i watched FMQ's today and felt trully embarrassed that Joanne Lamont is the leader of Scotland's second largest party. She seemed to have no comprehension of the question she was asking regardingb the new Forth Bridge contract. When the answer came back that we cannot manufacture steel in Scotland now due to previous savage Westminster cuts. As she seemed to be reading from a prepared script she repeadetly asked the same question about why the steel supply could not be supplied from Scotland three times with AS giving the same answer each time.God help us if this is the best leader Labour can give us to fight Westminster against the imposition of massive cuts to our budget. What a dummy.
flyinngscott
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:21 AMRumour has it that a double act are being touted as lamonts replacement. The krankies however, couldnt be reached for comment.
Arthur G
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:12 AMMystic Arthur predicts: The Scotsman will outlive Johann Lamon'ts leadership of Labour but neither will last beyond the end of 2014. Remember you read it here first!
flyinngscott
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:08 AM#58, Pubs shut early tonight harry ?===================== What exactly was the ipcress file all about anyway?
Huntly Loon
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:30 AMWho's rattled Harry Palmer's cage? Does he not realise his dire world is happening under Unionism? Need I say more?
Harry Palmer
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:28 AMSister Wendy we had the Tories in the 80s & 90s because the SNP voted with Mrs Thatcher to bring down a Labour Government. The ultimate betrayel of the Scots. Also their is no such party as the British Labour Party! I know this because I searched Google for it. There is the Labour Party and the Scottish Labour Party*which I assume is some sort of scottish offshoot of the Labour Party). Using the same search I found a party called the British National Party and a Party called the Scottish National Party. Does this make the SNP a scottish offshoot of the BNP?
Harry Palmer
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:22 AMYoung People with no jobs. No Future. Roads, Parks and Pavements in dire need of repair. Our Councils in deep debt. And now Alex Salmond sells us down the river to cheap chinese steel. All the SNP cares about is independence. They talk about the Scotland's future. What about all the young people today who have no future. The SNP say independence will solve all these problems but what are the unemployed to do until 2014? Public Debt the SNP keep talking about oil revenue and how if Scotland had been independent in the 70s we would be so wealthy now like Norway. Well guess what Eck if I had invented Facebook I would not care what happened in Scotland because I could get in my jet and fly away if it all goes belly up! If I was any good at football I could play for Everton and be rich. You can't live in the past. The SNP once wanted us to be like Ireland until Ireland collapsed. Now it's Norway we are to be like. People having a hard time just now everything will be brill in 2014 until then Eck say's G.T.F because he does not have any power to help you and you won't be as cheap as the Chinese.
Sister Wendy
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:09 AMThrough the 80's & 90's Scottish Labour, part of BLAB (British Labour) said, vote for us, we'll save Scotland from the Tories.... And we did. NO coal, NO steel, NO ship building. Little industry... That was Scotland's thanks for returning the fab "curtain raising" 50! Just Greggs, hair salons and lots of effing hopelessness!!!!! Vote SLAB they said - and our country was devastated. And still, Labour think they're in a position to call the shots. Huh...... Makes you laugh, eh.
Huntly Loon
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:00 AMSeeing we need a new bridge over the Forth it would be best to get it at best value for money, taking into account future maintenance factors. Apparently we don't produce steel any more or even provide the kind required for the bridge. The contract was put out to tender and I assume the best contract won. The contract I assume came as a whole and not a pick and mix with the other. If indigenous companies did not quote to supply for steel they can't expect now to get to supply. And in any case the company which is moaning is Indian. The Motherwell plant is just a subsidiary. It would be better if the Motherwell business look to tender for other work and not waste their time, our time, or the taxpayers' money on a project that should now be implemented conform to the agreed contracts.
usernameandpassword
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:53 PMWhere exactly is the steel supposed to be made in Scotland? Lamont's garden shed perhaps?
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