Scots miss out on bridge contracts

Published on 15/10/2012 12:00

SCOTTISH firms are missing out on the most lucrative contracts on the new £1.6bn Forth crossing, figures reveal.

Analysis shows that 29 foreign companies have been awarded sub-
contracts for the scheme out of the 135 on offer so far. Last year, Finance Secretary John Swinney stated the scheme would ‘secure over a billion pounds in economic revenue’ for the country.

Many of the 72 local firms hired are for less-skilled work such as security, fencing and plant hire while foreign companies from Spain, Germany and Poland have been awarded more tecnically challenging engineering work.

Engineer John Carson, a former head of Miller Civil Engineering and leading critic of the new crossing, said: “When you look at the list of companies and what they do, it is abundantly clear that Scottish firms are getting a raw deal. Putting up fences, cleaning offices and testing fire alarms is in no way the great economic boom we were promised.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “With 80 per cent of the project still to go, there remains scope for more Scottish businesses to be involved.”