MSPs to press EU on issue of local firms

Published on Sunday 19 February 2012 00:13

SCOTTISH ministers are to urge the European Commission to give local firms a better chance to compete on major public sector spending contracts.

Infrastructure minister Alex Neil has written to the European Commission saying its rules should be changed so the economic impact on local communities can be taken into account when handing out contracts.

Neil’s intervention follows criticism from Labour that Scottish firms were losing out to overseas competitors on major multi-million-pound contracts – such as for the new Forth road bridge – because of EU competition law.

Writing in Scotland on Sunday today, Neil claims that if either the Edinburgh or London administrations took such considerations into account at present they would be hauled before the courts by other EU firms.

“At present, neither the UK nor Scottish Government could consider the potential closure and loss of employment when awarding a contract like this,” Neil says, before adding: “I have written to the European Commission asking for this important concession.”

The call comes amid growing anger about the handing out of contracts for the new Forth Crossing, and in particular the £790 million deal to fabricate the steel on the new bridge, won by Chinese and European firms.

Labour has called it “a national disgrace”. Richard Baker MSP said yesterday: “It makes a mockery of the SNP’s promise to use this massive project to provide a major boost to Scottish businesses.”

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HorridHenrietta

Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 10:05 AM

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HorridHenrietta

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 03:50 PM

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Finnzz

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 04:07 PM

Looks like this articles author is as dense as the lamentable Lamont and Baker when it comes to actual facts regarding the steel contract.........................For those who are still confused by the witterings of these Labourites et al, the entire bridge contract is worth £790 million. The entire steel contract is worth less than 10% of that total. Therefore Scotland lost out on a steel contract for £80 million because Scotland doesn't have a steel industry capable of bidding for the plate, and what it does have was hampered by competition laws that Labour formulated.

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Gordon Hay

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 12:57 PM

Labour have NOT been aiming their criticism at EU competition law - they have been trying to portray it as SNP incompetence and ignoring the EU dimension, as yesterday's article and quote from Richard Baker shows.

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