Ferries scandal Scotland: MSPs demand publication of KC probe into 'rigged' ferry contract allegations

The report is centred on allegations around the Glen Sannox and hull 802.

Ministers must publish a leading lawyer’s investigation into allegations a contract for two ferries was ‘rigged’ in favour of Ferguson Marine shipyard, MSPs have said.

Barry Smith KC is undertaking a probe into allegations around the contract for the long-delayed and significantly over-budget Glen Sannox and hull 802. The allegations were made in a BBC documentary, The Great Ferries Scandal, broadcast last year.

Last week, The Scotsman revealed senior officials within Transport Scotland sought to restrict the publication of his report before the lawyer had even begun his work, raising questions about whether the document will be published at all.

CMAL is Scotland's ferry procurement and infrastructure body.

Despite the Scottish Government’s involvement, ministers have claimed the decision to publish the report is for ferry procurement body CMAL alone. CMAL said its board would consider the findings of the report once the probe was complete.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said the full report must be published.

He said: “The SNP must release this entire report in full. Attempts to sweep it under the carpet or prevent it from being published only make the Government appear more guilty.

“The Scottish public are sick and tired of this SNP secrecy. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer pounds have been wasted a result of these contracts. Scots deserve to know whether the process to award them was rigged and who in the highest ranks of the SNP was ultimately responsible.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton agreed, adding: “Hundreds of millions have been wasted by the SNP in the course of building these ferries so taxpayers deserve to know everything that has been going on.

“There should be no question that this report is published and that it should be free of the meddling and obstruction that we so regularly see from SNP ministers.”

During a Holyrood debate on ferries, Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson Neil Bibby said the findings of the lawyer’s report must be shared with MSPs in full “no ifs, no buts”, with no redactions.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he will “take advice” on what can be published.

A CMAL spokesperson said: “CMAL will await the findings of the investigations by the King’s Counsel, after which it is the responsibility of the CMAL board to consider the findings. In terms of witnesses, it entirely up to the King’s Counsel to decide who he wishes to invite to speak to him on this matter. No restrictions in this regard have been set.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The Scottish Public Finance Manual places an obligation on CMAL to investigate allegations appropriately. As such, any report that is received by CMAL from the appointed King's Counsel will be considered by the CMAL board, including decisions around publication.

“All parties are committed to transparency in relation to the procurement process of hulls 801 and 802.”

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