Following the news that the Scottish Government continued to pay milestone payments to Ferguson Marine despite the vessels being faulty, Edward Mountain MSP said:
“Where was the oversight? The Scottish Government handed over £82.5m over the course of 30 milestone payments for vessels that were faulty and nowhere near finished.
“It is scandalous that the milestone payments kept being made, especially after 801’s Bulbous Bow was rejected in 2017. In the same year, another payment was made for the launch of 801, ignoring the fact that it had fake funnels connected to pretend engines and painted on windows.
“As a surveyor with fifteen years’ experience, I am astounded at the apparent lack of checks and controls in this ferry contract.
“While we know now that John Swinney had a hand in signing off this contract, we still don’t know who checked these milestones and who approved the payments. Maybe more documents will magically appear but I have my doubts.
“The Scottish Government are still hiding secrets and they have delayed every single one of my FOI requests on the milestone payments so far. The public deserve to know the truth and this why there must now be a full public inquiry.”