Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2025
09 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Limited
The Subsidy Control Act 2022 is clear—this has not changed since 2014—that there are several criteria that can be used, including local context and social value, and a direct award is certainly possible. If the Scottish Government wants to prevent the issue from being a political football, it should provide the yard with the investment that it needs in order to operate.
That brings me to my second point. We know that CMAL did not take account of the immense social value that the small ferries contract would have brought to Scotland and to Inverclyde. Despite scoring strongly on the technical aspect of the bid, Ferguson Marine lost out on price to a yard that has no obligation to meet the same high standard of labour laws that we have in this country. The Government needs to develop, at pace, a model of public procurement that takes account of social value. Procurement law has not changed since 2014—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20036, in the name of Richard Leonard, on behalf of the Public Audit Committee, on its report, “The 2023/...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests. I present this unanimous report to Parliament on behalf of the Public Audit Committee, a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Daniel Johnson to speak to and move amendment S6M-20036.1. 15:20
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
The report by Audit Scotland and the subsequent report by the Public Audit Committee are stark and emphatic, and Richard Leonard’s words emphasised that. We ...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I will do in a moment. There is not just a financial story to be told—the Government and, indeed, all of us have a moral responsibility to ensure that the i...
Stuart McMillan
SNP
With regard to reputational damage, would Daniel Johnson also acknowledge the fact that the yard went into liquidation in 2014? Clearly, the reputation of th...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
What has happened since then? A £400 million bill is being picked up by the taxpayer—that is on the Scottish Government. We all know that, beyond the Glen R...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
To use his word, the member talked about the “politicisation” of the award—I assume that he means back in 2015. He now wants us to break subsidy control and ...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The Subsidy Control Act 2022 is clear—this has not changed since 2014—that there are several criteria that can be used, including local context and social va...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
If it is brief.
Paul Sweeney
Lab
I am sure that my friend would also note that, unlike in Scotland, the Polish Government offers generous patient finance to Polish shipbuilders through its s...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
That is a point worth noting. The United Kingdom Labour Government has committed to reviewing UK procurement legislation to boost domestic supply chains and...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to open this debate for the Government and to respond to the Public Audit Committee’s report on the 2023-24 audit of Ferguson Marin...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the Deputy First Minister give way?
Kate Forbes
SNP
I ask Craig Hoy to allow me to make a bit more progress, and then I will be more than happy to take his intervention. We want Ferguson Marine to be capable ...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
Will the Deputy First Minister take an intervention?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Will the Deputy First Minister give way?
Kate Forbes
SNP
I do not know whether Craig Hoy wants to come in at this point.
Craig Hoy
Con
The minister is painting a rosy picture of the situation now that borders on recklessness and complacency. Is it not the truth that this has been a fiasco in...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Craig Hoy was not listening if he thinks that I was painting a rosy picture in my comments a few minutes ago. Let me turn to the delivery of the MV Glen Ros...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Made a request to intervene.
Kate Forbes
SNP
I ask the member to let me get through my points and, if I have some time, I will bring him in. Lessons from the MV Glen Sannox are being applied to the MV ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Edward Mountain. You have around five minutes, Mr Mountain. 15:35
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I will try to stick to my time, as the other speakers have. I congratulate the Public Audit Committee on its detaile...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
It is not extra.
Edward Mountain
Con
It is an extra £14.2 million, because, as Mr Johnson will remember, we gave the yard £30 million—well, Derek Mackay did, without telling the Parliament or th...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Made a request to intervene.
Edward Mountain
Con
I cannot take an intervention from Mr Johnson unless the Presiding Officer will let me. I am coming to a conclusion. The people of Scotland are being asked ...