Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04319, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ferry problems. I invite members who wish to speak to press thei...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

We wanted to call this debate “Ferries Fiasco”, but parliamentary staff told us that we could not. The debate might not be called “Ferries Fiasco” in the Bus...

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (Kate Forbes) SNP

Does the member know of any business that would exist without work being given to it?

Graham Simpson Con

The yard had work—that is a fact. I believe, and Jim McColl believes, that the yard could have continued. We can be pretty certain that the yard will not tak...

The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise (Ivan McKee) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Graham Simpson Con

I will take an intervention from Mr McKee because he never gives us any answers to questions.

Ivan McKee SNP

Indeed I do, as the member knows fine well. If he is so sure that there was work in the yard, will he please specify what that work was?

Graham Simpson Con

There was work at the yard.

Kate Forbes SNP

What was it?

Graham Simpson Con

There was work at the yard. It had work and it could have taken on more work. Presiding Officer, the debate has moved on a little since we last discussed th...

Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Graham Simpson Con

I will not take any more interventions. It is little wonder that the good people of Arran elected a Conservative councillor—Timothy Billings—last week. Isla...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call the minister, Jenny Gilruth, to speak to and move amendment S6M-04391.2. You have up to six minutes, minister. 14:57

The Minister for Transport (Jenny Gilruth) SNP

Talking to that positivity that Mr Simpson was seeking, I have some good news to share with Parliament. Indeed, I have that good news literally here in my ha...

Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

Will the minister give way?

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I would like to make some progress. We said that we would continue to look in good faith, and that is exactly what we have done. The document was found bec...

Graham Simpson Con

Will the minister give way?

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I would like to make some progress. The e-mail destroys the Opposition’s ridiculous conspiracy theory that another minister made the decision, and it dest...

Graham Simpson Con

The e-mail that has just been read out does not say why the decision was taken, why the advice not to award the contract was ignored and whether there were d...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

The information that pertains to the decision to award the contract, which Mr Simpson is searching for, has already been published. He has received answers t...

Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the fact that we are now turning to the subject of ferries and away from the conspiracy theories that we have listened to for the last few minutes ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Excuse me, Dr Allan, please resume your seat. Dr Allan is trying to make an intervention and there is too much noise; please let Dr Allan make his intervention.

Alasdair Allan SNP

The minister will be aware that this is not the first time that Lochboisdale has been without a service, and I know from conversations that I have had with h...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Excuse me, Dr Allan. Interventions should be brief. The minister probably gets the gist and can respond.

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I became aware of the issues surrounding the MV Lord of the Isles vessel earlier today. I will meet with CalMac tonight; I believe that representatives of Ca...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Neil Bibby to speak to and move amendment S6M-4319.1. 15:04

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the debate that Graham Simpson has brought forward today. Today, Scottish Labour is making a further call for full openness and transparency to g...

Kate Forbes SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Neil Bibby Lab

Let me make some progress, please. If that had happened, one of the biggest failures in public procurement in the past 20 years could have been avoided. Th...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I had not seen it before today.