John Swinney accused of overseeing 11-year ‘fiasco' amid fresh delay to one of two new ferries for islanders
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JOHN Swinney has been accused of overseeing an 11-year 'fiasco' amid a fresh delay to one of two new ferries for islanders.
The First Minister faced jeers as it emerged delivery of the MV Glen Rosa to CalMac had been put back nine months until next year.
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Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay put pressure on the First Minister
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Mr Swinney was accused of overseeing an 11-year 'fiasco'
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Delivery of the MV Glen Rosa to CalMac had been put back nine months
Credit: PA
The saga will cost taxpayers an extra £35million.
It brings the bill for the ship, and finally operational sister vessel the MV Glen Sannox, to £460million — almost five times the original price tag.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay slammed the initial order placed with Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow in 2015 as 'corrupt'.
He said: 'It was John Swinney who personally signed off what was a corrupt CalMac procurement process.
"He has never accepted blame.
"Nobody in the SNP ever has or does.'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar slammed the huge sums spent repairing CalMac's ageing fleet while islanders waited for the new ferries to be built at the nationalised Renfrewshire yard.
He said at First Minister's Questions: 'The SNP is addicted to wasting people's money.
'This is a fiasco, paid for by working Scots.
'John Swinney and the SNP can't be trusted with the public's money.'
Aboard the the long delayed and over budget Glen Sannox ship as it finally sets sail
The Glen Rosa is now due to be delivered between April and June next year.
Mr Swinney admitted the delays and costs were 'unacceptable' but insisted: 'This government will invest in our ferry network.
'We will apply the stringent controls to public finances that have seen this government re- elected several times before.
'We are very focused on making sure that these vessels enter service so we can deliver sustainable ferry services.'
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Just over £250 million has been spent on work to the Calmac fleet, which comprises more than 30 vessels, over the last 10 years.
"This does not just include repairs, but also work such as maintenance and upgrades. A third of the existing fleet is due to be replaced in the coming years.
"Total costs to deliver the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa since public ownership are forecasted to be £418.25 million. This includes contingency costs of £12.5 million."
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