Chamber and committees

Thank you very much indeed. Willie Coffey has a number of questions to put.

Are you saying that that critical piece of evidence does not cover in full the ministerial decision to mitigate the risk?

I turn straight away to the deputy convener, Sharon Dowey.

In relation to the contract arrangements after nationalisation, you highlight in paragraph 105 of the report that there was quite a fundamental shift, with the contract changing from a fixed-price tender basis to a cost-plus basis. You say that the Scottish Government agreed to

“paying the additional vessel costs, regardless of the final price.”

Do you have a view on that decision?

On a point that is related to that, a couple of paragraphs later on in the report, at paragraph 108, you inform us that CMAL, which is the purchaser, also became the technical consultant. Does that not blur the lines and even, potentially, represent a conflict of interest?

I am sure that, after discussion, we will reach that point.

In the remaining few minutes, I want to give Rhoda Grant, who is joining us remotely, an opportunity to ask questions. Rhoda, is, of course, an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, and she will, I hope, be served by the ferries, if they eventually set sail.

Thank you very much indeed. Colin Beattie has a series of questions that he wants to put to you.

Okay, so we do not know whether the Government is searching for something that exists.

Rhoda, do you have any further questions?

That brings the evidence session to a close. I thank Boyd Robertson for his opening statement, which was very useful in framing our session. I thank David Garden, director of finance, for his input, which has been valuable, and I particularly thank Pam Dudek, the chief executive, who has fully, comprehensively and candidly answered the questions that we put to her.

We will suspend briefly to allow for a changeover of witnesses.