Ferguson Marine spending since Scottish Government takeover: FOI release

Information requested

How much the Scottish Government has spent in the Ferguson Marine yard since the Scottish Government took it over.

Response

We have provided details below regarding the spend at Ferguson Marine since Nationalisation in 2019. To note, these figures are in the Scottish Government consolidated accounts which are available on the Scottish Government website.

Year	Value £m	Link
2019=20	17	Consolidated accounts 2019-20
2020-21	51+23	Consolidated accounts 2020-21
2021-22	61+54	Consolidated accounts 2021-22
2022-23	67.648	SBR 2022-23

As was communicated to Parliament in March 2022, from the point of public ownership the cost to complete the build of the ferries rose to the range of £119 million to £123 million. In March 2022, this brought the total direct project cost of delivering the vessels up to an estimated range of £202.3 million to £206.3 million, once contractual payments of £83.3 million, made by CMAL to FMEL, prior to public ownership are included.

The figures in the Scottish Government’s consolidated accounts also include other cash and non-cash elements, including factors such as commercial and legal advice to support Ferguson Marine, the support given to Ferguson Marine and its staff during Covid-19 and Capital Investment upgrades in the yard. The spend for the 2022-23 financial year will only be confirmed when the Consolidated accounts for 2022-23 are published, which is expected in December 2023.

Cost of the vessels

The direct estimated costs of completing the hulls is c£277 million, comprising:

• £83m of contractual payments to FMEL prior to public ownership.
• £194m estimated cost of completing the vessels, as per a letter to the Scottish Parliaments Public and Audit Committee dated 22 December 2022 from the CEO of Ferguson Marine.

The Scottish Government is however conducting a rigorous due diligence process on the revised cost estimate on hull 801 and 802 following a letter to the Scottish Parliaments Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee dated 28 September 2022 from the CEO of Ferguson Marine. This will be completed shortly.

 

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