Information on Ferries and budget: FOI release

Information requested

Where 180 million pounds has been spent on 2 ferries plus the 70 million original costs?

On public record I want to see the invoices to the company making the ferries from the government and the politicians signatures?

Who are the stakeholders in the ferry company?

Are there any politicians/family members with shares in ferry companies?

Response

The answer to your question is listed below in the order in which you have asked to ensure clarity and understanding.

1. Where 180 million pounds has been spent on 2 ferries plus the 70 million original costs?

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. I have detailed below where you can find the information for this request.

Scottish Government monies to Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) have been spent on the construction of vessels 801 and 802 (Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa).

You can find all spending over £25 000 here: Government spend over £25,000: monthly reports

• You can select each month individually and it will generate an excel document. In column ‘B’ you will find the payee of Scottish Government monies. This column will list ‘Ferguson Marine’.

Our Consolidated Accounts can be found here Financial reports and accounts - Government Finance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)..

• These accounts reflect the consolidated assets and liabilities, as well as the results of all entities within our consolidation accounting boundary as required by and defined in the Government financial reporting manual.
• This gives descriptions of monies spent.

Audit Scotland looked at our accounts (please see the report here: The 2022/23 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts | Audit Scotland (audit-scotland.gov.uk)) and found that the processes followed have been in accordance with the requirements set out in the Scottish Parliament Finance Manual and found no areas of concern.

2. On public record I want to see the invoices to the company making the ferries from the government and the politicians signatures?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested as we do not issue the company making the ferries with invoices from the government.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

3. Who are the stakeholders in the ferry company?

The stakeholders in Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) “FMPG” are as follows:

• The employees of FMPG.
• The Scottish Government as a primary shareholder.
• The People of Scotland as tax paying citizens.

4. Are there any politicians/family members with shares in ferry companies?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested as this sits with the Scottish Parliament.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

However, the information you have requested is available from the Register of Interests | Scottish Parliament Website. If you click this link, it will take you to a page at the bottom of which there is a link to the 2023 Scottish Parliament Register of Interests. You can also search by MSP as well at the link near the top of the page. This website provides details about MSPs' financial interests and benefits.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.