First Minister pressed on Forth Replacement Crossing steel contracts
Alex Salmond has been accused of ''turning his back'' on steel workers by giving work created by the new Forth crossing to foreign workers.
Tata Steel says its plant in Motherwell could have taken some of the work.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 03.02.12
- Published online : 03.02.12 @ 02.20pm
It emerged on Thursday that around 8,500 tonnes of steel due to be manufactured in Shanghai could have been made in Scunthorpe and rolled in Motherwell. Tata Steel, which has a plant in Motherwell, confirmed it had ''indirectly'' been involved in the tendering process and could have brought work to Scotland.
The Courier revealed on Thursday that the steel workers union, Community, has demanded a halt to work on the bridge until the row is settled.
There was fury last week when it emerged the contract for the 37,000 tonnes of steel needed has been awarded to Chinese, Polish and Spanish firms.
However, Transport Minister Keith Brown said no Scottish firm bid for the work, and insisted the deal represented the best value for the public purse.
A spokesman for Tata Steel said: ''Tata Steel can confirm that it did participate indirectly in the bid for the tendering process for the Forth Bridge Crossing and that its Dalzell works is capable of supplying a significant proportion of the steel required.''
Motherwell MSP John Pentland raised the issue with the First Minister at Holyrood.
Mr Salmond responded: ''Can I point out to the member that there has been 118 subcontracts already awarded to Scottish firms, from a total of 155 subcontracts awarded to date? That represents 76% of the total number of subcontracts awarded.''
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: ''It is an embarrassment for Alex Salmond, and it is a slap in the face to Tata's Scottish workforce who deserve to know why they are being treated in this way.''
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: ''For the avoidance of doubt, the subcontracts announced last Friday were for structural steel components for the new bridge, for which no Scottish steelwork fabricating firms bid.
''We are clearly extremely willing to ensure that Scottish firms receive contracts, and the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project is already providing a significant boost to the Scottish construction industry.''
The government agency argues that the rigorous procurement process it has set up could save taxpayers nearly £1 billion compared with initial estimates on the cost of the bridge.
The total bill is now expected to come in at between £1.4 and £1.6 billion, well below previous estimates of £2.3 billion.
Photo by Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive
09.24pm - 03.02.2012 Jimmy R. - Dundee, Scotland U.K. Report This
Alex Salmond's key point over the past few years since getting into office was to portray himself as the saviour of Scotland. That claim has been cruelly exposed as being completely false. The way in which Scots workers and companies have been treated is nothing short of a disgrace.
11.46am - 07.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
What does that say when Scottish companies fail to submit bids. Perhaps Scottish industry believes the nonsense that they are 'too wee, too stupid and too small' to compete even in Scotland. That mindset needs to be challenged if Scots are to prosper in their own country
04.09pm - 07.02.2012 Neil - Dundee, Scotland Report This
@ Max Perhaps you should look to the glass and wood at Holyrood to point the finger of blame?
12.17pm - 08.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
@ Neil, but Scottish firms did submit bids for the Holyrood building. The problem then was the uncontrolled rise in costs during construction. It is still difficult to believe that no Scottish firms submitted bids for the new Forth Bridge, they seem to be content with crumbs.
12.23pm - 08.02.2012 frank - dundee, scotland Report This
lol It's amusing to see the "too wee....etc" mantra used. Has the original poster not noticed that his accusation is of an SNP govt.?
02.10pm - 08.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
@ Jimmy R stop making up stories that is what journalists are for. The truth is no Scottish companies submitted bids when it was an open bidding process.
11.49am - 10.02.2012 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Imagine the catterwalling from the Scot. Govt's opponents if the contract had gone to Tata's front company with resultant increased costs. Tendering rules do not allow favouritism. There is only "fault" here if it was misapplied. There is NO evidence of that. Only of opportunism from the opposition.
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