Meanwhile in Scotland...

Granny 23

I most certainly was not suggesting any such thing.

I remember being interested at the time and watching debates from Holyrood. I know there was much anger in the Scottish papers and by the Unions who called on Alex Salmond to revisit the contract at the time.

I am thinking of the Statement made on behalf of , the then, Minister for Transport Keith Brown and TaTa Steel. He said.

"Scottish Ministers have made sure that contractual arrangements for the Forth Replacement Crossing provide all possible opportunities for Scotland's firms and workforce to benefit from the huge public investment being made in this essential infrastructure project. The procurement of sub contractors and 'suppliers' in a way that adheres to these contractual requirements is , however , quite rightly a commercial matter for the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors.". A later comment followed in the Statement.

" We have stipulated that FCBC must advertise that work so 'Scottish' firms are fully aware of opportunities to bid. How FCBC procure those services and 'materials' is NOT a public procurement process and is entirely a commercial matter for them and NOT Transport Scotland, or any other part of the Scottish Government. It is for FCBC to manage ALL it's suppliers and subcontractors and the risks associated with that to deliver the project".

I think that point could be the reason there was so much anger at the time . The Scottish Government chose the consortium and agreed the contract terms. Who knows what might have happened if the other consortium were chosen. Instead of 'Scottish' firms being protected the Scottish governmnet widened it to UK firms and or indeed the contract would only be signed off if steel was supplied by the UK Steel Industry as much as possible.

What's done is done but I am playing devils advocate in mentioning certain points as the matter was raised in the thread and I had a slightly different view that's all. I have no doubt the Scottish Government acted in all good faith.

www.transport.gov.scot/news/statement-behalf-minister-transport-keith-brown-and-tata-steel

This is where I got the quotes from for info.

I apologise wholeheartedly POGS for grasping the wrong end of the stick. Defending the SG and its Ministers against unfounded criticisms and deliberately provocative misinformation in the MSM has become my default position, especially when it concerns one of my good friends (Keith Brown).

Biased? - mea culpa

Granny 23

How refreshing to get your post. It was not necessary and I genuinely have an interest . I am interested to hear other posters views.

I tried to point posters in the direction of the Steel Industry woes and listening to the horses mouth speak by saying The Welsh Leader was making a Statement live on t.v re Steel and TaTa recently if anybody was interested but all I got was abuse! . Why, because I said 'truly' interested and some took it to be a personal attack. They also ignored the fact a Statement precedes a question and answer time by saying Carwyn Jones is Labour and will have left wing thoughts, some sort of rubbish like that. I am a tad boring and listen to debates from Holyrood and Cardiff often although I am English, it's surprising what nuggets you remember isn't it.

The steel industry is on it's knees in the UK at the moment and it needs as much help as possible and it takes adult debate and political will to keep it going , on that point I am sure we can agree.