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Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
How do you respond to accusations from the commercial sector in each of those markets that Government intervention is in some way distorting the commercial market? For example, with regard to Prestwick airport, Glasgow airport was very vocal about that accusation over the years.
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
That is good to know.
What I have heard about Lochaber smelter is quite concerning, and I am sure that we all share that concern. My understanding is that the Scottish Government has committed to a 25-year guarantee. Audit Scotland has estimated the exposure to the public purse to be in the range of between £14 million and £32 million a year over the contract. What is your current estimate of exposure and how much public money has been invested in the business to date? If you do not have those numbers now, you can write to us with them.
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Who is the current chairman of the board?
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
He failed to return that to the private sector. Do you have confidence that he can do it at Ferguson’s?
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Why do you think that, two weeks ago, David Tydeman, the former chief executive of Ferguson’s, told the media that he had absolutely no idea why he was sacked?
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Mr Irwin, I have a wider question—it is a bit of a chicken-and-egg question—about the fact that the business has obviously come to the Government to ask for support, for many of the reasons that you have outlined. Which of those decisions are made purely as good business decisions, and which are made as political and strategic decisions? Are you directed by ministers to make something work if they choose to invest in a failing business, or are you approaching ministers with opportunities and saying, “These are businesses that you could invest in as a Government”? Which way round is it?
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 30 May 2024
Jamie Greene
There have been three in two years.
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Mr Grisewood, in what way numerically has Scotland’s economy improved as a result of your strategy?
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Either the Auditor General was incorrect in his analysis of the arrangements or what you are describing does not exist. One of those must be true.
Public Audit Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Jamie Greene
Let us point to page 10 of the report. There is a very helpful—