UK government backs Ferguson bid

The European Commission is investigating claims that three Polish shipyards are being supported by government subsidies, in breach of EU competition rules. Scottish Office Minister David Cairns said UK Trade Minister Alun Michael had agreed to take the concerns to Europe.

Cairns said the contract to build two fisheries protection boats should now be awarded to the only other bidder, Ferguson’s yard in Port Glasgow. He said Ferguson had a reasonably secure future but there were too many questions about the Polish yard to be awarded the contract. He said: “EU competition rules clearly state there can be no improper subsidies and there are now questions about the Polish yard being awarded that work. The problem is that we cannot really wait two years for an investigation to be carried out. There are now too many questions about the Polish yard and this order needs to be placed in the next few months. Therefore it should be placed with the only other bidder for the order, which is Ferguson’s shipyard.”