John Swinney has been accused of failing to use new procurement powers and blaming the UK government for his ministers’ decisions to order buses from China.
Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has announced plans to shut its plant at Falkirk with the loss of 400 jobs and move production to another site in Scarborough, Yorkshire.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar today told MSPs that the First Minister had misled parliament over how long he knew about the problems facing the company.
“Last week John Swinney claimed that he became aware of issues facing Alexander Dennis a few weeks ago and was doing what he could to help the company. But that is not true,” said Mr Sarwar during First Minister’s Questions.
“John Swinney received a letter almost a year ago directly from the company setting out how his decision to buy buses from China instead of from Scotland was putting the company and jobs at risk.
“But last week, as usual, he tried to find someone else to blame for his own failure by talking about UK procurement laws.
“Laws that did not stop Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from buying Scottish buses, but somehow stops the SNP Government.”
Mr Sarwar asked the First Minister how many buses the government has ordered from Scottish companies since he received the letter almost a year ago.
Mr Swinney confirmed he had been in contact with Alexander Dennis since last August and there had been talks, also involving Scottish Enterprise, since that date.
He said that since 2020 Alexander Dennis had secured orders for 360 vehicles through Scottish government funding programmes and Manchester had ordered 160.
“I hope that indicates that the Scottish government has been supporting Alexander Dennis,” he said.
Mr Sarwar said the First Minister had not answered the question. “Since that letter almost a year ago: zero buses ordered from Alexander Dennis. Zero, ” he stated.
“He can waffle all he likes but he cannot escape from the fact that his government has the powers and the resources to act, but has failed to do so.”
Mr Sarwar added: “The Cabinet office has clearly set out how the SNP Scottish Government could have helped ensure contracts go to Scottish manufacturers to support Scottish jobs.
“He could have applied social value criteria, which helps domestic suppliers, or he could have considered a direct award. He did neither.
“Now with the UK Procurement Act the SNP Government can disregard bids from non-treaty state suppliers, which includes countries like China.
“So did John Swinney not understand the law, or was it the usual SNP attempt to pass the buck [and] find someone else to blame?”
Mr Swinney said the government had acquired buses through various support schemes. He added that the discussions with the company are ongoing.
Mr Sarwar said the workers did not want talks, they wanted contracts.
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