Call for inquiry as Calmac ferry debacle deepens

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The former owner of the Ferguson shipyard has called on SNP leadership candidates to commit to establishing an expert inquiry into the Calmac ferry debacle before the cost of the vessels, now almost four times over budget, increases further.

Jim McColl's demand follows last week's admission by SNP ministers that the two long-delayed ferries being built at the nationalised Ferguson shipyard face another delay, because of "persistent design gaps and build errors".

The government added that there was still no certainty over how much the vessels will finally cost.

It also follows a report last week by Audit Scotland, which revealed the award of almost £90,000 of bonus payments to six executives at the state-owned yard last year, which appear to have been