Ministers will leave no stone unturned when it comes to securing a future for Port of Glasgow yard and shipbuilding on the Clyde

With the UK government also rumoured to be actively sounding out foreign investors to bolster the battered and beleaguered Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde, Scottish Wellbeing Economy Secretary Màiri McAllan MSP has told MSPs they will “leave no stone unturned” to secure the future of the shipyard.

She responded to calls for the Port Glasgow yard to be awarded the contract for seven smaller CalMac Ferries Limited ferries by stating she would do all she could to secure an order book for the firm, but restated that such direct awards were only permitted in strictly limited circumstances.

Ms McAllan said she expected to receive a revised business plan from The Scottish Government-owned yard by the end of this month after its previous request for £25 million of investment was rejected by her predecessor Neil Gray last year.

She said the plan would have to be “deliverable, makes economic sense and meets our legal requirements on subsidy control”.

Ms McAllan said she was “impressed by the passion and commitment shown by the trade unions in making the case for future investment”.

She said she had met union leaders last week when she assured them that “ministers will leave no stone unturned when it comes to securing a future for the yard and shipbuilding on the Clyde.

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