Scottish firms were part of bid to supply Forth bridge steel


Community calls for halt to procurement process in letter to Alex Salmond


The Community union has written to First Minister Alex Salmond MSP calling on him to halt the Forth Replacement Crossing project while a review is carried out into the procurement process.  On Friday 27 January it emerged that all the steel would be supplied from overseas and ‘no Scottish firms bid’.  Community, which represents the majority of Scottish steelworkers, has learnt that the Tata Steel Europe plant at Dalzell was part of the tender process.

In the letter to the First Minister, Community’s General Secretary Michael Leahy says:

“I was shocked to hear that no Scottish, or UK, steel would be used as part of this flagship infrastructure project and I was confused to see the statement that ‘no Scottish firms bid’ to supply the steel.

“It seems clear that there has been an over-emphasis on cost at the expense of a focus on value to Scottish industries and communities.

“Our members at Tata Steel’s Dalzell site were shocked and angered when they heard the news as they believe that their site has the capability and capacity to supply at least some of the steel that the FRC project requires.

“I have seen too many politicians hide behind EU procurement rules in situations like this and I noted that [the] Minister for Housing and Transport joined that list...  I do not accept those arguments – I would rather people admitted that there was a failure of political will.”

Since the announcement, Michael Leahy has been speaking to senior executives at Tata Steel Europe who confirmed that the company had been indirectly involved in the tender process and that the Dalzell plant has the capability to supply some of the steel for the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Ends.

Further information:
Paul Talbot 07768 693936