Humza Yousaf has pledged to be "upfront and transparent" when it comes to an investigation into the Ferguson Marine ferry fiasco.
The Port Glasgow shipyard was awarded a multi-million pound contract to build two ferries for Caledonian Macbrayne in 2015 but neither vessel has been completed.
It was announced earlier this year that a leading lawyer would now investigate whether Fergusons was given preferential treatment when SNP ministers agreed the deal.
The First Minister told MSPs today he would “look at what can be published” from the review once it is completed.
Appearing before the Scottish Parliament's convener's committee, Yousaf said: "There are some areas and issues in relation to Fergusons that are commercially sensitive, that if we were to release completely unredacted some reports it would put Fergusons at a competitive disadvantage.”
It follows a report by BBC Scotland that suggested Fergusons was given sight of a lengthy document setting out the technical requirements for the ferries.
It was also reported there was a confidential meeting between the yard and Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the body which owns CalMac ferries.
Yousaf said the Scottish Government took the issues raised by the BBC “very, very seriously indeed”, adding “that is why there is an investigation under way”.
He insisted the Scottish Government would “stand up” and “take scrutiny on these matters”.
Richard Leonard, the convener of Holyrood's Public Audit Committee, complained his own investigation into Fergusons had been “met with ministerial non-co-operation, senior civil servants evading scrutiny”.
The Labour MSP also accused government bodies of "omitting evidence or unable to find evidence which then turns up".
His committee’s report, published in March, found taxpayers and island communities had been “badly let down” by many of those involved in the project.
Leonard added the Scottish Government’s response to his report had been received “almost a week late” and “says frankly very little”.
He asked the First Minister if that is “the kind of fresh start to transparency we would expect” from his Government.
Yousaf told the conveners group: “I am happy to look at the request from Richard Leonard has made.
“I am absolutely committed to being not just upfront and transparent but making sure Parliament is notified as soon as we can on really important developments in relation to Fergusons.”
Fergusons is currently building two ferries for CalMac, the Glen Sannox and the as-yet-unnamed Hull 802 – which are now scheduled for completion by the end of this year and the end of 2024 respectively.
Last week the Scottish Government issued a rarely used ministerial directive to allow work on Hull 802 to proceed at the shipyard, despite advice that continuing to build the vessel there does not represent value for money.
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