The Holyrood committee investigating the procurement of two late and over-budget ferries has confirmed the First Minister will appear before it on November 4.
Nicola Sturgeon last month accepted a request to give evidence before the Public Audit Committee, saying she was “very willing” to appear.
The committee is examining the procurement and construction of the Glen Sannox and as-yet-unnamed Hull 802, which are set to be delivered more than five years later than planned and cost three times more than expected.
READ MORE: No decision taken on costs increase for overdue ferries - Sturgeon
As covered in Insider, the ferries - being built at the Government-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow - have attracted controversy in recent years. after the contract was awarded to the shipyard which said it could not provide the vital builders refund guarantee that would protect the Government’s investment.
Last month a BBC investigation last month suggested Ferguson Marine might have been given preferential treatment during the bidding process.
After the revelations, the Scottish Conservatives called for the police to be called in. But the First Minister said last month in an appearance before Holyrood committee conveners, last month, that she had not seen any evidence of criminality and it was not her job to determine if there was.
Speaking about being asked to appear before the Public Audit Committee, she said: "I'm not sure it is true to say I’m looking forward to that opportunity, but I’m certainly very willing."
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