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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Concern over airport rail plans | Concern over airport rail plans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's spending watchdog has expressed concern about Edinburgh's planned airport rail link. | Scotland's spending watchdog has expressed concern about Edinburgh's planned airport rail link. |
| It is unlikely to be up and running by the 2011 target date, according to Auditor General Robert Black. | |
| However, he gave a second project, to deliver trams for the Scottish capital, a clean bill of health. | |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney, who has expressed concerns that both projects do not represent value for money, said the findings had raised serious issues. | Finance Secretary John Swinney, who has expressed concerns that both projects do not represent value for money, said the findings had raised serious issues. |
| The Scottish government's decision to call in the auditor was heavily criticised by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who suggested Mr Black was being used to overturn policy decisions. | The Scottish government's decision to call in the auditor was heavily criticised by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who suggested Mr Black was being used to overturn policy decisions. |
| The government doesn't have any evidence from this report to cancel these projects Tavish Scott MSPLib Dem finance spokesman | |
| Although both the trams and airport projects previously received parliamentary backing, no decision has been taken over their future. | Although both the trams and airport projects previously received parliamentary backing, no decision has been taken over their future. |
| The auditor general's report stated that the estimated £593m cost of the trams project had been subjected to "robust testing" and sound financial management. | The auditor general's report stated that the estimated £593m cost of the trams project had been subjected to "robust testing" and sound financial management. |
| But as well as concerns about delivery of the airport rail link, which may cost up to £650m, the auditor said there was a higher level of uncertainty over the project than might be expected because "key decisions" had yet to be made. | But as well as concerns about delivery of the airport rail link, which may cost up to £650m, the auditor said there was a higher level of uncertainty over the project than might be expected because "key decisions" had yet to be made. |
| 'Wrong option' | |
| Mr Swinney claimed he had been vindicated in his decision to order the investigation, adding that it had provided further information on which a decision could be made. | Mr Swinney claimed he had been vindicated in his decision to order the investigation, adding that it had provided further information on which a decision could be made. |
| "The report raises a number of serious concerns about governance and development issues which we would have expected to be in better shape than the auditor general finds them, particularly in relation to the Edinburgh Airport rail link," he said. | "The report raises a number of serious concerns about governance and development issues which we would have expected to be in better shape than the auditor general finds them, particularly in relation to the Edinburgh Airport rail link," he said. |
| Audit Scotland transport report (560k) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here | |
| But former transport minister Tavish Scott said there could be more delays on the projects. | |
| "The government doesn't have any evidence from this report to cancel these projects and must commit to funding immediately," added the Lib Dem finance spokesman. | |
| Green MSP Robin Harper said the trams were a good deal for the taxpayer and the environment, but added: "The airport rail link is the wrong option, poor value for money and is not environmentally sustainable." | |
| Tie, the organisation managing the two projects, said it shared the auditor general's concerns over the airport link and were working to resolve them. | Tie, the organisation managing the two projects, said it shared the auditor general's concerns over the airport link and were working to resolve them. |
| Executive chairman Willie Gallagher said: "We believe it is critical to the success of the rail project that this problem is addressed without delay." | Executive chairman Willie Gallagher said: "We believe it is critical to the success of the rail project that this problem is addressed without delay." |