SOMERVILLE COMMENTS ON BILFINGER BERGER LITIGATION THREAT

For Immediate Release – Friday 5 November 2010




Attn: NEWSDESKS


TRANSPORT / POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS




Lothians SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has criticised as entirely


unhelpful Bilfinger Berger threats of legal action against Dave


Mackay, as the company’s relationship with TIE looks to have reached a


new low.






The MSP also argues that the latest development in the trams saga


further strengthens her calls for the Scottish Parliament to


intervene.






With Bilfinger Berger’s description of the project contrasting starkly


with that of David Mackay and TIE, the MSP believes only Parliamentary


scrutiny can allow decision makers and members of the public a chance


to establish the true facts of


the current state of the trams project.






Earlier this week Ms Somerville sent a written request for a probe to


Transport Committee Convenor, Patrick Harvie MSP. Mr Harvie has


indicated that the Committee could discuss the request at its next


meeting when it considers its work programme.






Ms Somerville said:






“This threat is entirely unhelpful. I really do not see what Bilfinger


Berger hope to achieve with this threat. If anything, it will do more


damage to their reputation than anything David Mackay said.






“They should concentrate on sitting down and finding a solution to the


problem. On the other hand at least we have their side of the story


for the first time – and they give a very different explanation of how


the relationship between TIE and the contractor has broken down.






“Once again this illustrates the need for the Scottish Parliament to


intervene. We will never get to the facts if the debate continues to


consist simply of TIE spin together with arbitrations clouded in


secrecy. No one can seriously argue that TIE and Bilfinger should be


left alone to get on with things.






“I have called on the Parliament’s Transport committee to review the


situation. I hope opposition politicians who voted through the trams


will now step up to the challenge of sorting out this mess”.






ENDS