Grain firm hits trouble

A Scottish grain trader has been put in administration – just months after the running of its parent businesses were also taken over by accountants.

Farmers are understood to be among the biggest creditors of Edinburgh-based familyr un Philip Wilson (Grain).

One, who is still due £11,000 for grain from last year's harvest, said the company had told him it had cash flow problems when he asked why it had not paid him. The Eastlothian producer had originally been due £22,000,

“One of biggest donors to Scottish Conservatives”

but received half the payment.

Another farmer owed £70,000.

The business was run by the Scott family. Malcolm Scott has in recent years been one of the biggest donors to the Scottish Conservative party, ploughing about £1.6million into its coffers.

His holding company, BS 1001, and two other firms, BS 1003 and Prestonpans (Trading), the parent for Philip Wilson, were put into administration in February, with KPMG taking charge.

Philip Wilson is now being run by Ernst and Young.

KPMG has already said unsecured creditors are unlikely to receive anything from BS 1001 and have little prospect of a dividend from BS 1003 and Prestonpans (Trading).

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