Government steel deal questioned
MINISTERS are facing transparency calls after it was revealed a metal tycoon who denies fraud allegations paid just £5 towards the acquisition of a Highland smelting plant.
Taxpayers paid the rest of the £330million bill.
Sanjeev Gupta, of Liberty Steel, acquired the Lochaber aluminium plant in 2016, with the Scottish Government contributing up to half a billion pounds in guaranteed loans.
Gupta’s family empire, GFG Alliance, is the subject of alleged fraud and money laundering investigations.
The Lib Dems’ Willie Rennie said: “Two thousand jobs were promised by Gupta which have not been delivered.”
The Scottish Government said it was “committed to openness and transparency”.