JUST 2HRS 43 MINS TO CLEAR DEAL
■ 2.32pm: From the private secretary of transport minister Derek Mackay to infrastructure secretary Keith Brown and other Scottish Government officials and people redacted from the document: ‘The minister is content with the proposals and would like them to be moved on as quickly as possible please.’
■ 2.40pm: From Gordon Wales, director of financial management at the Scottish Government, to director of procurement Ainslie McLaughlin and other officials: ‘Ainslie and I are just off the phone. Might it be sensible to wait until he [Ainslie] and DFM [Deputy First Minister] have spoken (5pm) to ensure there are no financial/ procurement issues that he might want further reassurance on? Unless there is a critical deadline, my sense is that it we should hold fire for a few hours.’
■ 3.40pm: From John Nicholls, Transport Scotland, to Mr McLaughlin, Mr Wales and other officials: ‘OK. Stating the obvious, please let us know the outcome of the call today so we can expedite matters with CMAL as requested by Mr Mackay.’
■ 3.45pm: From Mr Wales to Mr Nicholls, Mr McLaughlin and other officials: ‘Thanks John. Ainslie – would you drop a note in the system to confirm the absence of banana skins after your call with DFM please (worth letting him know the intention is to tell CMAL immediately).
■ 5.15pm: From Mr McLaughlin to Mr Wales, Mr Nicholls and other officials: ‘Just finished my call with DFM. He now understands the background and that Mr McKay has cleared the proposal. So the way is clear to award.’