Swinney claims on ferries sign-off incredible

So John Swinney claims that he gave “budget approval” to the Ferguson ferries contract capital expenditure (Capex) award but didn't give it the “final nod” (your report, 12 May)!

What complete and utter nonsense. Anyone who has been involved in business in a senior management capacity knows how these Capex processes actually play out in the “real” commercial day-to-day world.

The b oard evaluates and approves a list of Capex projects as part of the business’s annual budgeting process. If any “non-budget” Capex proposals crop up during the financial year then the board evaluates these separately and either approves them or not, depending on their commercial viability and company financial headroom available.

When the time comes for “actual” financial commitment and contract negotiations to commence with the supplier for any of these budgeted or non-budgeted Capex items, that financial commitment must be physically “signed off ” on an official company auditable document by the finance director and/or the CEO or another board director.

In most cases, on a Capex project at the “top end” of the company's expenditure range, at least two directors’ signatures are required.

For someone in John Swinney's position to use such amateurish language and terminology devoid of understanding of “due process” in relation to such a massive financial Capex commitment in the public sector is utterly staggering!

He is either incompetent, covering up, being economical with the truth or a mixture of all three. It is truly despairing to witness.

GORDON PRESLY Crosshouse, Kilmarnock