The Scottish Government have been accused of secrecy and taking meetings “behind closed doors” by the convener of the parliament’s Public Audit Committee.

Leading a debate in the parliament on the committee’s recent report into the delayed and over budget ferries, Richard Leonard said the committee had been stymied by the government not providing documents and a cabinet secretary turning down invitations to appear before it.

He said: “These actions show a serious disregard for openness and transparency.

“They also demonstrate an unhealthy disrespect of the work of this parliament, which makes it all the more disappointing that the Scottish Government’s written response to the report that we are debating this afternoon was late, lacks any real substance or detail, and simply fails to address at all half of the conclusions and recommendations.”

The report, published in March, said taxpayers and island communities have been “badly let down” by the “significant failings” in the building of two new lifeline ferries.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Health Matters