Thank you. That concludes general questions. And before we move to First Minister's questions,

I invite members to join me in welcoming to the gallery Ahad al-Haj Mahad Balawag-Ibrahim, Chief Minister

of the Bangzamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mendoanau. Thank you. The next item of business is First Minister's questions.

At question number one I call Douglas Ross.

Thank you very much, President.

The SMP ferry scandal has damaged our nation's reputation for shipbuilding excellence

and has left islanders without vital transport links they need for their everyday lives.

This week, Audit Scotland said this. The cost to complete the ferries have continued to escalate. The total cost

to taxpayers, because of S&P incompetence, is now £338 million, three and a half times more

than the original contract of £97 million and there is still no completion date

for the ferries.

But Fergson-Marine, fully owned by the S&P Government, has paid out bonuses of £87,000 to

highly paid chiefs.

So very simply, First Minister, what were these bonuses for?

First Minister.

First Minister, before I answer these questions, let me remind the Chamber that

Deputy First Minister will make a statement to Parliament this afternoon on these issues

and will provide updates in respect of some of these issues.

Two issues in response to Douglas Ross's question.

Firstly, in respect of the Audit Scotland Section 22 report that was published on Tuesday,

we welcome that report and certainly acknowledge the legitimate issues that were raised in it.

As I said, the Deputy First Minister will provide the update requested by the Auditor

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