Transport minister says Scots firms have already benefited from £23 million of Forth Replacement Crossing contracts

Scottish firms have received £23m worth of business through the Forth Replacement Crossing.

The Scottish Government came under heavy criticism when it was revealed it had awarded a contract to deliver 8,500 tonnes of steel to a Shanghai firm.

However, Transport Minister Keith Brown said on Thursday that the new bridge will deliver a major boost for Scottish firms.

He said: ”The main Forth Replacement Crossing contractors have confirmed the project is currently directly employing 384 people on site, and at its peak the project will directly support 1,200 jobs.”

He added: ”As of February 15, the three main contractors appointed to deliver the project have advised Transport Scotland that around £23m of subcontracts have already been awarded to Scottish companies and around £13m of supply orders.

”We are currently 10 months into a six-year construction period and there are many more subcontract and supply order opportunities to come.

”But already 222 Scottish firms have risen to the challenge of working on this iconic project, and 870 out of 1,041 supply orders awarded on the principal contract have gone to Scottish companies.”