The Scottish Government’s proposal to compensate Forth Replacement Crossing bidders has been approved by the finance committee.

A contingency liability would see up to three consortia reimbursed £10m each, should the project not go ahead (Surveyor, 18 September).

Transport minister, Stewart Stevenson, told the committee: ‘We need to remove all doubts about our commitment to the project and provide assurances to bidders that they are competing for a contract which will be rewarded.’

He admitted the risk of Parliament rejecting the Bill – a justification for the contingency liability – was remote, but warned of the potential threat of postponement caused by the economic downturn.

Mr Stevenson said bidders would benefit from lower interest rates on loans because banks would see that the risks were lower, ‘thus removing barriers to bidding’.