Government fails to answer questions on Upper Rock arrangements

The Government’s response is, plainly, no response at all to the central issue: who is receiving what from the millions of pounds generated by Upper Rock ticket sales and on what terms?

These questions arise in the backdrop of significant rises in ticket prices in recent years. These are simple questions and the Government should answer them transparently. The public are entitled to know who is being paid; how much they are being paid; and on what contractual terms, including for how long.

People can then make a judgment whether the companies who have obtained these contracts have, for example, prior experience managing tourist sites or similar operations. Furthermore, what criteria was used to determine whether these arrangements represent value for money?

The Government has also failed to provide the detailed breakdown in relation to “Sites Management Systems” in respect of which £6M was expected to be paid in the last financial year.

This is not Mr Bossino seeking press attention. It is the GSD doing its job and holding the Government to account. In that context, the infantile remark is particularly hollow coming from Mr Cortes, whose own apparent priority seems to be securing daily media exposure.

Damon Bossino said: “What Mr Cortes should be doing is answering the serious questions that have been put to him and not resort to petty jibes and diversion. This matter is far too serious for that. The public deserves transparency, not deflection.