The Scottish transport secretary refused to say if taxpayers will be repaid in full from the sale of publicly-owned Prestwick Airport
Michael Matheson was quizzed on the future of the Ayrshire site days after the preferred bidder pulled out of a long-awaited sale blaming the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Holyrood committee probe, Matheson said "more than one interested party" has come forward but there is still no certainty about any sale.
He also refused to put a figure on how much of the £43.4million loans will be returned.
Responding to Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles, Matheson said: “The member will recognise that Prestwick is a significant employer in the Ayrshire economy.
“Not just directly with around 300 jobs at the site itself, but also with many of the aerospace businesses that are clustered around Prestwick are dependent on the airport, which is in excess of 1,000 jobs.
“I think it’s important to recognise that the investment which has been made by the Scottish Government in Prestwick not only helps to sustain the airport as an aviation facility and employment at the airport, it also helps to sustain what is a very important aerospace sector within the Scottish economy around Prestwick Airport.
“Any negotiation with a purchaser will be dependent on those negotiations at that given time.”
Facing more demands from Labour MSP Colin Smyth, Matheson insisted: “You can be absolutely assured that we will take an approach which is in the best interests of taxpayers in Scotland, and also for the workforce at the airport and its importance for the Ayrshire economy.
“We will work to make sure that we get the best return for taxpayers if any sale proceeds.”
Matheson was also unable to give a timescale for the sale, saying the Covid-19 pandemic will inevitably delay negotiations due to its impact on the aviation sector.
