general of the Confederation of British Industry, after branding him an "English prat" at a dinner following a controversial speech by Mr Jones. Later that month, Finnie apologised for giving wrong information to the Scottish Parliament during a debate. He had told Parliament that sheep were no longer grazing on the banks of Loch Katrine, which provides Glasgow with its drinking water (a previous outbreak of the cryptosporidium bug in the Loch was believed to have been caused by livestock grazing at the Loch's shores). However, Scottish Water later contacted him to say that the sheep were still there and would not be removed until September 2007. Both the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives made calls for Finnie to be sacked, although the First Minister, Jack McConnell gave him his support. In June 2006, Finnie cancelled a tender for a new fishery protection vessel for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. The tender has been provisionally awarded to English firm Appledore, but Finnie claimed there was a "fatal flaw" in the tendering process which could have left the Executive liable for damages if the tender had proceeded. However, the Scotland on Sunday reported that a rival bidder, Port Glasgow based Ferguson's was both in Finnie's constituency, and that he was a lifelong friend of the chief executive. Water Industry Commission for Scotland In December 2011, it was announced that he would become a non-executive member of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, taking up the position in July 2012. Food Standards Scotland In November 2014, his appointment as the chair of Food Standards Scotland was announced. References External links Ross Finnie MSP bio at Water Industry Commission for Scotland website 1947 births Living people Scottish Liberal Party councillors Scottish Liberal Democrat councillors Liberal Democrat MSPs Scottish accountants Ministers of the Scottish Government People from Greenock Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007 Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011