Luxon has 'no regrets' in turning down £3.25m.
PUBLIC Services made the right choice in turning down a £3.25m. settlement from the makers of Pfos, former minister Paul Luxon has said.
The offer was made by manufacturers 3M and 3M United in 2014, when Deputy Luxon was in charge.
But instead the department battled the companies in court to try and sue them for up to £27m. to cover the cost of dealing with the impact the substance had made on the environment. The case was dropped last week, after costing the States around £8m.
Deputy Luxon, who now leads the Health and Social Services Department, said he had not had a chance to meet current minister Scott Ogier about the situation, but he stuck by the decisions taken on his watch.
'There is zero doubt that pursuing the company for compensation for their products' impact on our environment was the right thing to do,' he said.
He said he did not regret turning down the £3.25m offer.
'Why make the offer if they did not believe there was a good case?'
He said he would not discuss the matter further, as it would be discourteous to the current board.
Deputy Ogier was deputy minister under Deputy Luxon and said legal action had appeared to be the right route to take.
