Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 20 April 2022
20 Apr 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Ferries
I am well aware, as is the Government, that ferries are an essential lifeline for many people in Scotland. Our island communities rely on them for access to employment, for health provision, for education and to see their loved ones. Ferries are essential to support a vibrant and growing tourism sector and to sustain local businesses, enabling the distribution of products and providing vital supplies to support local trade.
Through the Government’s policies, we have delivered considerable growth in services, which has been underpinned by significant investment in vessels and infrastructure. That has already led to orders being placed for two vessels for Islay and investment in ports at Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert, and work is well under way on designs for the small vessel replacement programme that will benefit Dunoon and Kilcreggan. There will be further major vessel replacements for Mull and South Uist, and there will be replacement freight ships for Orkney and Shetland. The Government is committed to supporting our island communities and ferry users.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-04051, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on ferries. Members who wish to speak in the debate should pres...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
The situation at Ferguson Marine has been called many things: a fiasco, a scandal, a farce. It has been described as the height of incompetence and as a comp...
The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise (Ivan McKee)
SNP
I am well aware, as is the Government, that ferries are an essential lifeline for many people in Scotland. Our island communities rely on them for access to ...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
If that is all true, why do ferries keep breaking down and why do islanders keep waiting for new ferries?
Ivan McKee
SNP
I have made it clear that the Government is committed to expanding the fleet and providing new vessels as quickly as we can. The significant investment of £5...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Given that, what does the minister say about reports that the equipment—the engines on MV Glen Sannox and hull 802—might actually be out of date?
Ivan McKee
SNP
The member will be aware that, because of the delays, work is being done on a regular basis to assess the fitness for purpose of parts that have been purchas...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The Audit Scotland report says that “There is no documented evidence to confirm why Scottish ministers were willing to accept the risks of awarding the con...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The member should be aware that more than 200 documents have already been put in the public domain with regard to the issues that he is talking about, and th...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the Liberal Democrats for bringing the issue of ferries back to the chamber. Since we used our own debating time on ferries very little has changed. ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Is it the member’s position that we should have allowed the shipyard to close at that point and that no progress should have been made on the two ferries?
Graham Simpson
Con
The minister well knows that nobody has said that. Despite what he said earlier, nobody wants Ferguson’s to close. We know that the vessel that the First Mi...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this Liberal Democrat debate. The Parliament has just debated the cost of living and now we are debating the cost of the Scottish Government’s fail...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the open debate. I call Kenneth Gibson. 16:59
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Earlier this month, I visited Ferguson Marine with a number of colleagues. I am sure that, although they are, as I am, disappointed by the delays in building...
Graham Simpson
Con
Will the member give way?
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
The vessel is now more than 80 per cent complete, and it is expected to enter service in March to May 2023. Ensuring that that happens is the yard’s overridi...
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
The company anticipates securing orders from the Scottish Government for its seven-in-three small ferry programme, and it stressed that it is vital for order...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Additional capacity is urgently required. High tides have impacted both the Lochranza to Claonaig and Ardrossan to Brodick routes, and there is now fear abou...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Although we have discussed the ferries scandal a number of times before, I welcome today’s debate, as every week seems to bring further revelations and attem...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I will have to stop you there.
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
—and those who have seen SNP ministers desperate to try to cover up their responsibility for it. 17:08
Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
The transport minister was recently in my constituency to hear about the challenges that different communities face on the ferries front. I know that her vis...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It was right that Ferguson Marine was brought into public ownership, because its closure would have led to the loss of hundreds of skilled jobs and further w...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I was asked during last year’s election campaign why I keep speaking about transport. I was surprised that I had to explain that, without good transport link...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
For those who live and work on the mainland, it can be hard to understand how important functioning ferry routes are for island communities. Food and supply ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to closing speeches. 17:23
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
It is desperately sad that the Scottish Government’s mismanagement has had such a devastating impact on the communities that depend on lifeline ferry service...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Two themes have come through loud and clear this afternoon. The first is the litany of failures that have characterised this matter since John Swinney first ...