Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 11 May 2022
11 May 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Ferry Problems
The information that pertains to the decision to award the contract, which Mr Simpson is searching for, has already been published. He has received answers to numerous topical questions, and the First Minister has answered numerous questions on the issue. The Opposition has to give up; it has an answer today. The Opposition may not take my word for it, but it needs to listen to the words of the voters in our island communities—they are the ones who want to see progress, and they are the ones who deserve a solution.
Our ferry network is as intrinsic to those who live on our mainland as roads are to the rest of us. They are islanders’ motorways, as I was told recently by the Shetland hauliers association. The Government has got to improve how we deliver ferry services, and we have to do that correctly.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04319, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ferry problems. I invite members who wish to speak to press thei...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
We wanted to call this debate “Ferries Fiasco”, but parliamentary staff told us that we could not. The debate might not be called “Ferries Fiasco” in the Bus...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (Kate Forbes)
SNP
Does the member know of any business that would exist without work being given to it?
Graham Simpson
Con
The yard had work—that is a fact. I believe, and Jim McColl believes, that the yard could have continued. We can be pretty certain that the yard will not tak...
The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Graham Simpson
Con
I will take an intervention from Mr McKee because he never gives us any answers to questions.
Ivan McKee
SNP
Indeed I do, as the member knows fine well. If he is so sure that there was work in the yard, will he please specify what that work was?
Graham Simpson
Con
There was work at the yard.
Kate Forbes
SNP
What was it?
Graham Simpson
Con
There was work at the yard. It had work and it could have taken on more work. Presiding Officer, the debate has moved on a little since we last discussed th...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Graham Simpson
Con
I will not take any more interventions. It is little wonder that the good people of Arran elected a Conservative councillor—Timothy Billings—last week. Isla...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call the minister, Jenny Gilruth, to speak to and move amendment S6M-04391.2. You have up to six minutes, minister. 14:57
The Minister for Transport (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
Talking to that positivity that Mr Simpson was seeking, I have some good news to share with Parliament. Indeed, I have that good news literally here in my ha...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the minister give way?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I would like to make some progress. We said that we would continue to look in good faith, and that is exactly what we have done. The document was found bec...
Graham Simpson
Con
Will the minister give way?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I would like to make some progress. The e-mail destroys the Opposition’s ridiculous conspiracy theory that another minister made the decision, and it dest...
Graham Simpson
Con
The e-mail that has just been read out does not say why the decision was taken, why the advice not to award the contract was ignored and whether there were d...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The information that pertains to the decision to award the contract, which Mr Simpson is searching for, has already been published. He has received answers t...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the fact that we are now turning to the subject of ferries and away from the conspiracy theories that we have listened to for the last few minutes ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Dr Allan, please resume your seat. Dr Allan is trying to make an intervention and there is too much noise; please let Dr Allan make his intervention.
Alasdair Allan
SNP
The minister will be aware that this is not the first time that Lochboisdale has been without a service, and I know from conversations that I have had with h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Dr Allan. Interventions should be brief. The minister probably gets the gist and can respond.
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I became aware of the issues surrounding the MV Lord of the Isles vessel earlier today. I will meet with CalMac tonight; I believe that representatives of Ca...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Neil Bibby to speak to and move amendment S6M-4319.1. 15:04
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the debate that Graham Simpson has brought forward today. Today, Scottish Labour is making a further call for full openness and transparency to g...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Neil Bibby
Lab
Let me make some progress, please. If that had happened, one of the biggest failures in public procurement in the past 20 years could have been avoided. Th...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I had not seen it before today.