Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2025
19 Mar 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
West Coast Ferry Services
Since I took on the role of Labour transport spokesperson, barely a week has gone by in which I have not been asked to comment on the latest development in the ferries fiasco. Time and again, there are reports of failings in the network, and the cracks—literal and figurative—are clear to see.
The cost to taxpayers of the Government’s mismanagement has been significant and the impact on those who rely on the services continues. Delays to the completion of the MV Glen Rosa mean that it will be eight years late. The four new ferries that are being built in Turkey are also delayed, and just this week there has been another blow, as the preferred bidder for the contract for the small vessel replacement programme is a shipyard in Poland rather than the shipyard in Port Glasgow.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16845, in the name of Claire Baker, on reforming Scotland’s west coast ferry services. I invite those mem...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Since I took on the role of Labour transport spokesperson, barely a week has gone by in which I have not been asked to comment on the latest development in t...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Claire Baker
Lab
If it is brief—I do not have much time.
Stuart McMillan
SNP
Is Claire Baker aware of the reasons why the ferries in Turkey are late?
Claire Baker
Lab
It is recognised that the ferries in Turkey are late due to a multitude of issues. The issue in Scotland, however, is that the constant drip, drip of delays ...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I hear that Labour will now support the direct award of the contract, but at a meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, at which the Labour P...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Members should always speak through the chair.
Claire Baker
Lab
I hope to hear from the cabinet secretary on that. I understand that she has had a meeting with passenger groups, local authorities, unions and islanders, an...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
This debate allows the Opposition to attack the Government, but it also provides an opportunity to highlight the significant progress that this Government is...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
What weighting was social value given in the tender procedure?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
We are currently in a standstill position on that procurement, so, quite clearly and quite responsibly, I cannot comment on the procurement process at this t...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary is concluding.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I move amendment S6M-16845.2, to leave out from “deplores” to end and insert: “recognises the challenges that have faced a number of island communities with...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I will speak to the amendment in my name and make it clear that we will be supporting the Labour motion before us this afternoon. Scotland’s ferry network h...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Will the member give way?
Sue Webber
Con
I am afraid, cabinet secretary, given the timings for the debate, I do not have the opportunity to do so.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The language!
Sue Webber
Con
Fine—I will give way.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Ladies, please.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I ask the member to be very circumspect in talking down Ferguson’s at a time when it is seeking commercial contracts.
Sue Webber
Con
I am not sure what I do in this chamber that gets under the skin of SNP ministers. Yesterday, my legitimate questions were treated with equal disdain by the ...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss ferries in the chamber. They are crucial to the people I represent across the Highlands and Islands, so it is vi...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I suppose that it depends on the starting point, but I think that the cabinet secretary had some nerve to begin her speech by saying that progress has been m...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We now move to the open debate, with back-bench speeches of up to four minutes. 15:17
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to speak about the continuing economic and social damage that is being experienced as a result of poor deci...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
I remind the Parliament that my wife works part time for CalMac. In response to Claire Baker’s comments regarding Turkey, I put on the public record at the ...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Stuart McMillan
SNP
Sorry—I only have four minutes. They were rightly doing what they thought was right for their constituents, but I am doing what is right for my constituents...