Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 May 2013
22 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Ferry Services
I have just mentioned that we have established a working group that will include broad representation from key stakeholders. In looking at the freight fares policy, it will take the report into account. I have forgotten the second part of the member’s question, but we would not have commissioned the report if we did not want to give it further consideration.
The aim must be a fair vehicle fare structure for the whole country. That said, it is vital that we do not lose sight of RET’s benefits, especially for passengers, cars and small commercial vehicles and coaches, and the major impact that there clearly is on tourism in the islands. In addition, we plan to improve from this winter the level of winter services offered to Barra, Lochboisdale, Coll and Tiree.
I will turn to the second point in the complex and multifaceted motion that Richard Baker has laid before Parliament: the MV Hamnavoe. The ship is obviously an important element of the lifeline ferry service to Orkney, but with regard to the breakdown of the starboard main engine—I have forgotten what Richard Baker called it, but it was fiasco, debacle or some such term—I have to say that no one can foresee these things. They happen from time to time; strangely enough, they have happened in the past under a Labour-Liberal Administration. When it happened this time, it was through no fault of the ferry operator, Serco NorthLink, whose technical staff ensure that all vessels are maintained to a very high standard, well above and beyond the required legal minimum.
Like any responsible transport provider, Serco undertakes regular contingency planning exercises to make appropriate provision for disruption. I know that the current situation is not ideal and I understand that the Hamnavoe is the preferred vessel for the people in Orkney. However, they are also able to get to Orkney with Pentland Ferries, John O’ Groats Ferries and the Aberdeen service, and the freighter MV Helliar has been set aside to help with passengers and freight. As the people in Orkney whom I met last week were very keen to point out, Orkney is not closed for business and capacity is being met through the different provisions that have been put in place.
It was simply not possible to source an additional vessel. Last week, I heard a suggestion from the Labour benches that we should have a separate vessel on standby in any event, but the cost of that on top of the contract would be enormous and run to millions of pounds. I do not think it right to spend taxpayers’ money in that way, which is why we have not done it.
The aim must be a fair vehicle fare structure for the whole country. That said, it is vital that we do not lose sight of RET’s benefits, especially for passengers, cars and small commercial vehicles and coaches, and the major impact that there clearly is on tourism in the islands. In addition, we plan to improve from this winter the level of winter services offered to Barra, Lochboisdale, Coll and Tiree.
I will turn to the second point in the complex and multifaceted motion that Richard Baker has laid before Parliament: the MV Hamnavoe. The ship is obviously an important element of the lifeline ferry service to Orkney, but with regard to the breakdown of the starboard main engine—I have forgotten what Richard Baker called it, but it was fiasco, debacle or some such term—I have to say that no one can foresee these things. They happen from time to time; strangely enough, they have happened in the past under a Labour-Liberal Administration. When it happened this time, it was through no fault of the ferry operator, Serco NorthLink, whose technical staff ensure that all vessels are maintained to a very high standard, well above and beyond the required legal minimum.
Like any responsible transport provider, Serco undertakes regular contingency planning exercises to make appropriate provision for disruption. I know that the current situation is not ideal and I understand that the Hamnavoe is the preferred vessel for the people in Orkney. However, they are also able to get to Orkney with Pentland Ferries, John O’ Groats Ferries and the Aberdeen service, and the freighter MV Helliar has been set aside to help with passengers and freight. As the people in Orkney whom I met last week were very keen to point out, Orkney is not closed for business and capacity is being met through the different provisions that have been put in place.
It was simply not possible to source an additional vessel. Last week, I heard a suggestion from the Labour benches that we should have a separate vessel on standby in any event, but the cost of that on top of the contract would be enormous and run to millions of pounds. I do not think it right to spend taxpayers’ money in that way, which is why we have not done it.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06658, in the name of Richard Baker, on ferry services. I inform members that timing is extremely tight, ...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I hope that the debate will give Keith Brown a chance to do rather better on this occasion—we all live in hope. This is the third time in the current parliam...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
If the measure was so vital, why did the Labour Government not bring it in when it was in power prior to the Scottish National Party coming into office?
Richard Baker
Lab
Our commitment to RET was clear in our most recent manifesto. It is regrettable that the SNP has failed to stick to its commitments on this important issue.T...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
The general consensus on the island of Lewis is that the hauliers did not pass on the benefits of RET, so perhaps the member should speak to some of those pe...
Richard Baker
Lab
The member should perhaps read the report that was commissioned by his own Government, which found that RET had been passed on by the hauliers. I can tell th...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Richard Baker
Lab
If I have time, I will take an intervention from the minister later.The second issue on ferries that we bring to the Parliament is one that Mr McArthur has r...
Keith Brown
SNP
I do, but it is on the member’s previous point. I just want to clarify something about RET. Is it the Labour Party’s position that RET should be applied to a...
Richard Baker
Lab
Mr McArthur’s amendment talks about a pilot. It seems to me that researching and studying the potential for the issues before we rule things out is not unrea...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
We welcome the opportunity to discuss the commercial vehicles study. We commissioned it because we were determined to provide additional clarity for business...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Given that the minister commissioned the report, what cognisance of it will he take when he sets out the policy? Will he take the economic development of the...
Keith Brown
SNP
I have just mentioned that we have established a working group that will include broad representation from key stakeholders. In looking at the freight fares ...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Keith Brown
SNP
This will be my second and last intervention.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I think that I made the suggestion that the minister has referred to. I said that the boat would pay for itself by working the secondary route between Mallai...
Keith Brown
SNP
I would have to check but I think that our estimated cost for the route runs into tens of millions of pounds. We cannot continue to spend money that we do no...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I, too, welcome this afternoon's debate and the opportunity that it provides to consider an issue of pressing importance to Orkney and the constituents whom ...
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam McArthur
LD
In a second.That impression was only reinforced by nods and winks from ministers to local councillors in my constituency that Orkney needed to elect an SNP M...
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
Yes. I am sorry, but I have almost lost my train of thought. If RET was introduced for the Western Isles for political purposes, why was it not introduced fo...
Liam McArthur
LD
It is not just me who has made the argument; across Orkney, the anger that people have felt at what they see as a lack of basic fairness on the part of the S...
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam McArthur
LD
No, I will not.Lessons need to be learned. The minister acknowledges that in his amendment and he accepted that during his visit to Orkney last Friday. Impro...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I thank the Labour Party for keeping ferry services on the political agenda.Although the motion is about more than RET, there is no doubt that the CalMac Fer...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We now turn to the open debate, with speeches of four minutes at this stage.16:14
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
First, let me say how delighted my island constituents are with the improvements to ferry services that the Scottish Government is delivering. Tomorrow, for ...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Will the member give way?
Kenneth Gibson
SNP
In a moment.The Tories also seem to be converts to RET. As for the Lib Dems, in 2004 the Lib Dem Minister for Transport, Nicol Stephen, said:“A road-equivale...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am listening to the nonsense that the member is talking. Does he genuinely expect us to believe that lower fares for all ferry travellers would not be a fa...