Hansard

The Convener (Willie Rennie) LD

Good morning, and welcome to the second meeting of the Transport Committee. We have received no apologies for this morning’s meeting.Our first agenda item is...

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Lab

I thank the witnesses for joining us today. First, what engagement did Loganair have with your organisations before and after the decision to reduce Invernes...

Paul Kelsall (Highlands and Islands Airports Limited)

We started talking to Loganair in February—that was when we had an initial meeting—and there were various meetings between our relevant commercial teams in t...

Donald MacKinnon Lab

What about NHS Western Isles?

Gordon Jamieson (NHS Western Isles)

We did not have any prior communication regarding the changes.

Donald MacKinnon Lab

Thanks for that, Gordon. If you had been engaged in discussions, would you have made any representations on the suitability of the remaining timetable? Could...

Gordon Jamieson

Yes, we would certainly have made representations, simply because we are uniquely dependent on that air connectivity to deliver safe and effective healthcare...

Donald MacKinnon Lab

Is the removal of the morning flights rather than the afternoon ones a concern?

Gordon Jamieson

The removal of the morning flights is a significant concern, because 90 per cent of the patients who travel to and from the Western Isles to access health se...

Donald MacKinnon Lab

Martin Joyce, do you have any input from the perspective of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar?

Martin Joyce (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar)

My experience is similar to Mr Jamieson’s. The first that we heard of the reduction was when we received a letter from Loganair—prior to that, there was abso...

The Convener LD

Mr Kelsall, did you not feel any obligation to consult locally?

Paul Kelsall

The purpose of HIAL is to provide airport infrastructure and to support air services. We do not control air services; that is the responsibility of the airli...

The Convener LD

Did you discuss with Loganair its engagement with the community?

Paul Kelsall

No.

The Convener LD

But you are a public body. Surely you have obligations to the communities as well?

Paul Kelsall

We have obligations to the communities. We are very aware of the importance of these flights, because our people also live in the communities that they serve...

The Convener LD

Would you have made representations to Loganair about its obligations to the communities in relation to all the issues that we have just heard about? Did you...

Paul Kelsall

As I understand it, Loganair is fully aware of the importance of the flights, as we are.

The Convener LD

Did you raise the specific issue of the dramatic impact that the cuts would have?

Paul Kelsall

I do not recall that being raised in any of the conversations.

The Convener LD

Okay. On reflection, if this were to happen again, would you insist on there being a public consultation and an engagement session in which all the threats t...

Paul Kelsall

As I said, we need to keep those commercial conversations confidential. At the risk of repeating myself, HIAL provides the infrastructure to support air serv...

The Convener LD

Okay. I will bring in Collette Stevenson.

Collette Stevenson (East Kilbride) (SNP) SNP

I want to touch on the issue from the national health service’s point of view. What assessments, if any, have been made of the wider costs to the NHS in ligh...

Gordon Jamieson

When we get notified of changes, we immediately start an impact assessment on the impact on patients, so we have quantified all that. We are estimating the f...

Collette Stevenson SNP

How challenging is it to employ locums? We hear about the struggles that you have in island communities.

Gordon Jamieson

It is an ongoing challenge, but there are several locums who work for us. The people who are associated with providing services to the communities do everyth...

Collette Stevenson SNP

That is interesting—thanks very much. I have no further questions just now.

The Convener LD

Mr Jamieson, you mentioned a cost of £1 million. What period does that cover?