Chamber
Plenary, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Island Transport
No.
The new ship that should be servicing Orkney is tied up at the pier in Leith beside the offices of the Scottish Executive.
What does Tavish Scott mean by an "integrated transport service"? In the past, Shetland and Orkney had a fully integrated transport system; Tavish Scott and Jim Wallace's achievement over the past four years has been to replace an integrated system with a fully disintegrated transport system.
It is not only Shetland and Orkney that have suffered. I remember Sarah Boyack's declared intention of having an integrated transport system for Scotland. She went, and the system never materialised. Despite many promises, the much-promised Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry is yet to materialise, which is a huge blow to the people who live on the Kintyre peninsula. The vehicle service that was provided by Caledonian MacBrayne from Gourock to Dunoon has also been removed, even though Dunoon was hailed as being one of the gateways to the new Loch Lomond national park. The transport facility has been taken away, so Dunoon is not much of a gateway, is it?
We have also had the Executive's attempt to remove the air service from the isle of Barra. I am glad to say that that was foiled by the hard work and persistence of the people of that island, who descended on Edinburgh. They appear to have succeeded in saving the air service that they have enjoyed for more than 70 years. As a member of the Rural Development Committee, I remember well the committee trip to the beautiful island of Colonsay. That trip made me realise the huge disadvantage that the people of that island face because of an inconvenient and infrequent ferry service.
The main problem that is faced by the northern isles and the Western Isles is their geography. Those islands depend on sea and air transport rather than on the arterial roads, motorways and railways that are enjoyed on the UK mainland. Surely the islands are entitled to some form of equality when it comes to support and investment for transport infrastructure. There should be more support for air and sea communications to those islands, not only to encourage business and to support health and education lifelines, but also to show that there are benefits that island inhabitants can enjoy which make up for the possible disadvantages of living off the beaten track. A return flight from Inverness to Shetland is £350, which is far too much by any standard.
Proper integration of transport involves, for example, the passenger taking an aeroplane, which is met by a bus, which takes them to a ferry, all without endless delays. That is what happened before nationalisation in 1948, so surely with a little intelligent forethought such a system can be made to work again under devolution. There is no doubt, however, that the Liberal-Labour Scottish Government has failed the islands and the nation when it comes to transport—they will not easily be forgiven.
The new ship that should be servicing Orkney is tied up at the pier in Leith beside the offices of the Scottish Executive.
What does Tavish Scott mean by an "integrated transport service"? In the past, Shetland and Orkney had a fully integrated transport system; Tavish Scott and Jim Wallace's achievement over the past four years has been to replace an integrated system with a fully disintegrated transport system.
It is not only Shetland and Orkney that have suffered. I remember Sarah Boyack's declared intention of having an integrated transport system for Scotland. She went, and the system never materialised. Despite many promises, the much-promised Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry is yet to materialise, which is a huge blow to the people who live on the Kintyre peninsula. The vehicle service that was provided by Caledonian MacBrayne from Gourock to Dunoon has also been removed, even though Dunoon was hailed as being one of the gateways to the new Loch Lomond national park. The transport facility has been taken away, so Dunoon is not much of a gateway, is it?
We have also had the Executive's attempt to remove the air service from the isle of Barra. I am glad to say that that was foiled by the hard work and persistence of the people of that island, who descended on Edinburgh. They appear to have succeeded in saving the air service that they have enjoyed for more than 70 years. As a member of the Rural Development Committee, I remember well the committee trip to the beautiful island of Colonsay. That trip made me realise the huge disadvantage that the people of that island face because of an inconvenient and infrequent ferry service.
The main problem that is faced by the northern isles and the Western Isles is their geography. Those islands depend on sea and air transport rather than on the arterial roads, motorways and railways that are enjoyed on the UK mainland. Surely the islands are entitled to some form of equality when it comes to support and investment for transport infrastructure. There should be more support for air and sea communications to those islands, not only to encourage business and to support health and education lifelines, but also to show that there are benefits that island inhabitants can enjoy which make up for the possible disadvantages of living off the beaten track. A return flight from Inverness to Shetland is £350, which is far too much by any standard.
Proper integration of transport involves, for example, the passenger taking an aeroplane, which is met by a bus, which takes them to a ferry, all without endless delays. That is what happened before nationalisation in 1948, so surely with a little intelligent forethought such a system can be made to work again under devolution. There is no doubt, however, that the Liberal-Labour Scottish Government has failed the islands and the nation when it comes to transport—they will not easily be forgiven.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S1M-4003, in the name of Tavish Scott, on island transport.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises that reliable, regular and affordable air and sea transport links are vital to the social and economic well-being of the Scott...
Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD):
LD
I have a desperate desire not to be the most expensive MSP on our annual list. Thankfully, the Daily Mail is read by few people in Shetland—
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Allan Wilson):
Lab
Or anywhere else.
Tavish Scott:
LD
Indeed. When that newspaper prints rough articles with me at the top of the list, I accept that as part of politics. However, the cost of flying to and from ...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
I agree with what the member says. Does he realise that one could have a fortnight on a Greek island in a self-catering apartment for the cost of travelling ...
Tavish Scott:
LD
I have had that holiday on a Greek island in self-catering accommodation—with my wife, I may add—for the cost of flying to Shetland. As Margaret Ewing said, ...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
I entirely agree with the virtuous-circle argument that Tavish Scott has advanced. Does he accept that the granting of a PSO to secure the Inverness to Londo...
Tavish Scott:
LD
That is a different issue and concerns the use of PSOs to guarantee slots. Mr Ewing and other members have made that argument, which is a fair one. My belief...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I am an MSP for the Highlands and Islands and therefore have probably travelled the islands from Unst to Islay and Skye to Stornoway more than most. Doing so...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Tavish Scott on securing the debate. I should also say that I agree with just about everything that he said, which is a strange, but nonethele...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
In my past life in the European Parliament, there was tremendous agreement among the Irish MEPs from the north and south and from all parties and people like...
Mr Hamilton:
SNP
I am grateful for that intervention.The point that comes out of that is that whether it involves working with the Republic of Ireland, Ayrshire or anywhere e...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Tavish Scott on securing the debate. I agree that the Scottish Executive should take the opportunity to provide the islands with a properly in...
Tavish Scott:
LD
Will Jamie McGrigor say which new boats the Tories brought into service during their 18 years in power?
Mr McGrigor:
Con
Which new boats?
Tavish Scott:
LD
I mean boats for the northern isles.
Mr McGrigor:
Con
All I know is that P&O Scottish Ferries provided a better service than NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd does. That company has hardly been a success...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Will the member give way?
Mr McGrigor:
Con
No.The new ship that should be servicing Orkney is tied up at the pier in Leith beside the offices of the Scottish Executive.What does Tavish Scott mean by a...
Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD):
LD
Jamie McGrigor's speech was strong on rhetoric but light on facts. He should find out more about the subject on which he is speaking before he starts to make...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
Along with other members, I attended the presentation at Edinburgh City Chambers that HITRANS gave on its imaginative and ingenious proposals. The presentati...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
I thank Tavish Scott for bringing the debate to Parliament. This is one of the last debates that we will have before Parliament closes down tomorrow evening....
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
I, too, congratulate Tavish Scott on securing the debate, which has been constructive, apart from one speech, which was inappropriate to a members' debate. S...
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Lewis Macdonald):
Lab
I congratulate Tavish Scott on securing the debate and will reflect on the comments that have been made.The Scottish Executive is fully committed to maintain...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
It is an early intervention, Mr Ewing.
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
Why is it that countries such as France implement PSOs without such an endless series of reviews?
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
Far from being in the midst of an endless series of reviews, we are in the midst of a large-scale consultation on aviation strategy not only for Scotland and...