Chamber
Plenary, 27 Mar 2003
27 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Question Time
Ferry (Ballycastle to Campbeltown)
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
On positive alternatives, is the minister aware of the success of Neil MacCormick MEP in convincing the European Commission to treat peninsulas in the same way as islands for the provision of additional public service obligations? If so, will he consider having additional routes from Campbeltown, not just to Ballycastle but to the central belt, using the same rationale that we have used in Cowal?
In the same item of business
7. George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Ballycastle to Campbeltown ferry tendering process. (S1O-6737)
The Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Lewis Macdonald):
Lab
A tendering process for subsidy to reinstate the service has not attracted any bids so we are now seeking to identify alternative means of reinstating the se...
George Lyon:
LD
I thank the minister for clarifying that matter. There is deep concern in Kintyre that despite the Scottish Executive offering £5 million in subsidy over the...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I share the concern that George Lyon has expressed to secure the service, to which we are committed. In that regard, because of the failure of bids coming fo...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
On positive alternatives, is the minister aware of the success of Neil MacCormick MEP in convincing the European Commission to treat peninsulas in the same w...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I confirm that we have talked to the European Commission and have won the case that mainland-to-mainland routes are acceptable for PSOs. That is something th...