Official Report 420KB pdf
Independent Vehicular Ferry Routes (PE1192)
Lochboisdale-Mallaig Ferry Service (Reintroduction) (PE1394)
Agenda item 3 is consideration of two petitions that have been referred to the committee. We have considered PE1192 previously and we discussed the issues that it raises during the recent evidence session with the Minister for Housing and Transport on the Scottish ferry services draft plan. PE1394 also concerns Scottish ferry services, in particular the reintroduction of a direct ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig.
As I have made clear before, I am very sympathetic to any attempt to promote independent ferry services, wherever possible. We asked questions of the minister when we discussed PE1192 and he gave a clear commitment to the requirement that such services be treated fairly and equally. I would see it as the committee’s duty to continue monitoring the minister’s commitment to that, but I think that we have reached a position in which we have a ministerial commitment that aligns fairly closely with the terms of the petition.
I believe that Gordon MacDonald has a query about whether PE1192 refers not just to services that the Scottish Government subsidises, but to local authority services.
Yes. Donald Ewen Darroch e-mailed me to say that he thinks that the local council has a conflict of interest. Argyll and Bute Council owns the vessel that goes between Jura and Islay and it sets the timetable and the fares, although it does not operate the ferry on a day-to-day basis. However, the council is also the planning authority so Mr Darroch feels that there could be a conflict of interest in relation to what he was trying to do with the council a number of years ago, which was to get a direct link between Jura and the mainland, given that, as the planning authority, it would have decided whether he could get a licence to operate the route.
I assume that he will take up that point in the ferries review.
I assume so.
How should we deal with the petitions?
Alex Johnstone’s summary of the position with regard to PE1192 is probably right, but we have to be careful with PE1394. It reminds me of the petition that we had about Blackford railway station. We have to be careful not to get drawn into micromanaging Scotland’s transport system. Our role is to take a more overarching view. We might or might not have sympathy with particular circumstances here, there and everywhere across Scotland, but the committee should be careful. If we start looking at issues like this, we will have to look at absolutely everything and our work programme is comprehensive as it is.
Are you saying that PE1394 can also be dealt with through a submission to the ferries review?
I would think so, yes.
Are we agreed to take that course of action with PE1394?
I think that we all agree with what Alex Johnstone said about PE1192 and the minister’s submission making the issue perfectly clear. Are we agreed to close the petitions at this stage?
Previous
Broadband Infrastructure Inquiry