Transport and the Environment Committee, 28 Feb 2001

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 28, 2001

Official Report 193KB pdf

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Ferry Services (Highlands and Islands)

We move on to item 5 of our agenda, which is on ferry services in the Highlands and Islands. Members will have received a covering note on possible action by the committee and a note from the Scottish Executive on the next steps was circulated by e-mail.

The Minister for Transport has announced details of the Executive's proposals for the future of Caledonian MacBrayne's ferry service network, given that, under European Community law, the services are to be put out to tender. The Executive is required to consult the Commission on the proposals and therefore they are provisional at this stage and subject to the Commission's further approval and investigations.

Members are asked to consider whether and how the committee might wish to examine the Executive's proposals and the future of the Highlands and Islands ferry service network. I remind members of the option to appoint a reporter or reporters to consider the issue and to report back to the committee, given the full agenda of work that faces the committee at its formal meetings. I seek members' views on those issues.

It would be appropriate for us to consider the matter quite closely. I suggest that we appoint a reporter or reporters. There was an indication that Des McNulty and Robin Harper were interested in pursuing in detail progress in this area. If they are happy to be nominated, I would be happy to nominate them.

The issue is important and I agree that we should go ahead and appoint a reporter. As I am a reporter on the trunk roads inquiry, it would not be appropriate for me to become a reporter on this issue. I do not want to volunteer members at this stage, but I would have no problem if the members suggested by Murray Tosh wish to take the matter forward, unless other members were interested.

When would we consider the remit for the reporter? The issue is important, because it covers not only the competitive tendering process but EC regulations. Detailed arguments are being made, particularly by the unions, about the requirement for a tendering process and the potential for the new vessel-owning company to become a Trojan horse. We must ensure that we get the reporter's remit right.

Would it be appropriate for the reporter to report quickly on a remit for the committee's approval?

The first task for the reporter or reporters would be to develop a remit with the committee clerk, and to circulate it to the committee for our approval.

I understand that Maureen Macmillan is also interested in this issue.

That is correct, convener. I am one of the MSPs for the Highlands and Islands region and I believe that the issue of Caledonian MacBrayne services is important for that region and for John Farquhar Munro's constituency, although I have an overview because I represent the whole region. It is important to focus on exactly what we want to do. There is so much that we could examine, but we should focus on specific areas.

I am happy to extend my nominations to include a third member.

The committee clerk advises me that Robin Harper would be happy to stand aside if sufficient members were interested in becoming reporters. Des McNulty and Maureen Macmillan could become our reporters, plus or minus Robin depending on what he decides. He has had to leave the meeting because of another appointment. We could agree that all three could become reporters, but give Robin the right to withdraw if he feels that that would be appropriate. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you.

We now move into private session for the final three items on today's agenda. I thank members of the press and the public for joining us today.

Meeting continued in private until 11:58.