Plenary, 20 Dec 2001

Meeting date: Thursday, December 20, 2001

Official Report 485KB pdf

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Caledonian MacBrayne

We come now to an emergency question from Duncan Hamilton.

To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken in response to the strike action by Caledonian MacBrayne staff and the impact of the strike action on the islands that they serve.

Steps have already been taken by Caledonian MacBrayne to limit the impact of strike action on those communities. The company has increased its Claonaig-Lochranza service from the normal one service per day at this time of the year to a schedule of 14 return services per day. The regular shuttle service between Colintraive and Rhubodach on Bute continues to operate. On both routes, there has been spare capacity on the great majority of sailings so far. We stand ready, of course, to implement plans for connecting bus services should that prove necessary.

We understand that, contrary to some reports, supermarket shelves in Arran and Bute remain well stocked and that there are no problems in carrying food and other essential supplies to both islands.

We recognise that the strike is damaging to local economies and communities. CalMac has, throughout the dispute, made itself available for talks with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. I understand that further talks are taking place this afternoon on the company's initiative. I hope that a sensible and affordable solution that is acceptable to the company and RMT can be agreed.

The negotiations are a matter for CalMac and RMT. Our role on CalMac is clear: we provide a pay remit, which has allowed the company to offer increases of up to 3.5 per cent for this year and next year. Other pay groups in the company, including a number that are represented by the same union, have accepted those offers. I urge an early resolution to this dispute to put the interests of islanders first.

The minister says that his relationship with the company is clear. It is: the Executive owns it. Is not it therefore his responsibility to do a lot more? Does he not understand the full impact of the strike on west coast communities and islands such as Bute and Arran? Does he not understand the hammer blow to the tourism industry? Does he not understand what the strike means to families who are inconvenienced when trying to get home for Christmas? Crucially, does he not understand the intolerable burden for patients who are trying to get to hospital or families who try to visit patients in hospital? The Executive owns CalMac. The responsibility to convene a meeting immediately and stay at the table until there is a resolution lies with the Executive. Surely the last meeting of Parliament before Christmas is the last opportunity for the Executive to face up to that responsibility.

Of course I understand the impact on the communities that are involved. George Lyon, Allan Wilson and Duncan McNeil, who all have constituency interests, have not hesitated to draw them to my attention. I am as aware of them as the company and others involved are. If Mr Hamilton had listened to my initial answer for its full length, he would have understood that a meeting is taking place this afternoon between the company and the union. That is as it should be.

Yes, Caledonian MacBrayne is wholly owned by Scottish ministers. Nonetheless, it would not be appropriate for ministers to interfere in operational matters such as industrial relations. It is not necessary. As the employer, it has the responsibility to negotiate with its employees. The union has the same responsibility to negotiate on behalf of its members.

I thank the minister for his replies to those questions.

Last week in the chamber, I asked Mr Macdonald to make contingency plans to be put into action if the strike failed to be resolved. I understand that that has now been done and that talks have been held with Stagecoach to ascertain where coaches could be put on to link Rothesay to Colintraive and Colintraive to Dunoon. We have to hope that those talks do not fail and that a compromise is reached. If the talks fail, will the minister assure all the islanders on Bute that the contingency plans will be put into action and that bus services will be put in place to make sure that there is a public transport option for those who do not own a car?

I acknowledge the force of that point and I know that, over the past couple of days, a number of buses have been provided by operators of their own volition. That is welcome. We are monitoring the situation closely and, at this stage, we are not aware of any foot passengers being stranded at any of the terminals. Clearly, we would act if that was the case.

Because talks are continuing, we are keeping an eye on developments and the demand. We will act. We are talking with the relevant transport authorities. Contingency plans have been drawn up, are in place and will be put into action should the need arise.

Before we turn to question time, the chamber would like to welcome His Excellency the President of Croatia, Mr Stjepan Mesic, who is with us today and who will be addressing members later.