Chamber and committees

While delivery of investments in new vessels and port infrastructure is being progressed, the Minister for Transport has authorised the purchase and deployment of MV Loch Frisa and has chartered MV Arrow for overhaul and resilience cover, and she recently agreed a nine-month charter of MV Alfred. Additional funding has been committed for enhanced maintenance of vessels, and work will continue with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and the operators to identify potential additional second-hand tonnage to support the fleet.

Those measures, combined with our fares freeze, demonstrate that the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving the lifeline ferry fleet and better meeting the needs of island communities. Of course, ministers—like everybody else—fully appreciate the level of anger and disappointment that some of the recent issues in relation to lifeline ferry services have caused in those communities.

Emma Harper, too, will want to engage with the new transport minister. I hope that members understand that, in today’s context, I am not able to necessarily give as detailed an answer as the transport minister would be able to give.

Of the 45 STPR2 recommendations, 34 are applicable to South Scotland, which include a range of port improvements as well as the existing rail infrastructure and improvements to roads that are focused on safety, resilience, reliability and climate change adaptation.

I am certain that the Government as a whole, as well as the new transport minister, will be keen to listen to community groups that come forward with proposals as well as the views of the relevant local authorities.

I thank Siobhian Brown for raising the experiences that her constituent and other people across Scotland have been having. Bus travel should, of course, be accessible for all. I agree very strongly that accessible audio and visual information should be provided on bus routes. However, powers relating to accessible information on bus routes are reserved to the United Kingdom Government. It used the Bus Services Act 2017 to amend the Equality Act 2010 to require operators to provide audio and visual information on bus services across Great Britain.

In 2018, the UK Government consulted on proposals to improve information for bus passengers. My colleague Michael Matheson, who, at the time, was Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, responded to that consultation. Given the importance of ensuring that clear and consistent information is provided to all bus users, it is disappointing that the UK Government’s proposed legislation has still to be introduced. However, I noticed that the Department for Transport confirmed in a written answer earlier this year that it intends to introduce regulations that will

“require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain”.

Transport Scotland officials continue to engage with UK Government counterparts on the issue.

The core answer in relation to all areas is that the opportunities exist for local and regional projects to come forward. Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government’s officials are keen to engage with any constructive proposals, and I am sure that the new transport minister will respond to all members who have expressed an interest in that as soon as possible.

As I said in my first answer, the development of new vessels is led by CMAL as well as Transport Scotland and the relevant operators. There is considerable debate about, and a number of factors need to be considered in relation to, the standardisation of specifications. For example, CalMac is already considering the debate about live-ashore and live-aboard models, which is one of a number of factors that are under active consideration.

I hope that the member will acknowledge that the new transport minister, once they are appointed, will be the person to engage with on some of the specific issues that she has raised.

I am not able to provide a name. The Scottish Government is responsible for the decision to charter the service, and I suspect that, if we had not put that extra capacity in place, we would be getting an earful from the member and others across the chamber for other reasons.

The Government takes extremely seriously the issues that Richard Leonard rightly raises. He is right to be concerned about those matters.

Of course, most people recognise that, while longer-term infrastructure is coming into place, the charter gives additional, very important capacity, which will be welcomed by most people who rely on the services. However, the terms and conditions for crews under a charter are a matter for the operator. CalMac has confirmed that the crew are receiving the living wage, and Transport Scotland officials are monitoring the situation and will keep the transport minister apprised of any further action that is required.

Emma Roddick is right to welcome the fact that the charter is now in place. The primary focus will be to support resilience across the Clyde and Hebrides network, which should help to mitigate the impact of disruption or where islands are reduced to a single-vessel service.

Berthing trials will be completed before the vessel enters service to confirm the routes on which it can operate, with likely deployment on Arran and Islay routes. CalMac will engage with network community representatives over the next few weeks to discuss deployment options to support resilience across the network.

I have just explained to members that work will be on-going with community representatives to identify where the additional capacity will be deployed. I suspect that most people who rely on the service will be glad that it is there.