Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether (a) in principle, Scottish port authorities should be publicly owned and (b) the privatisation of some port authorities under previous UK administrations was the correct decision.
Scottish Ministers recognise the crucial role the port sector plays in supporting the Scottish economy. Ports ownership in Scotland is a diverse mix of mainly private, local authority and trust operated. We recognise that a diverse and successful ports sector contributes significantly to the national, regional and local economies in which they operate.
Regardless of the ownership model, ports in Scotland are deemed commercial entities. Therefore, the Scottish Government has no say in the day-to-day running of their business, nor can it dictate business decisions made by a company on how to best to utilise its resources. This remains the responsibility of the statutory harbour authority.