Chamber and committees

The examination and assessment of the impact of introduction of the road equivalent tariff approach is the principal reason why we are carrying out a pilot. While the desk-based study has been very informative only a live pilot can determine what the impact of a road equivalent tariff scheme will be, not just on the pilot routes but elsewhere in the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks. That assessment will be comprehensive and consider usage and revenue impacts as well as economic and social impacts.

The pilot scheme will be closely monitored to capture all the information required to inform future decisions on fare levels across the entire Scottish ferry network.

The road equivalent tariff (RET) fares recommended by the RET study consultants on the pilot routes are set out below. The two tables are based on comparisons with the single equivalent for passengers and cars of a 2008 summer five day open return ticket and secondly a 2007-08 winter multi-journey ticket. The current commercial vehicle fares are based on CalMac''s published rates. Work is still underway to finalise the RET fares for the pilot routes.

Single Equivalent Based on a Summer Five Day Open Return Ticket

Route	Passenger		Car		Commercial Vehicle*
	Current £	RET £	Current £	RET £	Current £	RET £
Oban-Coll/Tiree	11.40	7.97	67.00	40.83	241.82	149.79
Oban-Castlebay/Lochboisdale	18.75	10.95	68.50	48.83	323.83	212.75
Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy	8.55	4.92	41.00	22.52	181.42	85.26
Ullapool-Stornoway	13.25	7.22	63.50	36.32	257.56	133.90

 

Single Equivalent Based on a Winter Multi-Journey Tickets

Route	Passenger		Car		Commercial Vehicle*
	Current £	RET £	Current £	RET £	Current £	RET £
Oban-Coll/Tiree	9.33	7.97	45.83	40.83	241.82	149.79
Oban-Castlebay/Lochboisdale	15.17	10.95	48.83	48.83	323.83	212.75
Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy	7.00	4.92	28.33	22.52	181.42	85.26
Ullapool-Stornoway	10.83	7.22	44.33	36.32	257.56	133.90

Note: *Commercial Vehicle fares based on a 10 metre vehicle and prices include VAT at standard rate.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has powers under the Environment Act 1995 to carry out research and related activities into matters relevant to its functions. SEPA may use its resources to procure these services from other organisations or individuals with the necessary skills and experience. SEPA also has a general power to do anything which, in its opinion, is calculated to facilitate or is conducive or incidental to, the carrying out of its functions. SEPA does not routinely distribute funds for other purposes.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10701 on 19 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The powers and functions of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) were established by the Environment Act 1995. Other subsequent legislation has given SEPA additional powers or functions to regulate activities with an impact on the environment in a range of areas. The Scottish Government keeps the powers of SEPA under review, in order to ensure they are sufficient to prevent harm to the environment.

In December 2006, the previous administration announced its intention to commission a STAG appraisal on ferry services to Lismore once the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services was completed. I am currently reviewing the options for the future of the ferry services to Lismore and will make an announcement in due course.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 “ Renewable Energy contains policy on designing wind farms to minimise soil disturbance, including peat. There are no plans to revise the policy.

The Scottish Government is delivering on a manifesto commitment to carry out a study into Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) with a pilot on the Western Isles to mainland routes. Mr Swinney announced details of the RET study during his visit to Stornoway on 13 August 2007. That announcement made it clear that we would carry out a study into RET in the context of ferry fares in Scotland and that it would include a pilot exercise on one or more of the Western Isles to mainland routes.

The consultants concluded that all the Western Isles to mainland routes should be included in the pilot. Focussing on the Western Isles to mainland routes initially will allow us to reach a view on the potential benefits of the scheme and to take informed decisions on the potential impacts across other routes.

Consideration will be given to the roll out of RET across the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks once the impact of RET has been evaluated.

As announced during my visit to Stornoway on 26 February 2008 the road equivalent tariff pilot study will commence on 19 October 2008 and will run until spring 2011.

The pilot will be monitored continuously to identify and evaluate impacts of the new reduced fares structure. This evaluation will consider not just the Western Isles but the rest of the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks.

The budget allocation for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study and pilot in years (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2009-10 is £5 million, £7.5 million and £10 million respectively.

The consultant's current estimate of the cost of the pilot exercise is within the budget currently allocated for RET.