> Despite Jamie Halcro Johnston's request for clarification on the delivery schedule for new boats for Scotland’s island communities, the SNP Cabinet Secretary refused to provide any answers.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has expressed deep frustration at yesterday’s response of the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, Màiri McAllan MSP, to questions about new vessels for Scotland’s island communities.
Responding to a Ministerial Statement from Ms McAllan on Ferguson Marine, Scottish Conservative MSP Mr Halcro Johnston, who is also Convener of Holyrood’s Cross Party Group on Islands, called for clarity on when islanders can expect ageing boats across the network to start being replaced.
However, neither Ms McAllan’s statement nor her replies provided any new information, and Mr Halcro Johnston accused the Scottish Government of failing to recognise the urgent need for replacement vessels or the impact this was having on island communities.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said later:
“This latest statement said nothing new, and certainly won’t have given islanders any encouragement that the Scottish Government recognises the urgent need to invest in Scotland’s ageing ferry fleet.
"Islanders should be at the very heart of the Scottish Government’s concerns on this issue, but they seemed to be all but ignored by Màiri McAllan and successive SNP MSPs who were more interested in trying to play party politics.
“Those who rely on ferries every day – whose lives and livelihoods are being impacted every day by delays, cancellations and unreliable service – will take cold comfort from a statement that fails to say when – and at what cost – new boats will be delivered.
“And can islanders really have confidence when the SNP won’t even say whether any new replacement scheme – whether that's for CalMac, Northlink or local council vessels – will rely heavily on Ferguson’s, a yard which has failed to deliver boats on time, and which handed back the contract for the MV Hamnavoe.
“This statement will provide cold comfort to Islanders who simply want to know when they’ll get the boats they so desperately need”.
ENDS
Notes to editor
The official meeting report can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/recent-publication?meeting=15740&iob=134314
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