Speaking after questioning the Deputy First Minister John Swinney on when minutes for Tuesday’s Orkney Ferries Task Force will be made public, and the agenda for the next meeting published, Highlands and Islands MSP and Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Islands Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“As an Orcadian, I know all too well the importance of good, reliable ferry links for our island communities, and I know the damaging impact unreliable links can have for island residents. As we have seen on the west coast routes, failure to replace ageing ferries risks increasing disruption throughout the islands.
“I welcome the talks and hope that they are a small but belated step forward. But there are already concerns in the islands that these talks are simply a smokescreen to distract from a lack of action - and a lack of future plans - from the government in Edinburgh.
“That’s why I simply asked John Swinney when the minutes of this taskforce meeting will be published by SNP ministers. That wasn’t an unreasonable question, but his bolshy answer points to a certain sensitivity over the issue and on ministerial minute-taking more generally.
"Given the number of broken promises from SNP ministers in Edinburgh on ferries, if Orcadians are to have confidence that this is the beginning of a genuine process - one which will have the desired outcome of new ferries or funding – surely some transparency from this government isn’t too much to ask?”.
