Businesses involved in the supply of goods and products to communities across Scotland have raised concerns over the fragility of delivery networks to Scotland’s islands and more remote communities.
Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee, representatives from the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scottish Wholesalers Group highlighted issues with unreliable transport infrastructure, with Scotland’s under-pressure ferry network a particular concern.
The Committee was told the cost of delivery to the islands was a real concern, as was the road infrastructure in rural Scotland which freight was still reliant on. Committee member, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, said island communities often felt “at the end of the line” when it came to the supply chains.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “It was clear from the evidence given by industry experts how important resilient and reliable transport infrastructure is to suppliers and distributors. These businesses work to very tight margins and demanding schedules, so any uncertainty about the reliability of our roads or ferries has massive implications for them."
“Smaller retail and wholesale businesses, which are so significant to the region, are particularly vulnerable to uncertainty which impacts on their cash-flow and ability to manage and delivery supplies in a timely and efficient manner. The Highlands and Islands are often at the very end of a long and complex supply chain, and disruptions like ferry cancellations and road closures lead to increased costs being passed on to local consumers."
“And, of course, the same issues apply when our communities are at the start of the supply chain, with goods looking to be exported out of the region. And that’s why the never-ending saga of the SNP’s disastrous ferry procurement programme, and the uncertainty over whether the promised dualling of the A9 and improvements to other key roads, are so damaging”.
A recording of the committee session is available here: Economy and Fair Work Committee | Scottish Parliament TV