Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will tomorrow lead a Holyrood debate on the growing crisis facing Scotland’s lifeline ferry services.
The Scottish Parliament Member’s Debate has been called after a motion by the Scottish Conservative MSP achieved support from a number of parties in its call for a Scotland-wide ferries strategy that ensures the resilience of the network into the future.
Scotland’s ferry network has suffered a summer of disruption, and there is real concern matters will only get worse as the existing ferry fleet continues to age.
Mr Halcro Johnston, who is from Orkney, said: “A reliable and resilient ferry service is vital to our island communities and it’s clear that, after months of breakdowns and cancelled services, ministers in Edinburgh simply aren’t providing that. The anger of the communities that I represent – communities which have been most affected by this growing crisis - must be heard loud and clear in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament and responsible ministers held to account over the Scottish Government’s repeated failures."
“SNP ministers should be left in no doubt that the current situation is unacceptable and that they need, however belatedly, to acknowledge the depth of the crisis and take responsibility for resolving it."
“The Scottish Government must use this debate to start outlining practical solutions which command the confidence of both elected members and the island communities I represent. We don’t need more empty promises from Edinburgh”.
Jamie Halcro Johnston’s motion will be debated tomorrow afternoon at, approximately 5.00pm
The details are:
Members' Business — S6M-01137 Jamie Halcro Johnston: Recognising the Importance of Scotland’s Ferry Services
That the Parliament recognises the vital importance of lifeline ferry links to Scotland’s island communities; acknowledges what it sees as the severe problems that have affected Clyde and Hebridean routes, particularly in the Highlands and Islands region, over the summer of 2021; notes the impact on residents, potential visitors, businesses and public services of a service that is unreliable; recalls the conclusions of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee in its inquiry into the construction and procurement of ferry vessels in Scotland, and notes the view that there is an urgent need for a Scotland-wide ferries strategy that ensures the resilience of the network into the future.
Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston
