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A
The
next
day
for
businesses,
adventure
motion,
one
four,
five,
two
or
in
the
name
of
Jamie
Greene,
on
concern
over
the
states
of
Scotland's
ferry
service
can
ask
those
members
who
wish
to
speak
in
the
debate
to
press
the
request
to
speak
buttons.
Now
I
call
on
Jamie
Greene
to
speak
to
move
the
motion.
Mr.
green
eight
minutes,
please.
B
Thank
You
presiding
officer
can
I
start
by
the
outset
of
this
debate
by
thanking
those
on
the
ground
who
care
so
passionately
about
delivering
Scotland's
ferry
services.
Those
working
on
boards
are
vessels
and
our
ports
and
harbors
and
those
welding.
The
sheets
of
our
future
fleet,
but
I,
do
saw
in
the
knowledge
that
they
are
working
in
a
difficult
climate
under
contracts
largely
outside
of
their
control
on
vessels.
They
often
did
not
choose
or
design
and
in
a
climate
where
they
are
repeated,
calls
for
adequate
investment
is
going
unnoticed
and
ignored.
B
Our
criticisms
today
will
reflect
the
strength
fulfilling
on
this
matter
right
across
Scotland.
Our
criticism
is
focused
squarely
at
the
door
of
the
government
which,
after
a
decade
in
office
as
yet
to
deliver
a
sustainable
fit
for
purpose,
fleet
and
network
of
ferries
and
Scotland
a
government,
that's
presiding
over
an
aging
fleet
of
vessels,
with
no
real
standardization
between
vessel
and
port,
with
little
to
no
resilience
within
that
fleet
and
which
is
dogmatic
in
its
pursuit
of
directly
awarding
contracts
and
which
has,
if
it's
very
brief,
a
lot
to
get
through.
Minister.
C
A
C
If
the
member
is
making
his
assertions
about
the
rule,
the
Scottish
government,
will
he
not
recognize
over
the
last
decade?
Now
we
have
faced
increasing
austerity
astonish
since
2010,
and
it's
not
a
main
about
the
matter.
The
member
might
ignore
this,
but
there's
been
one
point:
nine
billion,
paying
real
terms
cut
in
the
Scottish
Government's
budget
in
2019
20
as
a
result
of
your
government.
Mr.
A
B
You
so
much
presiding
officer,
my
goodness.
The
Minister
has
an
absolute
key
to
stand
up
and
tell
this
chamber
that
it's
somebody
else's
fault
that
the
ferry
services
in
Scotland
are
not
up
to
scratch.
It's
always
somebody
else's
fault
minutes
though,
but
I
would
advise
you
to
listen
to
what
not
just
what
we
have
to
say,
but
members
right
across
this
chamber
from
every
part
of
Scotland,
listen
to
us
and
listen
to
the
people
out
there
who
have
to
rely
on
those
services.
B
We
brought
forward
this
debate
because
of
those
voices,
those
voices
right
across
Scotland,
not
experts
in
the
marine
industry,
but
the
people
to
who
the
ferry
services
matter
the
most
like
the
farmer
who
contacted
me
from
Aaron
who
cannot
get
his
livestock
to
the
market
on
the
mainland.
Why?
Because
of
the
lack
of
commercial
space
on
the
vessel,
like
the
tourists
I
met
sitting
in
a
queue?
It's
not.
B
The
fact
is
that
since
the
SNP
came
to
power,
there
have
been
over
70,000
ferry
delays
or
cancellations
across
Scotland,
that's
177
ceilings
a
week
and
Scotland
being
disrupted,
and
it's
quite
timely
that
today's
debate
comes
as
the
rural
economy
and
connectivity
Committee
released.
The
letter
to
the
transport
secretary,
who
I
noticed,
is
absent
from
today's
debate.
Summarizing
its
findings
summarizing
its
findings
on
ferry
funding
as
part
of
budget
scrutiny.
This
report,
minister,
makes
for
some
very
difficult
reading.
I
advise
you
to
read
it
very
very
carefully
and
perhaps
have
you
had
read
it?
B
You
may
have
submitted
a
more
realistic
and
self-aware
amendment
to
the
one
you
submitted
today.
The
wreck
committee
was
told
that
ferry
services
and
its
infrastructure
have
suffered
from
a
lengthy,
lengthy
period
of
underinvestment.
In
its
evidence
to
the
committee,
Carmack's
Management
Director
described
the
2018
summer
disruption
as
the
worst
in
eight
years.
He
told
the
committee
that,
in
terms
of
backup
vessels,
Carmack
has
no
spare
assets.
No
spare
fleet
and
its
staff
are
working
at
their
absolute
capacity
just
to
maintain
status
call
if
a
single
vessel
is
out
of
service.
B
It
disrupts
the
entire
network
for
weeks
at
a
time,
as
was
the
case
when
the
env
clansmen
was
out
of
service
and
to
be
fair
to
mr.
Drummond.
It's
not
Carmack's
fault
they're
working
with
the
contracts
and
the
fleet
they
have
available
to
them.
The
committee
took
a
number
of
evidence
sessions
from
a
wide
range
of
stakeholders,
and
these
are
the
some
of
the
concerns
that
they
raised.
B
The
lack
of
vessel
capacity
for
vehicles,
investment
not
matching
increased
growth
from
tourism,
insufficient
integration
with
mainland
transport,
a
focus
on
procuring
larger,
more
expensive
vessels,
which
limits
their
ability
to
move
vessels
between
one
port
and
another
or
two
between
one
service.
In
another
and
I
know.
There
are
a
wide
range
of
views
in
this
Parliament
on
who
shoot
or
shooting
operator
ferries,
but
when
the
government
did
run
a
tender
for
chips,
the
process
was
complex
and
flexible,
expensive
and
actually
discouraged
innovative
beds.
B
The
committee
noted
that
investment
in
port
infrastructure
and
vessels
quite
simply
is
not
meeting
demand.
Cmos
chief
executive
told
the
REC
committee
that
the
annual
investment
he
thought
needed
was
30
million
pounds
per
year
on
vessels
and
20
million
pounds
per
year
on
harbors.
It
has
been
receiving
just
half
of
that.
So
it's
not
huge
surprise
to
anyone
that
there
are
so
there's
so
much
disruption
on
our
fleets
but
presenting
also
there's
a
wider
problem.
Here.
B
Last
year's
report
and
Ferries
by
otis
scotland
warned
that
this
long-term
lack
of
investment
and
vision
along
with
skyrocketing
subsidies
and
limited
finances
could
be
detrimental
to
the
long-term
viability
of
Scotland's
ferries.
In
their
words,
they
said
there
is
no
Scotland
wide
long-term
strategy.
Transport
Scotland
will
find
it
challenging
to
continue
to
provide
ferry
services
that
meets
the
needs
of
users
within
its
allocated
budget,
but
this
isn't.
The
future.
I
would
argue
that
this
is
already
the
case.
B
So
in
that
context,
I'm
pleased
to
agree
with
flavors
amendment
today,
on
these
benches,
we
share
their
aspiration
for
a
government
which
produces
a
30-year
plan
for
both
shipbuilding
and
ferry
replacement.
It's
a
sensible
addition
to
the
debate.
I
would
ask
other
members
to
support
it
as
well.
The
industry
has
been
saying
this
for
years,
even
as
far
back
as
2011,
the
Scottish
government
acknowledged
itself,
they
said
we're
faced
with
significant
and
growing
increases
in
both
resource
and
capital
costs
to
maintain
existing
ferry
services.
B
B
The
government's
amendment
today
simply
does
one
thing:
it
deletes
my
motion,
it
says
and
it
notes
that
people
are
concerned
and
they
are
frustrated.
Sorry
officer.
Today's
award
for
the
biggest
understatement
goes
to
Paul
wheelhouse.
We
call
for
this
debate
today
because
enough
simply
is
enough.
For
too
long
the
Scottish
government
has
ignored
repeated
warnings
from
the
industry.
The
public
are
sick
and
tired
of
the
disruption
of
the
delays
and
of
the
cancellations.
They
were
promised
new
vessels,
they
haven't
arrived,
they
asked
for
one
type
of
vessel
and
they
were
delivered
another.
B
They
were
promised
that
their
needs
would
be
proved
first
and
instead
they're
queuing
for
hours
on
end
to
get
a
ferry
home,
IRA
dodge
all
members
in
the
chamber
today
to
listen
to
the
many
stories
and
anecdotes.
You
were
here
from
the
length
and
breadth
of
Scotland
and
rather
than
pretend
that
the
status
quo
is
acceptable,
as
the
government
wants
you
to
do,
stand
up
and
stick
up
through
Island
communities,
because
that's
what
we
will
do.
I
move
the
motion
in
my
name.
A
C
Thank
You
presiding
officer,
the
Scottish
Government,
recognises
our
ferry.
Services
must
strive
to
match
the
aspirations
of
the
communities
that
they
serve,
providing
lifeline
services
and
opportunities
for
economic
growth.
Indeed,
our
amendment
makes
reference
to
lifeline
service
is
something
missing
from
mr.
Greene's
motion
in
the
round
our
ferry
services
perform
well
to
date.
This
government
has
invested
over
1.4
billion
pounds
in
ferry
services
across
Scotland
and
performance
for
the
year
today,
under
our
three
public
sector,
contract
sits
above
95
percent.
C
However,
I
want
to
also
take
this
opportunity
to
commend
the
work
of
ferry
operators,
crew
and
staff
and
maintaining
high
levels
of
performance,
often
in
quite
challenging
circumstances.
We
all
recognize,
and
we
should
not
lose
sight
of
that
success,
but
we
cannot
be
complacent
and
I
do
I
do
recognize
that
mr.
Venus
has
also
welcomed
the
contribution
of
Carmack
staff,
but
that
didn't
feature
in
his
motion.
C
So
the
government
amendment
does
make
that
point
clear
and
so
members
who
are
considering
whether
to
vote
for
the
government's
amendment
can
register
their
support
for
for
the
staff
of
Carmack
who
are
providing
a
key
lifeline
service.
But
given
the
financial
pressures
that
we
continue
to
face,
it
is
important
that
we
have
an
honest
conversation
about
how
we
prioritize
investment
and
our
ferry
services
to
target
resources
as
effectively
as
possible.
C
Those
pressures
do
persist
and
in
light
of
this
week's
UK
government
budget,
which
sees
a
real
terms
cut
of
1.9
billion,
just
to
repeat
that
point
against
the
2010-11
budget
and
the
conservative
members
me
shake
their
heads,
but
it
is
a
fact.
It
is
a
fact.
I
will
I
will
get
way
in
that
point
to
mr.
Fraser
I
know
he's
interesting.
These
matters.
D
Still
freeze
here,
thank
you,
Debbie's
videos,
like
a
fault
to
the
Minister,
for
giving
we
just
said
twice
to
the
chamber,
something
that
is
manifestly
untrue.
He
has
stated
twice
that
the
Scottish
Government's
budget
has
been
reduced
by
1.9
million
pounds
since
2010
I
suggest
he
reads:
the
Fraser
founder
institute
analysis,
which
shows
the
Scottish
Government's
total
budget
resource
Dale
capital,
financial
transactions
and
eme,
is
in
total
higher
than
in
real
terms
in
2010.
Will
he
now,
except
he
has
mislaid
the
chamber
that.
C
You
presiding
officer,
absolutely
not
I,
do
not
agree
with
mr.
Frese
assessment,
and
he
is
with
with
respect
with
respect
to
mr.
Fraser,
referring
to
financial
transactions
funding,
as
if
those
funds
can
be
deployed
to
support
resource
budgets
for
ferry
services
is
misleading
this
chamber.
So
mr.
Fraser
ought
to
consider
his
own
remarks
there.
The
resource
budget
has
been
reduced
by
one
point:
nine
billion
relative
to
the
2010-11
budget,
and
let
us
not
also
forget-
and
this
is
point
that
presumably
mr.
Fraser
were
also
to
speak.
The
mr.
C
Bean's
own
parties
purport
tax
proposals
for
the
current
year.
We'd
have
reduced
Scotland's
resource
budget
by
a
further
five
hundred
million
pounds
relative
to
our
own
tax
proposal.
So
mr.
green
has
accused
me
of
cheek
can
I
in
return
while
being
at
diplomatic
and
being
polite
about
it,
accused
mr.
green
of
extensive
brass
neck
and
his
approach
to
the
resourcing
of
our
ferry
services.
I
am
committed
to
engaging
with
all
of
our
stakeholders.
I've
been
since
assuming
responsibility
for
ferries
brief
this
summer
to
ensure
that
views
are
understood
and
we
have
those
discussions.
C
Indeed,
it
would
be
of
interest.
Maybe
mr.
Beeman
can
respond
later
to
let
me
know
how
many
occasions
the
Conservative
Party
have
asked
for
additional
funding
and
budget
rooms
from
the
Scottish
government
since,
since
our
taking
office
in
2007
presiding
officer,
I
would
like
to
briefly
reflect
on
our
activity.
Today,
we've
published
our
fairies
plan
in
2012.
That
was
an
ambitious
long-term
strategy
for
investment
in
fairies
and
despite
the
Tories
our
age
of
austerity,
we
have
invested
over
1.4
billion
pounds
in
supporting
lifeline
ferry
services
I'm
short
of
time.
Mr.
C
Scott
I'll
try
and
come
in
if
I
can
later
and
across
the
across
the
network.
That
support
has
delivered
the
introduction
of
new
routes,
service,
enhancements
and
strength
and
timetables,
and
additional
ceilings
provided
in
response
to
increasing
demand
we're
delivering,
but
it
will
take
time
to
deliver
in
full.
Eight
new
ferries
have
been
added
to
the
carmack
fleet
since
2007
a
further
two
new
vessels
happening
Commission's.
C
This
represents
a
total
investment
of
215
million
pounds
in
new
vessels,
and
we
have
also
recently
committed
to
provide
a
further
vessel
to
serve
the
early
route,
not
in
significantly
five
of
the
last
six
orders
for
those
new
vessels
have
been
two
Scottish
yards.
We
see
the
contribution
that
fairies
make
to
our
supply
chain
and
to
securing
growth
in
our
maritime
economy.
C
All
five
of
those
Scottish
built
vessels
deploy
hybrid
and
dual
fuel
technologies
to
reduce
the
damaging
effect
of
greenhouse
gas
emissions,
and
we
recognize
the
important
contribution
that
ferries
can
make
to
her
overarching
strategy
to
reduce
emissions.
Our
programme
of
harbour
investment
includes
62
million
pounds
in
the
Clayton
Hebrides
Network
over
the
last
five
years.
This
ensures
that
port
remains
safe
and
are
fit
for
purpose
and
when
funding
allows,
we
invest
in
enhancements,
which
enable
a
wider
range
of
vessels
to
access
the
harbour,
adding
resilience
and
flexibility
and
providing
modern
and
accessible
facilities
for
passengers.
C
More
recently,
in
response
to
the
impact
of
disruption
to
customers,
which
we
do
recognize,
we
have
introduced
in
3.5
million
resilience
fund
to
support
Carmack
in
its
obligation
to
maintain
vessels
on
the
Clayton
Hebrides
Network
now
going
forward.
We
have
achieved,
we
have
achieved
much,
but
we
must
continue
to
look
forward
and
to
build
on
our
investment
to
date.
Transport
Scotland
is
revisiting
the
ferries
plan
as
part
of
the
strategic
transport
projects
review.
C
We
will
also
revisit
the
vessel
replacement
and
deployment
plan
to
ensure
that
it
continues
to
reflect
current
circumstances
and
demands
and
make
anticipates
future
demands
and
a
particular.
This
will
have
to
reflect
a
huge
success
of
our
ret
and
the
impacts
and
passenger
demands
on
some
routes.
We
work
in
close
consultation
with
key
part
business
partners
and
community
stakeholders
and
in
terms
of
the
the
work
ahead,
we
will
engage
with
the
trade
unions
to
reflect
operational
impact
on
of
any
proposals
on
staff
and
crew.
C
C
C
C
C
E
You
presiding
officer,
it's
no
exaggeration
to
say,
Scotland's
ferry
net.
What
provides
a
lifeline
for
communities
and
evidence
to
the
rural
economy
committee
western
ales
council
describe
them
as
central
to
the
sustainability
and
well-being
of
the
island
communities.
Our
Gail
and
Butte
said
they
were
the
very
means
to
survive
and
prosper.
So
the
summer
of
this
can
take
we've
seen
on
Scotland's
ferries
caused
by
a
lack
of
capacity
and
resilience
have
wreaked
havoc
for
our
island
communities,
pure
planning
and
investment
by
the
Scottish
Government.
That
is
not
me
in
grown.
E
Demand
means
our
ferry
network
is
not
fit
for
purpose,
despite
it
times
the
quite
heroic
efforts
of
staff
to
keep
those
fairies
going,
but
more
than
half
of
Simoes
fleet
is
over
20
years
old
over
the
quarter
as
more
than
30
years
old.
That
aging
fleet
has
made
more
breakdowns
and
higher
maintenance
costs
and
calmac
submission
to
the
rural
economy
committed.
They
stated
that
on
the
Clayton
Hebrides
route,
between
2012
and
2017,
a
number
of
cars
carried
has
grown
by
37
percent.
E
To
one
point,
four:
three
million
per
year
and
passenger
numbers
have
risen
by
17%
to
5.2
million
per
year.
Now
the
introduction
of
rude
equivalent
tariff
fares
on
some
routes
has
resulted
in
those
drastic
increases
in
usage
and
create
serious
capacity
issues,
most
notably
on
the
stone
away
to
ullapool
route,
where
local
residents
in
Lewiston
and
hardest
of
often
simply
been
unable
to
book
ferries
to
the
main
line,
presiding
officer.
E
We
all
welcome
the
introduction
of
ret
fairs
and
I
hope
the
Scottish
comment
or
make
good
and
their
overdue
pledge
to
introduce
them
on
the
Northern
Isles
routes.
But
it
must
be
accompanied
by
the
necessary
and
vase
in
capacity
to
meet
that
growing
demand.
Transport
Scotland
may
have
calculated
and
funded
the
cost
of
lost
ticket
revenue
caused
by
ret,
but
they
have
not
properly
assess
the
impact
of
increased
usage
on
capacity
and
the
current
fairies
fly
and
fall
short
as
a
result.
E
F
E
Investment
in
ferry
services,
a
pill
track
record
is
clear
in
the
decision
to
replace
the
NV
Isle
of
Lewis
with
one
large
ship
rather
than
to
row
packs
vessels,
as
recommended
by
the
stag
assessment
and
supported
by
the
local
community.
This
not
only
requires
significant
adjustments
to
the
ports,
but
also
weaken
resilience
on
the
relying
on
a
single
chef.
The
approach
to
ferry
services
has
to
be
better
thought
through
and
needs
greater
forward
planning.
E
As
the
motion
notes,
audit
Scotland
recently
highlighted
the
need
for
a
new
long-term
strategy
for
ferries
to
take
into
account
the
many
proposed
developments
to
services
and
assets.
In
fact,
a
decade
ago,
the
transport
and
infrastructure
and
Climate
Change
Committee
called
on
the
Scottish
Government
to
produce
a
national
ferry
strategy,
detail
and
long-term
plans.
E
For
it's
fairly
replacement,
refurbishment
and
port
infrastructure,
accompanied
by
an
implementation
and
delivery
plan
with
a
clear
programme
of
funding,
taneous
Lea,
the
government
have
not
the
love
of
this
cause,
an
uncertainty
for
those
providing
services
and
the
communities
they
rely
on.
We
need
this
long-term
ferry
strategy
more
than
ever,
but
it
also
has
to
be
accompanied
by
a
national
shipbuilding
strategy,
shipbuilding,
the
jobs
it
deliveres
remain
important
to
the
Scottish
economy.
E
A
national
shipbuilding
strategy
say
now
a
30
year
program
of
what
would
help
create
jobs,
develop
and
retain
skills
and
expertise
in
Scotland
shipyards
and
cottage
investment
and
improve
the
efficiency
with
which
yards
can
produce
fairies
clear
in
that
steady
drumbeat
of
consistent
what
yards
need.
We
also
need
to
look
again
at
ended
in
process
for
shipbuilding
contracts,
with
feelings
exposed
by
the
current
delays
and
delivery
of
the
two
new
hybrid
ferries.
The
flawed
procurement
process
resulted
and
design.
It
seems
that
insurers
were
simply
unwilling
to
underwrite
resulted
in
significant
changes
to
that
design
in.
E
E
Government
doesn't
seem
overall
to
recognize
that
ferry
services,
like
all
public
transfer
as
a
vital
public
service-
and
this
is
summed
up
by
the
ambivalence
towards
public
ownership
through
the
failure
to
take
the
northern
islands,
contract
and
house
on
a
permanent
basis
to
add
insult
to
injury
decision
by
the
government
chartered
enviado
from
sea
truck
to
meet
growing
fleet
demand
and
there
it
means
staff
being
paid
less
than
the
national
minimum
wage.
This
needs
to
be
tackled
and
future
contracts.
E
That
means
say
and
o
unequivocal
requirements
for
the
peon
conditions
of
all
staff
and
ideally
tend
them
for
more
than
to
chat
or
fleet
vessels
to
to
avoid
the
situation
that
eyes
in
the
first
census.
This
would
also
facilitate
capacity
increases
and
seasonal
changes
and
demand.
The
contract
must
also
include
a
clawback
provision
to
ensure
that
surplus
profits
are
returned
to
the
public
parts
and
protect
the
jobs
and
conditions
of
all
existing
staff.
Doing
all.
So.
E
In
conclusion,
it's
clear
that
across
our
ferry
debt,
what
we
are
seeing
problems
that
could
have
been
avoided
with
better
planning
and
more
strategic
investment.
The
Scottish
Government
must
take
action
to
improve
the
only
hole.
Failures
are
run
by
bringing
lifeline
services
into
public
hands,
but
how
investment
projects
are
planned,
procured
and
managed
by
creating
a
long-term
strategy
for
ferries
and
a
national
ship
boat
and
plan
to
support.
I,
therefore
move
the
amendment
and
main
aim.
Thank.
G
Where
the
conservative
really
come
from,
we
we
had
references
to
tendering
and
I.
Accept
Lee
would
delay
Monsieur
for
the
comments
of
Colin
Smith
there
and
the
lost
opportunity
for
the
Scottish
Government
regarding
the
Northern
Isles,
because
I
think
he
sent
a
very
clear
direction
of
travel
and
philosophy.
When
you
get
opportunities
like
that
and
and
I
have
to
say
that
that's
a
missed
opportunity,
we
will
be
supporting
the
the
Scottish
Labour
Party
amendment
tonight,
because
I
again
it
narrates
things
are
very
important
about
an
implementation
and
delivery
plan
and
a
30-year
prom
of
works.
G
That's
important
when
seen
in
the
context
of
the
the
the
lifeline
of
the
duration
that
a
ferry
can
survive.
I
want
to
also
thank
that
the
staff
for
the
hard
work,
because
there's
no
doubt
that
the
direct
feed
of
of
negative
comment
that
comes
out
does
have
an
impact
and
I
think
we
need
to
understand
that
increased
funding
is
important.
That's
indeed
the
the
amendment
which
wasn't
called
and
selected
him
talks
about
increased
funding
being
essential
and
very
happy
to
explain
where
we
would
provide
some
of
that
funding
from
we
wouldn't
be
spending
sex.
G
Bullion
in
two
roads
we
wouldn't
have
spent
the
quarters
ebullient
ma4,
the
aim
it
or
the
Aberdeen
West
peripheral
route,
so
I
think
it's
important
that
people
understand
where
the
funding
comes
from
and
in
relation
to
that.
Clearly,
as
regards
the
replacement
vessel
and
the
ala
pool
lewis
route,
that
certainly
doesn't
say
our
bluest
or
lewis
exits
certainly
say
of
Lloyds
the
bank,
who
have
benefited
very
very
well
indeed
from
it,
and
indeed
the
deal
is
going
to
cost
tax.
G
We
are
67
bill,
a
million
pounds
by
2022,
at
which
point
the
bankers
will
stole
on
the
vessel,
so
and
there'll
be
a
requirement,
negotiator
and
new
lease
so
elsewhere
from
a
leader.
Looking
at
funding
models,
that's
certainly
not
a
model
that
we
would
want
to
see
replicated.
Also,
you
know,
lest
anyone
I
think
the
pleasant
government
have
a
number
of
questions
to
answer
regarding
where
they
are.
But
Jim
McLean
alluded
to
the
the
report
from
the
little
economy
committee
them
off
this
morning
and
it's
insignificant
to
know
what
the
heinousness
transport
path.
G
Partnership
noted
that
there
were
no
new
major
vessels
entered
the
service
between
2001
and
2011.
Now
that
has
a
significant
impact
when
you're
looking
at
the
lifespan
of
vessels,
so
yeah
III
think
it's
a
collective
responsibility
to
try
and
resolve
this
situation,
because
I
think
if
some
of
the
difficulties
had
occurred
with
our
road
network
that
have
occurred
on
a
ferry
network,
then
would
be
having
a
lot
higher
profile
going
to
at
this.
So
I
welcome
the
fact
that
we
are
debating
this
issue.
G
What
I
don't
welcomes
the
fact
that
I
read
about
a
sea
mile
describing
things
as
commercial
and
confidence
and
tears
like
that?
This
is
public
money,
I
want
to
see
ferry
service
occur
and
I
hope.
The
conservative
benches
keep
noting
when
I,
say
I
very
service
run
exclusively
in
the
public
interest,
not-for-profit
as
we
would
see
elsewhere.
The
northern
stopped
so
I
think
the
reality
is
that
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we
have
a
coherent
plan
and
coherent
funding
method.
Thank
you.
I
Presiding
officer,
first
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
Jamie
green
for
using
this
limited
opposition
time
to
be
at
the
debate.
That's
very
important
issue
and
it's
a
very
current
issue
in
that
the
rural
economy
committee
has
written
to
the
transport
secretary
just
two
hours
ago
as
part
of
our
pre
budget
scrutiny
and
as
a
fellow
member
of
the
rural
economy
committee,
Jamie
Green
will
be
aware
of
the
troubling
evidence
presented
to
members
by
operators
and
island
communities,
highlighting
potential
long-term
problems
for
our
ferry
services.
I
Just
over
the
horizon
and
I
want
to
refer,
and
it's
on
the
website
of
the
committee.
So
members
can
see
it
for
themselves.
The
first
bullet
point:
the
first
recommendation:
the
letter
delivered
to
the
transport
secretary
just
two
hours
ago
that
the
committee
called
and
the
minister
may
not
have
seen
it.
I
There
see
mountainous,
a
Carmack,
the
the
effects
of
transport
delays
can
be
damaging
for
local
economies
and
alarming
for
travelers.
Significant
delays
to
lifeline
ferry
services
can
severely
impact
upon
Island
communities
and
the
damaging
effects
of
delays
are
often
multiplied
as
repairs
take
place
over
weeks
and
months.
In
the
worst
cases,
livestock
and
fresh
produce
are
turned
away
at
ferry
terminals,
essential
supplies
and
service
vehicles
are
held
up
and
vital
income
from
tourism
is
lost.
I
Of
course,
delays
are
far
less
likely
to
be
a
problem
if
ferry
operators
have
the
resilience,
have
the
flexibility
and
have
the
capacity
to
move
passengers
onto
other
available
services
and
vessels.
This
year
the
Scottish
Government
welcomed
the
principles
of
faith
funding
for
local
ferry
services
for
the
Northern
Ireland's
I,
also
in
orkney
and
shetland
to
set
out
by
my
Scottish
Liberal
Democrat
colleagues
from
orkney
and
shetland.
I
By
definition,
the
Scottish
Government
has
accepted
the
responsibility
to
support
vital
ferry
links
for
our
island
communities
and
help
operators
fund
the
snowballing
cost
of
planned
and
unplanned
maintenance.
Deputy
presiding
officers.
Repairs
at
sea
can
only
get
us
so
far
and
there's
certainly
no
quick
fix
for
our
aging
ferry
fleet.
This
summer,
Kamik
reported
that
the
risk
of
breakdown
is
now
significant
for
many
of
their
vessels,
and
I
quote
with
nearly
half
of
ferries
already
beyond
their
25
year,
life
expectancy
and
having
been
used
intensively
during
those
years
of
service.
I
The
risk
of
mechanical
failures
and
breakdown
is
significant.
It
also
takes
longer
to
get
older
boats
back
into
service
when
things
do
go
wrong.
Deputy
presiding
officer,
I
strongly
agree
with
emotion
and
with
Colin
Smith's
amendment.
In
fact,
I
believe
they
do
not
go
far
enough.
We
urgently
need
a
long-term
plan
for
our
ferry
services
in
Scotland,
a
program
of
investment
that
will
provide
transport
security
for
Island
communities
for
decades
to
come.
The
Scottish
government
must
set
out
clear
targets
for
improvement
and
moths.
Most
importantly,
work
towards
those
targets
must
begin
immediately.
I
The
Northern
Isles
lifeline
ferry
services
are
in
a
tendering
process.
Now,
for
example,
the
government
must
ensure
that
the
future
Freight
export
needs
of
the
islands
are
built
into
that
contract.
Specification
industry
has
given
the
information
they
need.
The
minister
needs
to
do
it.
Will
the
minister,
in
his
summing
up,
ensure
that
happens?
The
current
level
of
government
engagement,
past
and
present
in
a
lifeline
ferry
services
hasn't
been
good
enough
and
were
in
danger
of
letting
a
bad
situation
get
worse.
H
J
You
very
much
deputy
presiding
officer
as
an
Acadian
and
someone
with
farming
interests
in
Orkney
I
welcome
the
opportunity
to
speak
on
this
important
subject
today
around
Scotland.
We
are
seeing
a
range
of
problems
facing
those
who
rely
on
our
ferry
services,
and
these
ferry
routes
are
often
an
essential
link
to
our
Isle
in
the
communities
where
there
are
a
few.
If
any
alternatives
for
travel
for
Freight
for
those
seeking
access
to
public
services
to
operate
their
businesses
will
still
be
to
travel
for
work
or
leisure,
they
are
a
lifeline.
J
So
it's
unfortunate
there's
such
strong
evidence
of
a
lack
of
strategic
direction
in
the
Scottish
Government's
provision
of
support
provision
of
supports
of
ferries
across
the
country.
Since
audit
Scotland
drew
attention
to
this
issue
in
2017,
there's
been
little
in
the
way
of
change.
What
we
are
left
with
is
our
disjointed
and
fundamentally
unfair
patchwork
of
provision,
funding
and
investment
where
Island
communities
each
receive
very
different
levels
of
service.
J
My
own
experiences
are
awfully
with
a
northern
Isles
which
are
currently
operated
by
Serco
North
link,
and
it's
welcome
that
the
Scottish
Government
is
proceeding
with
the
rete
end.
Ring
of
the
Northern
Isles
ferry
contract
following
the
announcement
of
the
contract,
their
notice
has
been
published
the
end
of
September.
J
The
islands
Act
was
intended
to
support
a
new
approach
to
Scotland's
Island
communities,
recognising
local
needs
and
local
opinion.
It
is
striking
to
me
that
the
Scottish
government
did
not
recognize
earlier
that
there
is
no
ground
sort
of
support
in
the
northern
Isles
for
getting
rid
of
tendering.
We
should
see
the
tendering
of
a
new
tendering
process
as
an
opportunity,
an
opportunity
to
set
in
motion
the
changes
that
are
vital
to
keep
the
service
operating
successfully.
This
includes
taking
a
view
on
a
long-standing
complaints
about
accommodation
and
facilities
available
for
passengers
on
the
service.
J
It
means
recognizing
the
needs
of
business
in
moving
Freight
and
it
means
ensuring
that
the
service
is
able
to
adapt
to
the
changing
needs
of
islands
in
years
to
come.
It
must
also
ensure
that
when
our
ferries
are
in
for
refitting,
their
replacements
meet
the
needs
of
local
people
and
local
businesses,
not
as
not
being
the
case
recently,
with
a
stand-in
for
the
MV
hand
that
AM
niveau
was
a
freight
boat
with
limited
passenger
passenger
facilities
and
which
was
entirely
unsuitable
for
disabled
passengers.
J
Now
John
Mason
may
be
suggesting
that
fares
could
go
up
at
peak
times
for
some
of
the
routes
across
Scotland
I.
Think
one
of
the
issues
that
looms
over
these
discussions
is
that
the
SMPS
manifesto
commitment
to
introduced
lower
fares
for
the
Northern
Isles.
This
was
fought
for
by
Island
representatives
and
it
was
promised
by
the
SNP
election
after
election.
But
this
summer
the
Scottish
Government's
own
deadline
came
and
went
in
Shetland.
The
promise
has
been
only
part
delivered
in
Orkney.
J
Fare
reductions
have
been
kicked
into
the
long
grass
I'm,
not
gonna,
have
time
to
administer
I'm
afraid
this.
The
Scottish
Government
has
tried
to
shift
the
blame
onto
private
operators,
but
the
need
for
these
discussions
was
well-known
in
advance.
The
government
has
had
ample
time
to
discuss
proposals
with
all
stakeholders,
and
yet
a
mess
was
left
behind
when
they
were
only
commenced
at
a
late
stage
in
this
process,
and
we
must
remember
these
commitments
were
not
simply
a
gift
from
ministers.
J
They
were
result
of
lengthy
campaigning
for
a
level
of
quality,
with
the
support
offered
to
other
islands,
and
they
reflect
the
needs
created
by
Islands
geography.
This
unfortunately
followed
the
ugliest,
Ramar
and
fair
funding
for
the
internal
ferries,
where
ministers
could
not
bring
themselves
in
this
chamber
to
repeat
their
own
party
pledges.
It
was
only
after
the
voices
from
community
from
the
islands
and
councillors
and
from
MCPS
across
the
parties
could
no
longer
be
ignored
that
a
one-year
deal
was
worked
out.
H
J
No
certainty
over
the
future
fund
of
their
internal
ferries.
What
they
need
from
the
Scottish
Government
is
to
meet
their
own
commitments
to
provide
a
settlement
with
a
clear
indication
that
will
be
irregular
rather
than
simply
a
one-off
win
with
a
fight
every
new
year,
presiding
officer
in
audience.
Shetland,
the
security
of
our
ferry
services
has
been
hard
won
by
by
local
communities
from
what
often
appears
an
indifferent
Scottish
government
in
Edinburgh.
Our
island
communities,
like
so
many
others
dependent
on
ferry
services,
deserve
better
Keith.
K
A
know
so
there's
no
question
that
disruption
and
delays
for
local
communities
is
causing
frustration,
especially
where
these
are
lifeline
services
and
I'm
sure
that
both
Kenneth
Gibson
announced
that
Island,
who
will
speak
for
the
airf
communities,
will
highlight
those
facts
as
well.
There's
also
no
question
that
vessel
procurement
is
a
long-standing
and
continuing
issue
in
terms
of
vessel.
K
A
procurement
for
the
Scottish,
Government
and
I
would
urge
the
Scottish
Government
to
cast
its
net
weight
and
to
think
is
imaginatively
as
possible
in
order
to
help
calm
our
procured
additional
vessels,
which
are
required,
not
least
for
the
resilience,
which
has
been
mentioned
as
an
extremely
difficult
market,
as
anybody
has
been
involved
in
it
will
know,
but
I
think
that
just
means
we
have
to
redouble
our
efforts
in
order
to
secure
that
additional
capacity.
However,
there
is
nothing
in
the
conservative
motion
which
helps
out
there
there's
nothing
about
investment.
K
There
is
no
figures,
there's
no
commitment
to
anything
at
all,
pretty
much
standard
fear
for
the
Conservative
Party,
there's
a
complete
lack
of
self
awareness
as
well,
and
what
does
surprised
me
somewhat?
Is
the
Labour
Party
in
the
Green
Party
willing
to
ally
themselves
when
they
themselves
are
explicitly
acknowledged
that
the
real
agenda
of
the
Conservative
Party
is
to
further
privatize
at
the
ferry
Network
now
better
together,
of
course,
told
us
we're
going
to
have
a
huge
National
shipbuilding
boon
when
they
won
the
referendum
back
in
2014?
And
what's
happened
to
that?
K
There's
also
no
suggestion
in
the
Torah
motion
about
where
they
would
find
the
money
for
this
we
can
only
assume
is
to
come
from,
or
rather
we'd
rather
spend
money
on
tax
cuts,
rather
than
providing
direct
services
for
our
fairies
and
the
communities
up
and
down
in
the
country.
But
the
simple
fact
is,
which
was
not
acknowledged
by
the
Conservative
Party,
as
the
Scottish
government
has
a
very
proud
record
of
supporting
the
communities
that
are
dependent
on
fairies,
the
ferret
that
includes
the
building
of
new
fairies.
K
There's
a
lot
of
Seaforth,
which
has
been
mentioned,
different
Ligon
other
vessels.
Eight
vessels
mentioned
by
the
minister
at
many
areas
of
Scotland
have
also
benefitted
from
investment
in
our
harbors
and
ports
and
that
it
seems
no
awareness.
The
months
of
conservatives
that
many
of
the
ports
I'm
not
owned
by
car
mark
or
the
Scottish
government
investment
for
that
requires
to
come
from
the
local
authorities
and
other
organizations.
K
I
recognize,
of
course,
that
the
ongoing
commitment
to
the
lifeline
ferry
services
has
been
reflected
in
that
1.2
billion
pounds
invested
by
the
Scottish
come
I
cannot
regulate
a
single
budget
amendment
proposed
by
the
conservative
Journal
last
ten
years
in
terms
of
fair
he's,
not
one
to
say
they
wanted
more
investment.
I
can't
even
recollect
them
raising
the
issue
on
a
regular
basis.
K
I
would
see
the
Liberal
Democrats
have
perhaps
not
make
Russell
that
want
to
be
member
for
Tory
central,
but
certainly
Tavish
gautham
near
MacArthur
have
been
regular,
regular,
regular
proponents
for
the
ferry
services
in
their
areas
and
that's
fair,
not
because
their
communities
are
reliant
upon
those
services.
9.
Now
that's
fair
enough
and
as
was
mentioned
at
the
budget
last
year,
it
was
a
proposal
or
what
done
by
those
two
members
I
helped
to
get
a
further
advance
for
people
in
the
Northern
Isles.
K
K
You
have
transport
infrastructure
and
Scot,
and
this
has
not
been
investment
for
decades,
forgetting
that
he
himself
was
a
transfer
Minister
in
1889,
and
that's
what
this
government
reduced
to
pick
up
the
mantle
for
the
transport
infrastructure,
whether
it's
in
terms
of
roads,
whether
it's
in
terms
of
ferries
or
whether
it's
in
terms
of
ferry
infrastructure
that
previous
governments
are
failed
to
do
so.
The
government
has
done
a
good
job.
There
is
no
question
was
more
to
do
because
we
all
want
to
see
improve
services.
I
would
support
the
motion
and
Paul
will
his
name.
L
Allan
presiding
officer
I
welcome
the
opportunity
to
debate
our
ferry
services,
but
in
four
short
minutes
you'll.
Forgive
me
if
I
simply
cut
to
the
chase.
There
is
a
need
for
a
Scotland,
wide,
long-term
ferry
strategy
covering
all
routes,
not
just
the
client
and
Hebrides
network
covering
investment
in
harbours,
investment
in
new
ferries
and
how
we
get
the
best
from
the
money
we
spend.
This
was
all
identified
by
audit
Scotland
in
2017,
and
the
Scottish
government
has
yet
to
act
on
all
of
the
recommendations.
L
At
a
time
of
public
funding
constraints,
though,
spending
on
ferries
has
grown
by
a
hundred
and
fifteen
percent
in
real
terms,
but
that's
not
been
in
infrastructure.
Now,
that's
a
huge
amount
of
money,
but
passenger
numbers
are
only
growing
by
0.3%,
so
this
probably
makes
it
the
most
subsidized
form
of
public
transport.
So
the
Scottish
government
do
need
to
demonstrate
value
for
money,
but
I
absolutely
accept
that
ferry
services
are
essential
for
our
island
communities.
L
Procurement
of
new
ferries
and
the
maintenance
of
existing
ones
is
also
an
issue
for
attention,
and
I
am
disappointed
that
repairs
and
maintenance
of
our
existing
ferry
flee
is
carried
out
in
Liverpool
and
not
at
the
former
Cammell
Laird
Yard
inch
green.
The
Scottish
Government
should
aim
to
return
maintenance
and
repair
of
the
fleet
to
benefit
local
employment
and
our
local
economies.
Let
me
turn
to
the
two
ferries
being
built
at
Ferguson's.
L
Of
course,
it
is
disappointing
that
there
are
delays,
but
I
am
clear
that
the
design
set
out
by
Cemal
was
deficient
in
the
first
place.
I
have
no
problem
with
the
Scottish
government
providing
Ferguson's
with
loans.
I
have
no
problem
with
support
for
shipbuilding.
I
think
that
is
what
we
should
be
doing.
L
Then,
of
course,
there
is
the
kill,
Craig
and
ferry
presiding
officer,
the
only
ferry
run
by
Strathclyde
partnership
for
transport,
Clyde
link
provided
the
service
between
kill,
Craig
and
and
gorrik
until
May
this
year.
It
is
fair
to
say
that
they
made
para
handy,
look
good
and
for
periods
of
time
the
ferry
was
off
more
than
it
was
on
and
whilst
Clyde
marine
have
subsequently
taken
it
over
and
the
improvement
in
the
ferry
service
is
immense.
It
is
still
the
community's
aspiration
that
the
service
should
be
run
by
the
Scottish
government.
L
I
am
pleased
that
Paul
wheelhouse
has
affirmed
the
government's
commitment
to
doing
exactly
that
and
finally,
presiding
officer.
I
can't
talk
about
poor
service
with
one
aspect
of
public
transport
ferries
without
mentioning
travel
by
rail
as
well.
I
think
it
is
fair
to
say
that
in
my
area,
rail
travel
is
shockingly
bad.
It
also
affects
commuters
in
East
Kilbride,
so
I
know
it
is
of
interest
to
the
presiding
officer.
The
problem
has
been
evident
for
weeks,
but
for
the
last
nine
consecutive
days
my
constituents
have
injured
canceled
and
delayed
trains.
L
People
have
been
late
for
work
so
many
times
they
are
now
in
trouble
with
their
employers.
Students
at
University
and
colleges
have
missed
lectures.
Patients
have
missed
hospital
appointments,
children
have
been
laughs,
left
stranded
in
childcare
facilities
because
their
parents
can't
get
back
to
collect
them.
This
applies
to
delete
ferries
and
all
this
at
a
time
when
prices
have
gone
up,
I
used
to
complain
about
skip
stopping
now.
L
The
new
normal
for
trains
in
my
area
is
to
skip
every
stop
by
being
canceled,
and
at
a
time
when
we
needed,
we
needed
this
Scottish
government
to
stand
up
for
commuters
and
hold
scott
reil
to
account.
They
weaken
the
targets
and
let
them
off
the
hook.
The
government
must
take
urgent
action
to
force
scott
reil
to
improve
their
service,
presiding
officer,
whether
it's
ferries
or
trains.
The
Scottish
government
need
to
provide
a
better
service,
better
value
for
money.
You
know
we
talk
about
the
fourth.
M
Officer,
well,
they
are
on
an
island,
as
in
my
case,
I
do
I
know
what
fairies
mean
to
every
aspect
of
any
islands,
life
and
economy
I'm,
recognizing
that
fact
to
the
Scottish
Government
has
more
than
doubled
what
it
spends
annually
on
ferry
services
over
the
last
decade.
So
let
me
put
to
one
side
just
for
a
moment.
M
Any
doubts
I
may
have
about
the
Tories
motives
today,
as
a
party,
they
have
seemed
enthusiastic
about
privatizing
ferry
services
and
suggested
that
the
recent
tender
for
ferry
services
was
unfairly
favoring,
the
public
sector,
a
sentiment
I,
have
to
see.
We
have
the
echoes
again
of
today
and
no
or
recently
they
even
seem
to
have
been
almost
opposing
the
the
Scottish
Government's
intervene
lying
to
save
the
Scottish
shipyards,
which
are
building
new
vessels.
M
But
let
me,
instead
of
doing
any
of
that,
make
some
points
that
he
just
briefly
about
some
of
the
things
about
ferry
services
that
have
caused
very
genuine
concern
to
my
constituents
in
the
course
of
2018
I
hope
that
the
minister
might
be
able
to
reflect
on
a
few
of
them
and
has
some
IAP
phosphors
association.
This
Easter,
where
for
several
days,
North,
Uist
and
harvest,
went
without
anything
like
a
recognizable
ferry
service
and
that
had
real
human
and
economic
costs.
I
understand
there
may
have
been
people
who
did
not
get
the
funerals
there
were.
M
Cancellations
in
local
hotels
shops
were
beginning
to
struggle
to
get
many
supplies
and
I
think
that
Kalmar
recognized
that
this
was
not
the
finest
hour
and
the
episode
certainly
proved
what
happens
if
one
or
certainly,
if
as
and
then
to
larger
vessels,
are
out
of
action
at
a
busy
time.
The
problem
is,
of
course,
partly
born
out
of
a
big
success
story.
M
In
2007,
the
SNP
government
began
ruling
out
RET
fears,
making
travel
dramatically
more
affordable
for
Islanders
and
tourists
alike,
unless
has
been
a
huge
benefit
to
our
economy
and
certainty,
the
police
certainly
to
the
community
and
which
I
love
worth
10%
of
Hobart
Ian
jobs
now
thought
to
depend
directly
on
tourism,
but
fairies
in
the
Western
Isles
alone
have
now
had
to
cope
with
an
astonishing
hundred
and
eighty
four
thousand
additional
passengers
every
year.
Compared
to
a
decade
ago,
more
streets
now
operate
at
capacity
for
six
months
of
the
year.
M
There
is
no
doubt
that
in
summer
a
second
vessel
is
no
needed
on
a
store,
Narita
ullapool
routes
and
an
extra
ceiling
ard
over
the
sound
of
hardest
to
give
but
two
examples:
crews
do
their
utmost,
and,
as
I've
mentioned,
the
funding
is
certainly
there
and
but
I
cannot
see
with
any
certainty
that,
without
improvements
of
this
kind
that
these
and
other
routes
will
be
able
to
cope
next
summer.
I
know
that
the
government
is
giving
thought
to
these
difficult
questions.
M
M
Today,
no
officer
the
government
has
shown
as
I
see
its
commitment
and
funding
ferry
services
far
beyond
anything
that
has
been
funded
by
previous
governments
and
certainly
I
should
say
far
beyond
anything,
far
beyond
any
named
some
committed
by
the
Conservative
Party
today,
but
that
are
problems
with
services.
That
is
very
obvious
to
all
of
us
and
no
is
same
for
all
agencies
to
work
together
to
reassure
Island
communities
about
what
shape
this
most
vital
of
services
will
take
in
the
future.
We
do
not
have
forever
to
answer
that
questions.
N
Officer
and
before
I
start
talking
directly
about
ferries
I
want
to
remind
this
government
about
the
expectations
that
have
been
created
by
the
islands
bill
that
has
been
supported
by
this
Parliament.
They
should
be
especially
concerned,
especially
as
this
government
has
committed
itself
to
Island
proofing
all
their
decisions,
but
in
my
mind,
this
government
is
failing
short
of
those
expectations
by
providing
over
very
wet
Network
on
the
west
of
Scotland,
which
is
responsible,
as
we've
heard,
for
long
construction
delays
to
flagship
ferries.
N
Ten
years
of
underinvestment,
no
spare
vessels
in
the
fleet
to
cope
with
brake
burns
and,
frankly,
a
ferries
plan
that
I
believe
is
gathering
dust
on
a
shelf
and
no
one's
looked
at.
This
government,
in
my
mind,
is
disempowering
Island
communities
who
they
sought
to
support
just
months
ago
with
the
island
bills,
and
we
are
possibly
seeing
the
worst
of
all
outcomes.
As
mr.
green
has
made
clear
where
Islanders
are
unable
to
travel
on
and
off
islands
when
they
need
to.
N
There
are
people
that
have
contacted
me
that
are
unable
to
travel
either
because
they're,
disabled
and
the
ferry
isn't
suitable
or
they
can't
get
to
it,
or
indeed
the
problem
is
relating
to
overcrowding
and
they
haven't
been
able
to
get
to
the
funerals.
Let
me
be
clear:
this
government
has
seen
over
70,000
that's
70,000,
canceled
or
delayed
sailings
since
2007,
and
we've
now
reached,
as
we've
heard,
the
point
where
the
managing
director
of
calmac
has
called
the
widespread
disruptions
last
April
as
the
worst
in
eight
years.
N
That
to
me
is
a
pretty
damning
indictment
and
just
shows
to
me
how
far
our
ferry
service
has
declined
by
under
this
government
who've
been
in
power
for
over
11
years.
This
is
clear
to
me
that
the
government
must
think,
through
its
ferry
plans
again
to
remedy
the
ten
years
of
mistakes.
It's
already
been
made.
N
Firstly,
in
my
mind-
and
let
me
give
you
some
help
if
I
may
on
this,
the
SNP
government
must
learn
that
bigger
ships
don't
always
lead
to
better
services,
sometimes
having
smaller
vessels
that
are
built
to
serve
multiple
routes
will
build
much-needed
resilience
into
the
ferry
Network
I.
Would
take
an
intervention
polio.
H
C
Grateful
to
the
convener
of
the
committee
for
taking
an
intervention
III
wanted
me
the
point
that
I
think
is
right.
He
would
recognize
him
his
own
evidence
session.
The
point
was
made
by
female
regarding
the
design
of
larger
vessels,
they're
much
more
fuel
efficient,
so
I
take
onboard
the
point
he
makes
about
the
flexibility
of
smaller
vessels,
but
we
recognize
that
there
are
positive
arguments
for
larger
vessels
in
terms
of
resilience
in
bad
weather
and
also
fuel
efficiency,
edward.
N
Maintained
I
think
I'd
like
to
see
those
figures.
I
think
that
was
evidence
that
we
heard
well.
No
sorry
I
gave
you
the
chance
to
answer.
You
must.
Let
me
have
the
chance
to
answer
you
back.
We
must
see
that
those
vessels
work
and
just
by
saying
on
paper
there
they're
better,
doesn't
mean
that
we're
there
on
the
ground.
Better
Volkswagen
maybe
give
you
some
clues
to
that.
N
Secondly,
there
needs
to
be
a
move
towards
standardization
and
we
need
to
have
more
standardized
ferries,
more
standardized
docking
stations,
standardized
training
to
allow
cruising
boats
to
serve
the
multiple
reads.
This
will
create
the
much-needed
flexibilities
our
ferry
networks,
current
news,
I'm,
sorry
I've,
taken
one
and
I
am
pushed
for
time.
I
like
to
take
one
but
I
can't
do
more
I
believe
it's
time
to
learn
the
lessons
of
the
past.
N
The
island
class
ferries
which
serve
routes
Terrace
a
mile
and
Erin,
for
example,
were
very
versatile,
readily
interchangeable
and
could
provide
extra
runs
for
commercial
purposes.
These
are
the
design
principles
that
the
Future
calmac
desperately
desperately
needs.
Thirdly,
the
SMP
government
must
support
different
models
of
operating
ferrus
now
I'm.
Mindful
of
the
time
deciding
officer
and
so
I
would
say
that
finally
I
believe
that
the
Scottish
Government
should
also
consider
moving
Freight
on
the
busiest
route
outside
the
hours
of
regular
travel
for
Ireland
as
an
island
visitors.
N
Six
years
ago,
presiding
officer,
this
government
poorest
promised
in
its
very
plan
to
review
their
approach
to
ferry
services
and
to
continue
to
every
reassess
the
needs
of
our
island
community
I.
Believe.
Having
heard
the
evidence
that
we
have
that
that
plan
is
set
on
the
Shelf
gather
dust
and
nothing
has
happened
to
it.
It
needs
to
be
dusted
off
and
it
needs
to
be
looked
at,
especially
because
the
Clyde
and
Hebrides
ferry
services
up
for
renewal
in
six
years
now
is
the
time
to
take
some
action.
Thank
you.
The.
O
Presiding
officer,
I
represent
almond
company
and
when
ferry
services
like
people
down
at
his
rate,
that
we
heed
their
concerns
and
push
for
realistic
solutions.
Since
2007's
government
is
dramatically
increased
investment
and
port
infrastructure
vessels
and
services
from
97.3
million
in
2070
to
240
point
5
million
this
year.
Our
150
percent
increase
a
remarkable
achievement.
After
the
neglect
a
fleet
suffered
under
labor
and
a
27
and
a
half
percent
cut
in
capital
available
to
the
Scottish
government.
O
In
the
first
year
of
the
Tauri
lab
dem
Yukie
coalition,
Scottish
government
investment
was
absolutely
essential
and
its
impact
enormously
positive.
For
example,
passengers
now
enjoy
most
summer
ceilings
falling
extension
of
the
to
vessel
service
to
Braddock
from
seven
weeks
each
summer
to
nearly
seven
months,
dramatically
increasing
capacity
versus
numbers
and
boosting
Erin's
economy
by
10
percent
and
the
year
before
last
alone.
Company
forty
ceilings
are
Danish
direction.
The
summer
20
in
the
winter
last
April
the
news.
O
Thirty
one
point:
two
million
pound
erotic
ferry
terminal,
open
completely,
transforming
the
harbor
and
pervading
21st
century
facilities
or
boost
the
islands
economy
as
a
new
110
meter
to
be
F,
pier
designed
to
accommodate
the
new
dual
fuel
vessel,
MV,
eagle
and
Silex,
with
a
dedicated
birth
to
serve
other
vessels,
including
cruise
ships.
A
huge
benefit
for
ferry
users
was
the
introduction
of
Road
equivalent
tariffs
for
passengers,
cows
and
coaches.
O
Let's
roll
out
to
our
in
services
in
2014
after
I
press
the
clay
islands
to
be
included
near
sand,
peace,
2011
holiday
manifesto,
so
fails
dropped.
46%
for
passengers
traveled
from
Madras
into
Broderick
and
64%
for
Charles
ret
is
a
degree
of
impact
on
our
and
than
any
other
island.
Transport
Scotland
found
11
percent
reversal
as
questioned
on
their
address
into
Broderick
written
seventeen
percent.
On
cloning
talk
Lanza
said
their
journey
had
been
wholly
prompted
by
ret.
Ireland.
Businesses
are
very
positive
about
them.
Part
satan
increases
in
both
football
and
tone
over
verse.
Boomers.
O
Increased
demand.
I
was
therefore
delighted
to
welcome
the
MV
Katrina
to
an
in
2016
having
lobbied
for
the
deployment
of
this
twelve
point.
Six
million
pound
hybrid
vessel
on
the
cloning
till
to
all
kinds
of
sealing
NV
Katrina
is
almost
twice
the
size
of
October
at
a
place.
It's
also
cleaner,
more
fuel-efficient
I'm,
not
comfortable
for
passengers,
and
it
will
also
benefit
from
the
four
to
eight
point:
five
million
per
new
vessel
MV
Glenn
Sonic's,
due
to
enter
service
best
past
summer.
O
Now
they
say
that
our
cameras,
a
horse
designed
by
committee,
and
so
it
seems
with
the
Glenn
Sonic's
despite
the
fighters,
agree
that
with
plier
buzz
east
feather
it
up
dross
antibiotic,
it
was
apparently
the
same
for
all
harbors
except
shockingly
odd
rawson
as
yet,
no
one
has
been
held
accountable
for
this
lamentable
decision.
With
a
glance
Alex
now
expected
to
arrive
a
year
behind
schedule.
Elders
are
understandably
frustrated
by
this
delay.
The
lovely
of
this
vessel
is
essential
to
me.
O
Ever-Growing
demand
I'm
delighted
that
our
Dawson
Harbor
will
shortly
be
upgraded
to
become
a
quality
destination
that
supports
growth
through
stronger
links
to
address
and
tone
Center.
However,
the
question
of
the
arm
ferry
service
potential
relocating
to
train.
While
these
upgrades
are
carried
out,
which
Carmack
is
arguing
for
behind
the
scenes,
undermines
a
hard-fought
save
our
ferry
campaign
to
the
to
retain
and
Rawson
as
Erin's
principal,
mainly
their
support,
I
trust.
O
The
Minister
will
confirm
today
that
our
drawsome,
or
continue
to
save
their
dross
and
crossing
during
the
Reformation
of
a
Drazen
Harbor
to
alleviate
concerns
investment.
An
improvement
mean
let
over
for
ferry,
FLE
is
not
resilient
and
I
own
does
cannot
rely
on
ferries
to
get
them
where
they
need
to
be
together.
Make
Russell
MSP
and
representative
an
entire
community
councils.
I
met
the
minister
on
twist
on
September
to
discuss
this
summer's
network
service
disruption
which
laying
off
so
the
Scottish
government
must
take
ownership
in
relation
to
restoring
reliability.
O
If
the
ferry
fleet
is
not
maintained
to
an
adequate
standard
and
unable
to
find
parts
for
repair
maintenance
and
a
reasonable
time
for
him,
a
more
effective
response
must
be
deluged
for
our
own
communities.
I'm
pleased
the
government
launched
a
13,
a
half
million
per
in
ferries
resilience
fund
on
a
visit
to
arm
on
27th
of
August.
O
This
should
help
eliminate
future
disruption,
but
we
can
and
must
do
more
for
our
island
communities
and
I'm
delighted
that
the
minister
has
confirmed
his
partition
participation
in
the
next
I
love,
our
in
Ferry
Committee
on
Monday
12,
November.
I.
Look
forward
to
welcome
with
a
view
to
getting
a
plan
of
action
to
restore
reliability
in
the
short-term,
as
well
as
guaranteeing
a
much
more
resilient
ferry
fleet
in
the
near
future.
P
Thank
you
for
citing
officer
and
tonight
also
pay
tribute
to
the
staff
who
provide
lifeline
ferry
services,
both
those
who
work
on
shore
and
at
sea.
Those
aren't
sure
often
take
the
brunt
of
the
Scottish
Government's
failures
when
ferries
are
delayed
and
canceled,
so
they
need
our
special
thanks
for
dealing
with
that
and
indeed
helping
customers
that
are
not
getting
to
sail
I'm
just
citing
officer.
Our
ferries
are
not
an
end
on
in
themselves.
Their
purpose
is
to
provide
lifeline
services,
our
island
communities
and
some
of
our
peninsulas
are
totally
dependent
on
ferry
services.
P
Without
them,
people
could
no
longer
live
on
these
islands
and
we
don't
have
to
go
back
very
far
in
time
to
look
at
st.
kilda
where
people
were
evacuated
from
their
homes
in
their
community
because
they
could
not
access
lifeline
services
and
that's
not
something.
That's
desirable.
It's
essential
of
the
Scottish
Government
Act
to
make
sure
that
the
other
communities
do
not
face
the
same
situation,
and
indeed
that
other
communities
do
not
face
the
chaos
that
they
that
the
islands
did
at
this
summer.
P
To
highlight
these
issues,
we
would
need
a
much
longer
debate,
but
if
I
could
just
maybe
emphasize
one
or
two,
firstly
can
I
turn
to
transparency.
There
needs
to
be
a
much
more
transparent
approach
to
financing
ferries.
We've
seen
the
controversy
around
the
funding
of
the
Lost
sea
forth
and
its
ownership
aim.
After
seven
after
the
seven
year
lease
ends.
What
is
the
cost
of
the
vessel?
P
P
Some
ferry
place
has
be
reserved
at
peak
times
for
locals
and
then
be
released
closer
to
the
sailing
time
to
deal
with
those
local
emergencies.
I've
also
heard
of
stories
where
people
have
tried
to
book
on
a
ferry.
This
fool
only
to
discover
from
friends
who
sailed
on
that,
a
sailing
that
there
was
space
on
that
boat
and
while
locals,
do
go
on
to
standby.
Many
of
them
can't
take
that
risk
in
emergency
situations
and
choose
to
fly
at
a
greater
cost
instead,
so
we
need
to
look
at
how
we
manage
ferry
bookings
as
well.
P
Reliability
has
come
up
again
again
and
again
in
the
debate
this
summer
started
and
with
the
issues
with
the
clansmen
which
disrupt
on
many
of
the
routes
for
many
months
before
the
summer,
even
had
fully
kicked
in.
We've
had
2326
cancellations
in
the
beginning
of
the
year
from
January
to
July.
That
is
far
too
many
and
I
think
it
was
Jamie
Green
who
said
70,000
cancellations
since
the
SNP
took
office.
This
is
really
not
not
good
enough
for
our
island
communities,
and
this
goes
on
into
the
autumn.
P
Pallister
Allen
talked
about
the
issues
with
yeast
and
harvest
more
recently.
There
is
no
capacity
than
the
fleet
to
deal
with
those
issues.
There
is
no
additional
ferry
that
can
be
brought
in.
We
ask
the
Scottish
Government
and
have
been
asking
them
for
a
number
of
years
to
look
at
an
additional
vessel
for
the
Apple
Lewis
root
over
the
summer.
They
told
us
they
couldn't
find
me.
P
C
Stand
by
the
point
that
we
believe
there
are
real
terms,
cuts
the
Scottish
government
budget,
which
has
an
implication
resources.
But
notwithstanding
that
as
Kenny
Gibson
as
a
bleep
point
today,
we
have
increased
spending
on
ferries
in
the
face
of
that
austerity,
so
I
think
a
bit
of
self-awareness
in
the
part,
the
Tories
would
be
welcome
in
terms
of
Colin
Smith's
response.
C
I
did
want
to
intervene
to
try
and
be
constructive
and
there's
a
lot
that
in
what
calms
my
vanity,
Jackie
Bailey
and
would
a
grant
are
seeing
with
in
this
debate
that
I
can
agree
with
there.
We
do
have
some
issues
around
a
30-year
industrial
strategy
building
strategy
and
it's
an
idea
of
sympathy
with,
but
they're,
obviously,
in
the
context
of
year
to
year,
budgets
obviously
having
to
be
realistic
about
how
we
can
plan
for
that.
But
looking
at
demand.
C
Looking
a
longer-term
absolutely
have
sympathy
with
those
points,
and
so
hopefully
we
can
find
some
common
ground,
and
these
issues
in
the
future
in
terms
of
I,
would
say
that
mr.
Smith,
although
there
is
much
I
agreed
with,
perhaps,
could
have
done
more
to
maybe
recognize
the
positive
impact
of
ret
in
terms
of
the
government's
investment
in
ret
rather
than
being
entirely
negative.
But
what
were
standing
out
there
is
there's,
perhaps
room
for
for
agreement
with
labour
and
some
aspects
of
what
they're
proposing
in
terms
of
the
Green
Party
I
am
disappointed
that
mr.
C
Finney
and
his
colleagues
likely
not
to
support
our
amendment
today.
I
principally
because
there
are
specific
references
in
our
amendment
to
working
with
the
trade
unions
in
terms
of
the
vessel,
a
replacement
programme
and
also
what
with
communities
in
these
respects,
by
approving
our
amendment
today,
Parliament
would
commit
us
to
an
action
plan,
but
I
clearly
will
want
to
take
forward
an
action
plan
which
I
should
give
credit
to
mr.
Russell
and
mr.
Gibson.
If
I
briefly
finish
this
point
mr.
Russell
mr.
Gibson,
who
mr.
Gibson
dialated
be.
C
G
You
I'm
grateful
for
the
minister
taking
that
intervention,
but
the
minister
acknowledged
I
raised
this
issue
some
some
months
ago
with
mr.
Yusuf,
and
this
is
the
first
reference
back
to
me-
appears
in
paper
form
today.
So
I,
of
course
welcome
the
involvement
of
the
trade
unions
in
procurement,
but
that's
the
first
mention
back.
It's
very
welcome.
Paul.
C
Hill
has
thanked
mr.
Finney
for
his
for
his
support
in
that
respect
and
I
do
recognize
his
long-standing
interest
in
fairies
issues,
so
I
don't
mean
to
diminish
that
in
any
way,
shape
or
form
and
I'm
keen
to
work
with
mr.
Finney
and
other
colleagues
across
the
chamber
as
we
try
and
address
the
concerns
about
ferry
service,
both
in
Clayton
Hebrides
and,
of
course,
we're
issues
arise
in
the
northern
services
as
well.
Mr.
Finney
was
correct
also
to
identify
and
right
to
do
so
that
there
had
been
a
period.
C
I
think
was
ronald
robertson
of
high
transit
referenced
the
point
there
be
no
major
vessels
Commission
between
arranging
service
between
2001
and
2011.
In
his
evidence,
the
committee
of
course
there
were
some
minor
vessels
that
were
Commission's
to
that
period,
but
major
vessels
are
obviously
very
significant
to
resilience
in
the
network.
I
do
suspect
the
beam
party
in
the
Conservative
Party
did
not
agree
on
the
overall
strategy
for
fairings
going
forward.
I
hope,
mr.
mr.
Fenner,
if
he
doesn't
support
us
today,
can
find
this
in
his
heart
to
support
us
as
we
go
forward.
C
But
in
terms
of
my
crumbles
points
around
ferry
services
and
northern
I'll
serve
is's
I
proposed
it.
They
didn't
get
a
chance
to
take
an
intervention
from
mr.
Scott
but
happy
to
engage
with
mr.
Scott
here
after
I
would
just
say
in
response
to
Mr
rumbles
that
we
have
recently
started
the
treatment
of
the
Northern
Isles
ferry
service
contracts.
C
As
part
of
that
transports,
:
officials
are
actively
engaging
with
local
stakeholders,
including
the
trade
unions,
local
community
representatives
on
future
service
specification.
That
will
look
to
try
and
build
in
sufficient
flexibility
to
vary
the
contract
and
response.
The
current
and
future
demand
to
hope
that
offer
some
hope
to
mr.
rumbles
that
we're
heading
in
the
right
direction.
There
Jamie
how
Pradhan
stands
started
well
agreed
with
much
of
what
he
said
in
the
first
part
of
his
speech.
I'm
afraid
he
lost
me
about
halfway
through
when
he
started
to
change
tack.
C
We
are
just
to
make
the
point
which
I've
tried
to
intervene
about
rota
current
tariff.
We
are
prevented
at
this
moment
I'm
implementing
wood
equivalent
IRA
for
the
Northern
Isles,
because
there
has
been
a
challenge
to
European
Commission
on
a
state
aid
case
by
a
private
operator
on
the
paint
line
services.
So
we
are
unable
to
implement
so
I
think
he's.
Q
This
is
the
harsh
reality
and
given
the
immense
importance
in
connecting
people
from
the
islands
to
the
mainland
and
in
enabling
tourism,
it
is
axiomatic
that
a
reliable
and
robust
ferry
network
is
critical,
delivering
economic
prosperity
to
some
of
our
most
fragile
areas.
However,
as
we
have
heard
today
from
members
across
the
chamber,
this
government
stewardship
of
Scotland's
ferry
network
has
been,
in
my
view,
shambolic
Jamie
Greene
noted
that
since
the
SNP
came
to
power
in
2007,
more
than
70,000
ferry
services
have
been
either
canceled
or
delayed.
Q
To
put
that
in
context,
in
the
near
12
years
that
the
SNP
had
been
in
power
that
equates
to
over
120
delayed
or
canceled
sailings
a
week.
That
is
unacceptable,
presiding
officer
now
I
know.
Scott
Reil
doesn't
have
its
problems
to
seek,
but
we
would
not
accept
that
kind
of
performance
on
our
rail
network
and,
of
course,
there
are
next
to
no
alternatives
when
it
comes
to
a
cancelled
ferry.
Q
Ministers
have
long
been
aware
of
these
problems
back
in
2010
calmac
in
their
submission
to
that
year's
ferry
review
stated
to
the
government
that
a
new
ferry
would
have
to
be
built
every
year
just
to
stand
still.
Audit
Scotland
have
noted
it
too,
but
for
the
SNP
it's
not
considered
a
priority.
A
few
months
ago,
I
asked
when
the
Scottish
government's
own
expert
ferry
group,
who
was
supposed
to
meet
up
to
three
times
a
year
last
met
the
answer.
Q
C
Q
Q
There
have
been
more
than
10,000
cancellations
or
delays
to
the
services
that
operate
from
there
from
Stone
away
to
Ullapool
3,400
from
Roth
Sita,
Weems
Bay
more
than
7,000,
and
that
last
route
in
fact
provides
a
good
example
of
how
costly
disruption
can
be
because
when
the
rest
and
be
thankfull
pass
was
closed
a
few
weeks
ago,
the
only
practical
way
that
farmers
on
butte
could
transport
lives
doc
on
HGV
lice
was
Weems
babe,
but
that
terminal
was
closed.
The
solution,
a
diversion
to
garokk
but
gir
ik,
cannot
land
hgv
Laurie's
result.
Q
Beauty
farmers
were
prevented
from
transporting
livestock
or
I
could
point
to
residents
in
ternoon
who
exasperated
about
the
future
of
the
denoon
tagger
ik,
ferry
route
and
I
know
they're
having
their
AGM
next
week
and
I
know.
The
government
has
been
invited
to
attend
that
and
I
hope
they
do,
because
they
want
a
fair
tender
process
resulting
in
a
robust
and
reliable
ferry
service
on
that
route.
Now
I
readily
readily
acknowledge
presiding
officer
that
you
cannot
eliminate
ferry,
cancellations
and
delays
in
their
entirety.
Q
The
aging
fleet
adds
further
problems
into
the
mix
and
there's
all
its
Scotland
noted.
Vessel
maintenance
cost
increased
by
136
percent
due
to
a
larger
and
increasingly
older
fleet,
and
others
have
spoken
about
the
fact
there
is
inflexibility
in
our
ferry
fleet,
where
some
boats
cannot
learn
land
in
certain
ports.
Q
Now
briefly,
some
of
the
other
points
that
have
been
made
across
the
chamber-
Jamie
Hart,
Craig
Johnson,
referred
to
to
the
Northern
Isles,
and
the
issues
there
and
Edward
mountain
and
Rhoda
grants,
because
many
personal
stories
of
individuals
who
have
trouble
we're
traveling
on
on
ferries.
John
Finnie
spoke
about
the
cost
to
the
taxpayer
of
the
Stornoway
ullapool
boat,
but
most
importantly,
candy
Gibson
and
I've.
Rarely
quote
Kenny
Gibson
with
approval
in
this
chamber,
but
he
said
the
Scottish
government
must
take
ownership,
while
here
here
that,
yes,
indeed,
they
must
take
ownership.
Q
We
want
to
stand
up
for
the
many
local
communities
who
rely
on
ferry
services
they're,
not
just
a
mode
of
transport.
They
are
a
lifeline
and
that
word
has
been
overused,
but
it
is
remains
important,
a
life
line.
It
should
need
to
be
met
and
emotion.
It's
a
fact.
They
are
intrinsic
to
the
people
of
our
Islands
to
their
lives,
to
their
well-being
and
to
their
existence,
and
the
SNP
government
has
presided
over
a
decade
of
failure
and
there's
little
evidence.
Q
They
are
either
willing
to
acknowledge
that
or
work
to
improve
it,
because
if
they
fail
to
act
they
will
be
letting
down
communities
across
the
west
and
north
of
Scotland,
and
we
will
not
let
that
stand.
We
will
fight
for
those
communities
and
we
will
fight
for
the
future
of
our
ferry
network.
Thank
you.