Clarity still needed on internal ferries says Halcro Johnston

Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has insisted that clarity is still needed from the Scottish Government on fair funding of internal ferries in Orkney and Shetland.

Mr Halcro Johnston met with Shetland Islands Council in the summer, and with members of Orkney Islands Council last week, as well as with Orkney council leader James Stockan during Cllr Stockan’s visit to the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Conservative MSP said internal ferries are lifeline links that those in the islands rely on, and is pushing for a response from the Scottish Government on its previous commitment to “fair funding”.

Unlike in the rest of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland councils receive a grant from the Scottish Government to provide internal ferries, which is millions of pounds short of the actual cost of running the service. No other local councils are expected to find similar sums to support ferries.

Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP has said the Scottish Government cannot get around their promise to ‘fair funding’ for the internal ferries.

He said: “It is clear that the present situation, where Orkney and Shetland have to find millions of pounds a year for their ferries while other councils with internal ferries do not, is not ‘fair’ by anyone’s reckoning.

“These are crucial lifeline services and are vital to both residents and businesses on the islands. I’ve repeatedly asked ministers why this anomaly exists but am yet to receive any real answers.

“The Scottish Government must set out exactly what it means by ‘fair funding’ and clarify whether its promise to the people of Orkney and Shetland has been dumped or not.”