McArthur: Islands Minister accepts need for early action on transport

June 8, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has met with the new Islands Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, to discuss action to tackle high ferry fares and a range of other issues.

During the election campaign, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon promised action to tackle high ferry fares when she visited Orkney and Shetland in April.

However, Mr McArthur has said Scottish Government answers to parliamentary questions from him have since indicated that price reductions are set to be delayed until the new Northern Isles ferry contract, which is due to begin in April 2018.

Mr McArthur met the new Islands Minister yesterday to press the need for action on ferry fares, in addition to the replacement of Orkney’s internal ferry fleet, a future Islands Bill and the exclusion of business travel from the air discount scheme.

Commenting yesterday, Mr McArthur said: “The new Islands Minister, Humza Yousaf, recognised the need for urgent action to bring down the cost of ferry fares. It is important the Scottish Government comes forward with a detailed plan as soon as possible.

“There was also an acceptance of the pressing need Orkney’s internal ferry fleet to be replaced. This is a cost, however, that Orkney Islands Council cannot be expected to meet itself and therefore the Minister must ensure that the Scottish Government steps up to the plate.

“Mr Yousaf was also left in no doubt about the need to look again at the SNP’s removal of business travel from the air discount scheme in 2011. This was a damaging decision for our islands, taken with no prior consultation.

“Finally, we discussed the government’s plans for a future Islands Bill. We agreed that legislation and government policy must better reflect the needs and circumstances of island communities in future. For so-called “island proofing” to work, however, it has to be more than a tick box exercise. Mr Yousaf accepted this point and was grateful for some specific examples I offered of where island-proofing might deliver ‘quick wins’”.