McArthur supports NFUS calls for RET extension

Supporting calls from NFU Scotland to extend road equivalent tariff (RET) to cover commercial vehicles, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has  reaffirmed the need for Orkney routes to be covered by the Scottish Government’s cheap ferry fare scheme.

In their submission to Transport Scotland on freight ferry fares, NFU Scotland argued for the scheme to be extended to commercial vehicles, highlighting the role it could play in boosting fragile island economies.

Mr McArthur has long argued that Orkney should benefit from this same support currently enjoyed by those using ferry routes on Scotland’s west coast.

He said: “In their submission to Transport Scotland, NFU Scotland rightly point to the need for affordable lifeline ferry services.  They argue that these play a vital role in the fight against rural depopulation and supporting the economies of Scotland’s island communities.

“I could not agree more, but these arguments in favour of RET apply equally to Orkney and Shetland as they do to islands off the west coast.  So while the NFUS is justified in calling for Ministers to reverse their earlier u-turn over RET for commercial vehicles on west coast routes, fairness demands that the same treatment is afforded to ferry users in the Northern Isles.

“SNP ministers have tied themselves in knots trying to justify their approach over RET.  It is long past time, however, for that approach to be based on a principle of fairness.”