Minister defends record on ferries

Sep 5 2012

The Scottish Government has defended its record on ferry services, months after routes in the Northern Isles were taken over by a new company.

Transport Minister Keith Brown was questioned by Labour at Holyrood about the decision to award multinational services firm Serco the contract to run ferries linking the mainland with Orkney and Shetland, previously run by NorthLink.

Serco was named as preferred bidder in May and took over the routes in July.

Mr Brown said that he is confused by Labour's decision to call for a ministerial statement so long after Serco took over.

"I'm always happy to come here and defend the Government's record on ferries," he said.

"We have achieved record investments, maintained services despite severe financial pressures and, once again, are seeing commercial ships being built on the Clyde.

"I said at the start that I was confused by the request from Labour for this statement, but I hope that nobody is in any doubt about the strength or clarity of our commitment to island communities and to the ferries that serve them."

Last month the Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) said it will ballot ferry workers for a strike to defend their pensions and workplace rights, in response to government plans to consider putting some ferry routes "out to tender".

The routes between Ardrossan and Brodick, Wemyss Bay and Rothesay, Oban and Craignure and Largs and Cumbrae are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac).

Labour's Richard Baker said his party has called for a statement on the ferries because of the developments over the summer, including the potential RMT strike, and before any future tendering process.