Orkney MSP, Liam McArthur, has asked the Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, to give a clear commitment to the Stromness to Scrabster ferry service being included in future contracts for Orkney’s lifeline ferry services, following remarks by SNP List MSP, Rob Gibson which have been interpreted as an attack on the route.

In a letter to the Minister Liam McArthur referred the interview Mr Gibson gave to BBC Radio Orkney this morning, which he says “has caused alarm bells to ring as it has been interpreted as an attack on the Stromness to Scrabster route.”

He advised the Minister that “Mr Gibson’s references to the benefits of shorter crossings and his claims, (challenged on Radio Orkney by the Stromness Community Council Chairman), that the NorthLink service from Stromness is more vulnerable to weather cancellations than the Pentland Ferries service from St Margaret’s Hope to Gills Bay have raised concerns that he is laying the foundations for a move by the SNP Government to end its support for the Stromness to Scrabster route.

“I hope that this is not the case, and also that more is being read into Mr Gibson’s remarks than he intended. But I write to you to ask you to provide reassurance by making a clear and categorical statement that the Scottish Government regards the Stromness to Scrabster route as a vital part of Orkney’s lifeline ferry services which it will continue to support and which will be included in future contracts for Orkney’s lifeline ferry services.”

Commenting, Liam McArthur said;

“I hope that this can be put down to Mr Gibson not giving sufficient thought to his remarks, leaving them open to interpretation as an attack on the continuation of the Stromness to Scrabster route. But the issue is too important to let pass. This is why I have invited the Minister to make a clear statement of support for the route. I would also, of course, welcome clarification from Mr Gibson on whether or not he thinks the Stromness route, with its current level of service, should be included in future ferry contracts.”