Cole-Hamilton demands answers on ferries as summer season begins

In his first question to John Swinney since returning from the election campaign, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton demanded answers on the continuing ferries mess, as he urged the First Minister to state whether the fleet is ready for the summer.

Last week, the 79-year-old Waverley Paddle Steamer had to give passengers a lift from Mull to Oban after their CalMac ferry was hit by a fault.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have campaigned for all affected islands and coastal areas to be properly compensated for ferries disruption.

Coastal communities were excluded from the Scottish Government’s previous underwhelming compensation scheme.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“During the Easter holidays, at least 8 ferries were out of action at the same time. Every Scottish island faced disruption.

“They are overdue serious compensation, and I hope the First Minister will finally extend that to the coastal communities affected too.

“Now, those businesses are looking towards the summer holidays, and they are wondering what they will mean for them. 

“Because last week, technology of the 19th century came to the rescue of passengers of the 21st, when the Waverley paddle steamer stepped in for a stricken CalMac vessel. John Swinney must have winced with embarrassment.

“So can I ask the First Minister, is Scotland’s ferry fleet ready for the summer?”

He went on to say:

“Remember, the New York Times told its readers that while our Scottish islands are beautiful, in their words, “good luck getting on or off” them.

“Scotland’s islands are a great option for a summer getaway. They are beautiful. But only if we can get holidaymakers over to their hotels, to their cafes and to their distilleries.

“Presiding Officer, the ferry fleet is more prone than ever before to breakdown and disruption. It is not resilient. Everyone who lives there knows that all too well.

“So has the First Minister picked up the phone- to ferry operators and governments elsewhere in the UK and in Europe- to find extra vessels, to keep those routes operational and our island communities profitable?”