Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Our experience of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper coming into public ownership is that greater accountability to ministers results in better outcomes for passengers. Public ownership has allowed for significant benefits to passengers, such as the scrapping of peak fares.”
“GBR will also deliver passenger services that are currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport. The Scottish ministers will retain their current devolved responsibilities, including securing the provision of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper and specifying and funding rail infrastructure in Scotland.”
“As colleagues know, I have consistently advocated for full devolution of Scotland’s railways to better integrate track and train. Unfortunately, the UK Government is not willing to pursue that change at this time.”
“I support the policy intent of the bill, in particular its ambition to maximise the benefits of greater integration while respecting devolved arrangements. The Scottish Government supports open access and freight development and the LCM is about devolved responsibilities.”
“I thank all those who have been on the journey with me: parliamentary and constituency staff; members from all parties; and, of course, the people of Scotland, with their hopes and dreams of a Scotland that is fair and just for all and is the country that they know it can be.”
“From speaking to drivers across my Lothian region, who are spending hours of their time caught up in traffic every month, I know that there is growing frustration that we have not seen work begin on that upgrade. I welcome the answer that the cabinet secretary outlined to Parliament.”
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“I thank all those who have been on the journey with me: parliamentary and constituency staff; members from all parties; and, of course, the people of Scotland, with their hopes and dreams of a Scotland that is fair and just for all and is the country that they know it can be. The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. Standing Order Rule Changes (Cross-party Groups)”
“I support the policy intent of the bill, in particular its ambition to maximise the benefits of greater integration while respecting devolved arrangements. The Scottish Government supports open access and freight development and the LCM is about devolved responsibilities. The Scottish ministers therefore recommend that the Parliament should support the motion. Agreeing to the LCM will help us to defend the powers of this Parliament on rail, just as, for the past 27 years, I have sought to defend, promote and protect the institution of this Parliament in which I have had the enormous privilege of serving.”
“Our experience of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper coming into public ownership is that greater accountability to ministers results in better outcomes for passengers. Public ownership has allowed for significant benefits to passengers, such as the scrapping of peak fares. Since public ownership, ScotRail’s overall passenger satisfaction has consistently been among the highest across Great Britain, at 90 per cent, and the Scottish train performance measure also has ScotRail at around 90 per cent. ScotRail performs better on cancellations than most GB operators, and figures for 2024-25 show that ScotRail had around half as many cancellations as the GB average. This Government is clear in its commitment to retaining the benefits of delivering passenger services in public ownership, and the bill does not change that.”
“GBR will also deliver passenger services that are currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport. The Scottish ministers will retain their current devolved responsibilities, including securing the provision of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper and specifying and funding rail infrastructure in Scotland. The bill will introduce new provisions that will strengthen accountability for rail infrastructure in Scotland to the Scottish ministers, including a new and improved infrastructure funding regime and, importantly, new powers for the Scottish ministers to issue guidance and directions to GBR on areas of rail outputs that we specify, fund and set strategy for. The potential benefits of greater accountability over the infrastructure management cannot be overstated.”
“As colleagues know, I have consistently advocated for full devolution of Scotland’s railways to better integrate track and train. Unfortunately, the UK Government is not willing to pursue that change at this time. However, I have made it clear that the Scottish ministers would not accept any reduction in our existing devolved powers and that Scotland must benefit from rail reform to the same extent as the rest of Great Britain. The bill respects those requirements, and I and my officials have had long and extensive engagement with UK ministers and the Department for Transport to secure that position for Scotland. The bill will create a new body—Great British Railways—which will operate, maintain and allocate access to rail infrastructure across the UK.”
“Fiona Hyslop: The member represents the concerns of constituents who have contacted her, but she has also been a member of this Parliament for some time, so she will know that Holyrood Road and Holyrood park are the responsibility of Historic Environment Scotland and that the car parking issue is the responsibility of the council. As the Presiding Officer frequently reminds us, we should be answering questions on those issues for which we have responsibility. Environmental Strategy (United Kingdom National Security Assessment) 7.”
“Ash Regan: Public trust and economic confidence require the delivery of essential infrastructure, such as Sheriffhall roundabout, on time and on budget. Scottish people want affordable, reliable public transport, but we should not punish car users when alternatives are lacking. Currently, there are Green Party proposals to cut an essential weekday link through Holyrood park, which is opposed by many in Edinburgh Eastern who rely on it regularly. In East Lothian, drivers face imposed parking charges, despite clear local consensus that they are both unnecessary and harmful to the economy. Will the Government centre communities in such connectivity decisions and not punish car drivers?”
“Bus infrastructure projects to deliver swifter and more reliable bus journey times for passengers are being funded through our £20 million bus infrastructure fund this year, which will increase to £60 million in 2026-27. That includes the design of bus infrastructure improvements along the London Road-A1 corridor between Edinburgh and Tranent, alongside the development of a region-wide multimodal mass transit system in the longer term. On Sheriffhall, the Scottish Government remains committed to delivering improvements as part of the city region deal, but that will be subject to the consideration of advice from officials and completion of the statutory authorisation process, which is due post-election, as I said in my previous answer to Miles Briggs.”
“That team provides a co-ordinating role, with technical expertise, legal advice and support as required. A qualified chartered engineer who has had no previous involvement in the scheme has been leading that team for approximately 18 months, so the team is well advanced. I had anticipated being able to make a decision, but I must have advice presented to me. Officials are under no illusion and know that the incoming Government will expect to be presented with that advice in order to make a decision early in the new session of”
“From speaking to drivers across my Lothian region, who are spending hours of their time caught up in traffic every month, I know that there is growing frustration that we have not seen work begin on that upgrade. I welcome the answer that the cabinet secretary outlined to Parliament. That work must be made a priority for the next Government and Parliament, and I hope that the next Government will be able to give the green light to what will be a vital upgrade. Is the cabinet secretary aware of when in the next parliamentary session that decision will be made? Fiona Hyslop: I have made it clear that the decision needs to be made, but it must be made robustly. Importantly, a small team within Transport Scotland’s special projects team is dedicated to that issue and has had no prior involvement in the project.”
“I was first informed in a submission from Transport Scotland officials dated 13 March that the decision-making advice for me as minister regarding the proposed Sheriffhall junction scheme will not be provided ahead of the dissolution of this session of Parliament in advance of the election. I am both disappointed and frustrated by that but have been assured that every effort is being made to enable a decision as soon as possible, as part of a fair and efficient process that will ensure that the decision is robust and is supported by the available evidence. Miles Briggs: This is my fifth attempt to get a decision on that before we hit the election period.”
“The solutions to the climate emergency are well understood, are tested and are being delivered at scale globally, but the plan before us today does not deliver for people and planet. It must be revised and reconsidered by a new Government if we are to have any chance of playing our role in tackling the climate emergency and delivering the benefits that the plan could deliver to the people of Scotland. 16:02”
“First, there is to be zero ambition and no scale-up in the next five years, with a meagre 30,000 installations, no real incentives for industry to invest and no pathway to expand skills and capacity to deliver. Then, there is to be a vast increase in delivery in the 2030s, which will apparently come out of nowhere. Nesta pointed out in its briefing that a back-loaded plan risks a skills cliff edge with no expanded workforce. It is as if the Scottish Government wants to make Scotland dependent on gas boilers—and on gas for electricity generation—for as long as possible. If the Government is searching for a social licence for action on climate change, it needs to stop worrying about the Daily Mail and knock on the doors of unions, communities and sectors that are ready and willing to step up.”
“It is clear that the Government sees a new Peterhead power station as a price to pay to keep the Acorn business plan on life support, but running two gas power stations decades after Scotland is meant to be net zero flies in the face of climate reality. If the Acorn project does not deliver, the too- difficult-to-do box will need to be opened. A credible pathway for aviation, with demand reduction at its core, a heat in buildings plan that is scaled up fast and fairly, action to help farmers get off the production subsidy treadmill, and a transformation in public transport and traffic reduction must be delivered in the next carbon budget. The plan features two extremes on heat in buildings.”
“The UK Climate Change Committee wants to see a contingency plan in case the Acorn project does not go ahead—it has been calling for that for years. The cabinet secretary said last week that it is up to the CCC to advise on a contingency plan. I do not care who comes up with it, but we need the plan. What is absolutely clear is that the Acorn project is a massive gamble. It is even more absurd that a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead is being baked into a climate plan. If we could do one thing to increase energy bills, worsen climate pollution and make ourselves more dependent on a fossil fuel that is running out, it would be to make a dash for new gas-fired power stations.”
“By that point, the target of being net zero by 2045 could be in grave danger because the policies that we all know are needed are still locked in the too-difficult-to-do box. That said, in the plan, the Government is prepared to gamble on measures such as carbon capture and storage technology, even though it has never been delivered at an effective scale anywhere in the world and is dependent on Westminster action. It is a 12 megatonne gamble, doubling the UK Climate Change Committee’s recommendation on what is possible. With Grangemouth refinery and now Mossmorran out of the cluster, the Acorn project is in trouble. It is reckless to gamble so much of Scotland’s climate plan on a single project, which investors are walking away from.”
“The reality is that more than half of the policy levers and programmes in the climate plan are devolved, but the Government is unwilling to commit to using them to benefit people and the climate. The climate plan should be an ambitious blueprint for a healthier, fairer, greener Scotland, but it is once again being rushed through with days to spare before dissolution. It is farcical to think that this Government—in fact, any Government— would make meaningful changes to a plan as a result of scrutiny from the Parliament at this late stage. It is clear that the die has been cast for the next five years in the climate plan. In too many areas, I see policies being kicked down the road for the next five years. The danger is that the Parliament will end up in exactly the same position as here and now at the end of session 7.”
“That has to be a mixture of measures. It has to be a balance of carrot and stick, including financial incentives and improved public transport. I say to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport that that is what I have been waiting to see over the past three years since we have been out of government and I have not seen it. All that I have seen is a reduction in the target. Of course, there is always the Westminster Government to blame. Greens are never shy of taking a genuine opportunity to blame Westminster, just like the SNP, but we must build the case for the Parliament to have more powers by acting like we want them and pushing up to the limit of the powers that we have now.”
“The member knows full well, because it has been relayed and is in reports, that we continue to have a car use reduction target. We are looking at emissions reduction in line with the Climate Change Committee’s proposal to reduce car use. Mark Ruskell might not agree with or like what the Climate Change Committee says, but it is wrong to say that we do not have a car use reduction target or have somehow abandoned it, because that is not the case. Mark Ruskell: I was at a hustings last night at which an SNP MSP said that the abandonment of the 20 per cent target was a retrograde step. I agree with that wing of the SNP. It is easy to set targets, including traffic reduction targets. The hard work is having an action plan that local authorities can pick up on and that we can advance nationally to incentivise people to leave the car at home.”
“Based on current estimates, works could begin in June 2027, but that is subject to the procurement stage, approval of funding and contractor award and mobilisation.”
“Will she confirm not only that CMAL is primed to boost resilience and immediately take control of the site but that plans to fully redevelop that vital Ayrshire port are well advanced and that the regeneration and renewal will ensure a first-class, 21st century, fully functioning port that will serve the communities of Ardrossan and Arran for 60 years or more? Fiona Hyslop: It is acknowledged that the purchase of Ardrossan harbour is a significant milestone, but momentum on the project is needed. CMAL will review the original detailed design proposals and scope of works, including for the Arran berth realignment. An indicative timeline for design and procurement works is being drafted.”
“As I outlined in my statement to the Parliament on 3 March and at the subsequent Ardrossan task force meeting, which was held on the same day, CMAL, as the new statutory harbour authority, is expected to take forward immediate works at the harbour to improve resilience. To ensure the continuation of the two-port operation, CMAL has identified immediate minor works and has therefore already procured replacement fenders and will repair navigation lights. Those initial works will be undertaken as soon as possible and are planned to not disrupt continuing services, thus ensuring improved resilience of the Arran berth. Kenneth Gibson: I thank the cabinet secretary for returning Ardrossan harbour to the public sector and for that very positive response.”
“Fiona Hyslop: That is an important point, and I will ensure that my officials take up that issue, particularly in relation to insurance companies. On the more substantive point about making sure that we have a pipeline of skills available, we have already been funding colleges to deliver the maintenance and repair training, including for the particular issues that affect EVs, that is required as part of the transition. HIE should be able to be part of that continuing support. Ardrossan Harbour 6.”
“The rural and island infrastructure fund will continue in 2026-27, as is provided for in our 2026-27 Scottish budget. Liam McArthur: I welcome the funding that the cabinet secretary has outlined. She will be aware that Orkney has one of the highest take-up rates of electric vehicles anywhere in Scotland. However, I was recently made aware that some insurance providers are starting to refuse island customers coverage due to what they say is a lack of local capacity for the repair and maintenance of EVs. I ask the cabinet secretary to engage with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council, the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum and other local stakeholders to see what can be done to address capacity issues over the medium to longer term.”
“Our £30 million EV infrastructure fund enables local authorities to work collaboratively and with the private sector to invest in public EV charging and target public funding in areas that are less likely to attract stand-alone private investment, including rural and island communities. In August, I announced that more than £3 million from the EV infrastructure fund would be provided for a collaborative project led by Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, which includes the councils for Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles and Argyll and Bute. I also announced that a further £4.5 million would be provided for additional EV charging in rural and island areas across Scotland, which has been fully allocated to 138 projects, which will deliver 266 additional charging points.”
“As part of its responsibilities, an airport will want to increase commercial revenue and reduce costs. However, I agree with Jamie Halcro Johnston that that has to be balanced and must recognise the different types of customers that an airport has, which might be different from those at other airports. I will make sure that my officials raise the issue with HIAL, which will have been paying attention to this question. Electric Vehicles (Rural and Island Communities) 5.”
“Those charges start at more than £10 for under an hour and apply even if the flight that they are meeting is delayed or has been cancelled, as it sometimes is before they have left. I have raised the issue with HIAL, which seems indifferent to my constituents’ concerns, so will the cabinet secretary raise it with Government- owned HIAL and ensure that my constituents are not penalised for matters that are outwith their control? Fiona Hyslop: Jamie Halcro Johnston raises an important point—the integration of transport is important. I am sure that he welcomes the £2 bus fare cap pilot that has been introduced, which will certainly address some of the cost challenges. However, the timing issues and the time available for drop-off and pick-up at airports are best dealt with in an operational manner by the airports themselves.”
“I thank everyone who works or has worked for HIAL over the past four decades for their commitment to providing excellent service to passengers and for the role that they have played in supporting air connectivity for our rural and island communities. Jamie Halcro Johnston: The cabinet secretary will be aware of the unique challenges of the Highlands and Islands, the challenges that customers face in accessing hub airports when there are limited public transport or other options available and the long journeys that those customers often have to make. I was contacted by constituents who sometimes travel hours to use Inverness airport and are offered only a 15-minute free drop-off and pick-up window to collect family and friends, with the risk of incurring significant charges if they stay longer.”
“The Scottish Government will make available to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd a budget of up to £52.3 million in 2026-27 to ensure that HIAL can continue to operate safe and regulatory-compliant airports. That includes ensuring that HIAL’s airports are accessible and compliant with all relevant equalities legislation. HIAL has a number of initiatives that are aimed at improving accessibility, including accessibility guides for its airports produced by AccessAble. In the Civil Aviation Authority’s “Airport Accessibility Performance Report 2024/2025”, Inverness Airport, which was the only HIAL airport to be assessed, was rated as good. Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the date when HIAL was officially formed and incorporated by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.”
“I move amendment S6M-20957.3, to leave out from first “believes” to end and insert: “recognises the challenges that island communities have faced with disruptions and the need to give them reliable and resilient services; supports the announcements made by the Scottish Government on 3 March 2026 of the conclusion of the purchase of Ardrossan Harbour, the proposal to directly award two vessels for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme to Ferguson Marine, the competitive tender for the replacement for the MV Lord of the Isles, funding for the Port Ellen redevelopment on Islay, and that peak fares for islanders on NorthLink ferry services will be removed on 24 March 2026; notes that, with 11 vessels currently being built and with the recent arrival of MV Isle of Islay, one third of the entire CalMac fleet is being replaced, and further notes that the Island Connectivity Plan Vessels and Ports Plan sets out a long-term investment programme to 2045, and that community needs assessments, with community engagement at their heart, will shape these investments in ferries and ports for decades to come.” 16:08”
“I can confirm that the full £4.4 million will be deployed, and I can announce that we have uplifted the rate of awards to strengthen the resilience of small businesses that face the impacts of disruption. That all sits alongside the vision of the national islands plan, which sets out a refreshed programme of actions to address the broader challenges and opportunities that our islands face. I recognise the challenges that island communities have faced and the need to provide them with reliable and resilient services, which is why we are taking the range of actions that I have outlined and will continue to invest in those communities.”
“We will fully retain RET for islanders and non- islanders alike. Yesterday, Ariane Burgess raised the question of freight fares across the network. She highlighted not just the absolute level of freight fares but their level relative to charges for other vehicles. I can confirm that, starting this summer, Transport Scotland will undertake a review that will encompass those issues. Of course, I cannot prejudge the outcome of that review, but I hope that that confirmation is welcome. We recognise that island businesses have experienced more than their fair share of disruption. That is why we created the islands business resilience fund and expanded its scope to include Coll, Tiree, the small isles, Mull, Iona, Ulva, Barra, Vatersay, Islay and Jura. It was essential that the fund remained tightly targeted so that the support was credible.”
“Those arrangements, which represent a step change in how services are delivered, were intended to bring flexibility and a community focus to the heart of operations. As was mentioned when I met CalMac this morning, the company is on a journey that involves a process of constant learning, as part of which key performance indicators are embedded in every part of its business. For the Northern Isles ferry services, I can confirm that, this morning, we published the prior information notice. That is the initial phase in the procurement process for the next contract, which will be in place from the end of June 2028. The introduction by the Government of road equivalent tariff has significantly reduced ferry fares on the Clyde and Hebrides network, and it saves ferry travellers around £25 million per year.”
“With regard to Ardrossan, the negotiations on purchase and wider legal agreements have now been concluded, and those will be signed shortly to confirm the harbour’s purchase by CMAL this month. That was discussed last night by the task force. Beyond that, we will continue to invest in new vessels and ports, and our programme of community needs assessments is under way. The outputs will inform future service design and the business cases for the pipeline of vessel and port projects. The provision of ferry services is not only about new vessels and ports; it is also about how they are run. We are approaching the end of the first period of the new Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract, following the direct award to CalMac in October.”
“Yesterday, as well as announcing that we will soon move to tender on the replacement for the MV Lord of the Isles, I announced the proposal to directly award the contract for two of the small vessel replacement scheme vessels to Ferguson Marine. We will soon make an announcement on the replacements for the Northern Isles freight vessels. I say to Jamie Greene that all the steps that need to be taken as regards CMA engagement, subsidy control and so on will be taken for the proposed award. We are now far more confident that we will be able procure the vessels in that way, which is why I made yesterday’s announcement. I also confirmed that I have approved funding for the redevelopment of Port Ellen. I am pleased to confirm that CMAL will award the £107 million contract to completely redevelop Port Ellen this week.”
“In addition, we have committed that the plan will be “fully updated every five years so that there is always a 20- 25 year forward look.” That plan is well under way. In addition to the MV Isle of Islay, her three sister ships are under construction, along with seven small vessels. I had an update on that from CMAL only this morning. When taken together with the addition to the fleet of the MV Glen Rosa, that means that one third of the entire CalMac fleet is being replaced. The plan also commits to providing a major vessel for resilience purposes until at least 2030, to minimise disruption and ensure that services are maintained.”
“This debate is helpfully timed to allow me to build on my statement yesterday to the Parliament. Yesterday, I chaired a meeting of the Ardrossan task force to discuss next steps; this morning, I met CalMac Ferries to discuss its response to the operational challenges, and I met Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to discuss the various vessel and port investment projects that I referred to in my statement. Finally, I had the pleasure of visiting the newest addition to the fleet, the MV Isle of Islay. The motion asks for a 30-year investment plan. In May, we published the islands connectivity vessel and ports plan, which set out our plan until 2045. That is based on an assumed vessel operational life of 30 years and commits that we will “reduce the average age of the total fleet … to around 15 years by the end of this decade”.”
“With our on-going work in investing in ports, harbours and vessels, with 11 vessels under construction, three of which are in active procurements, and further investment in vessels for Mull and the second phase of the SVRP, along with these key announcements today, this Scottish Government is demonstrating our continuing commitment to supporting lifeline ferry services and the island communities and economies that they serve. The Presiding Officer: The Cabinet Secretary for Transport will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business. I would be grateful if members who wish to put a question were to press their request-to-speak button.”
“Work is on-going to refine the specification for the next NIFS contract and the responses will help to inform the process. One of the key messages in the northern isles consultation was about vehicle deck capacity and availability of cabins. Ministers understand well those needs, which have informed the development of the new freight flex vessels that will replace the existing freighters, with capacity for around 200 passengers in peak seasons. The tender process for the vessels is on track and we expect to announce the award of the contract later this month, subject to concluding the commercial processes. I note that no United Kingdom yard bid for the freight flex vessels and that the size was outwith the maximum that could be accommodated at Ferguson Marine.”
“The Scottish Government has also introduced free interisland travel in the Western Isles and the northern isles for those under the age of 22 on council-run services, and we have extended the voucher system to more of our young people across both of the networks that are the responsibility of Scottish ministers. For the northern isles, tomorrow, we will launch the prior information notice, which is the initial phase in procurement for the next northern isles ferry services contract, which will be in place from the end of June 2028. Transport Scotland recently published the report on the extensive public consultation exercise that took place last year. My officials received more than 1,100 responses to the consultation, which is substantial for a project of this nature.”
“The introduction of this new two-vessel service will bring added capacity and resilience to the Western Isles, as will the investment in the new MV Lord of the Isles vessel and the next phase of the small vessel replacement programme. I turn now to services to Orkney and Shetland. The First Minister confirmed when he was in the northern isles recently that the peak seasonal fares for Orkney and Shetland islanders using the NorthLink services will be removed from 26 March 2026 and eligible island residents will now only need to pay low-season passenger, car and cabin rates all year round.”
“Separately, I can also announce that CMAL will now move to the open market competitive procurement of the replacement for the MV Lord of the Isles in the next few weeks, with a view to placing an order with a shipyard later this year. When I met the community and businesses in South Uist last year, I was clear that the business case would be developed this financial year, and this announcement is confirmation of that commitment. I turn to the Little Minch. Work on the Little Minch ports was completed last year, and CMAL has now confirmed that MV Lochmor is expected to be handed over later this year and MV Claymore early next year—although it will continue to work with the yard to bring forward these dates if possible.”
“I can announce—the Deputy First Minister will expand on this in her statement, which will follow mine—that ministers propose to include the two new vessels for the Sound of Harris and the Sound of Barra from the next phase of the small vessel replacement programme as a direct award to Ferguson Marine as part of a wider suite of publicly funded and directly awarded vessel projects. The proposal is subject to a detailed internal due diligence process that is under way to assess viability, including examination of structural organisation matters and subsidy control. Engagement with the Competition and Markets Authority would also be among the steps that are required before any formal contract award decisions can be made.”
“There is work to be done to move forward to tender for the port redevelopment, but CMAL has already been considering short-term work to ensure resilient operations while the MV Caledonian Isles continues to operate from Ardrossan. We are committed to funding a two- port service until the major work starts. I thank the teams at CMAL and the Peel Ports Group for their work on getting to this point. I also add my thanks to the Isle of Arran ferry committee and their representative on the task force for their input throughout and for constantly championing the use of Ardrossan. This evening, I will meet the task force to discuss the immediate steps following purchase. I will now move on to further vessel procurement.”
“The purchase will secure the port in public ownership, which will allow us to focus on the redevelopment of the facility as the primary mainland port for Arran. I cannot confirm the full details until the commercial deal and related agreements have formally concluded, but my previous updates have been clear that this has been a complex negotiation to bring about wider benefits for our ferry services in the longer term. In the interests of transparency, I confirm that the process has involved a shareholder direction to the CMAL board to allow the purchase to be concluded. I have also provided written authority to Transport Scotland. We will shortly share the details of that with the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and the Public Audit Committee, and we will also publish the details in line with previous commitments.”
“That £107 million project will provide an essential additional marshalling area to safely use the full capacity of existing and new vessels, in addition to improving resilience and increasing the efficiency and flexibility of freight operations, which will support communities and the economy of Islay. Work will start in the summer and is expected to complete in early 2029. I turn to the port of Ardrossan, which the Government is clear will be the primary mainland port to service the island of Arran. I confirm to the Parliament that negotiations and wider legal agreements have now been concluded and will be signed shortly to confirm the purchase of the port of Ardrossan this month by CMAL.”
“I will be visiting the vessel tomorrow and would like to take this opportunity to share my thanks to and admiration of the crew undertaking her journey from Turkey, not least for the skill and bravery that was shown en route in undertaking a rescue operation north of Morocco. MV Isle of Islay’s sister vessel, the Loch Indaal, is due to follow this summer. Her greater capacity will add to that of the Isle of Islay, which will further enhance the service to Islay. Investment in upgrading ports for Islay, including the replacement of life-expired infrastructure, was also completed at Kennacraig and Port Askaig last year. I also announce that I have approved funding for developments in Port Ellen. I am pleased to confirm that Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd will be awarding the contract this week to completely redevelop Port Ellen.”
“I have heard directly from communities that they want to see those roles strengthened, and I confirm that Transport Scotland and CalMac are looking at further improvements to support that. MV Glen Sannox entered the fleet in January 2025 and is expected to return to service from her annual overhaul in the next few days. The order for seven new ships as part of the small vessel replacement programme was placed in March 2025 and construction is progressing well. The first vessel is due to be delivered in 2027. MV Isle of Islay has now arrived in Scottish waters and is undergoing preparations to enter service on Islay.”
“Scottish ministers have embedded the ferries community board in the legal agreements, and I was pleased to see an advert launched to seek a new chair in the near future—I thank Angus Campbell for his term as chair. Ministers and Transport Scotland officials have hugely valued our engagement with the board, which will continue to play a key role in strategic issues across the network. I have also welcomed my engagement with individual ferry committees in recent weeks. Examples of how CalMac has responded to community asks include the provision of extended services on the secondary route to Arran and the Sound of Barra route in the winter, which is bringing added resilience to those islands. An enhanced area manager structure has been introduced as a permanent feature of the new Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.”
“In this statement, I intend to give an update on the Clyde and Hebrides contract and ferry services in the northern isles. I also intend to highlight significant progress in key ferry investments for vessels and ports across our lifeline services. We are now approaching the end of the first period of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract following the direct award to CalMac Ferries last October. Those new arrangements are a step change in how services are delivered and they are bringing flexibility and community focus to the heart of how operations are managed. That includes new key performance indicators, which have been developed with community input and a focus on lived experience.”