MSP Grant to quiz First Minister on unprecedented ferry disruption
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant is set to quiz First Minister Humza Yousaf today over disruption to the ferry network across the two regions.
Ms Grant has lodged a question for Mr Yousaf at this afternoon session of First Minister’s Questions – asking what immediate action the Scottish Goverment will take to improve ferry services across the Highlands and Islands amid recent unprecedented disruption.
On Monday, Robbie Drummond, chief executive of CalMac announced that the ferry operator had decided to defer the launch of its new booking and ticketing platform – from 25th April to 16th May – to focus on handling urgent issues relating to the disruption and delays to many of its services.
In January, the CalMac CEO revealed that nearly two fifths of its fleet were more than 30 years old, with the general life expectancy of vessels 25-30 years.
In March, the MV Hebrides vessel serving Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert was forced to return to Uig after a fire broke out in the engine room of the vessel.
Audit Scotland’s most recent report states that the two new vessels under construction, which will join CalMac’s fleet, are currently estimated to cost £293 million, with delivery already five years late – despite additional Scottish Government funding in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Skye school bus goes off road on A87
A school bus carrying school pupils from Portree to Kyle went off road after being involved in a road traffic incident.
No one was injured in the incident in which resulted in the vehicle going off the road on A87 south of Sconser around Drum nan Cleoc.
A Police Scotland spokesperson told Radio Skye: “Around 4.30pm on Wednesday, 19 April, 2023, police received a report of a bus coming off the road on the A87 on the Isle of Skye. Recovery was arranged.”
No injuries were reported.
Portree High School later confirmed that all the pupils were safe following the incident and were transferred onto alternative buses to continue their journey.
Scottish Goverment must improve to deliver climate goals
The Scottish Goverment needs to improve to deliver the country’s climate change goals.
That’s according to a new report published today by Audit Scotland.
The report states that although the government’s climate governance has improved since the former First Minister declared a climate emergency in 2019 its adaption to the impact of climate change has received less focus than reducing emissions and hitting net zero targets.
It goes on to add that there are gaps in reporting, making it difficult to assess progress against climate policy. And there has been no workforce plan for climate change since the Net Zero department was established in late 2021.
However, one is expected in spring 2023.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government’s set up for responding to the climate crisis has constantly evolved since 2019. But the different parts of government could be better co-ordinated.
“The government’s risk management arrangements also need to improve, particularly the work needed to ensure Scotland adapts to the impact of climate change.”
He added: “Work is ongoing across the Scottish Government to tackle these organisational weaknesses, and it’s vital that happens quickly given the urgency of the climate situation.”
News by Adam Gordon
Bus photo credit: Moray Walker.
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Commenting this afternoon, Robbie Drummond, Chief Executive of CalMac, said: “Our service continues to be affected by delays to the annual overhaul schedule and its subsequent impact on vessel deployment.
“With no spare vessels, it is a challenging period for our customers, and we apologise for the disruption this is causing, particularly at the start of the tourist season.
“We are focused on returning those vessels which have required extended repairs back to service as soon as possible and returning to a normal service as quickly as we can. We will continue to work with community representatives and will keep customers informed of any developments.”
In March, CalMac announced a nine-month charter of an additional vessel to provide resilience to its fleet amid delays to two new ships under construction.
The MV Alfred will join the CalMac fleet on a nine-month charter from Pentland Ferries 18th April 2023, following confirmation from the Scottish Goverment and Transport Scotland.
𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐒𝐤𝐲𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦@𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐤𝐲𝐞.𝐜𝐨𝐦
Kate Forbes to leave Scottish Goverment following rural affair post offer
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes is set to leave the Scottish Government after turning down a position in newly-appointed First Minister Humza Yousaf’s cabinet.
Ms Forbes (pictured) is the current Scottish finance secretary, but has reportedly turn down the offer of serving as the minister for rural affairs.
At present the Scottish Goverment is holding a consultation on its plans to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas by 2026.
The commitment, which is through the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Goverment and the Green, aims to provide a high level of protection by placing strict limits on some human activities, such as fishing and aquaculture, while allowing non-damaging recreational activities to take place at carefully managed levels.
However, in a statement last week, amid strong opposition within her constituency to the proposals, the Dingwall-born politician pledged to scrap HPMA plans and commission feasibility study into devolving marine powers to local authorities.
Humza Yousaf was this morning sworn in as the sixth First Minister of Scotland during a short ceremony at the court of session in Edinburgh.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Michael Matheson, Neil Gray, Mairi Gougeon, Angela Constance have all met with Mr Yousaf today as he seeks to form his new cabinet.
MSP Grant joins Co-operative group campaign
Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant has today called on Scotland First Minister’s to deliver a fairer and more co-operative Scotland.
The Labour MSP (pictured) is campaigning to enshrine a right to food in Scots Law, establish a people’s bus service and double the size of the co-op economy of businesses owned by workers, customers, or community members.
Ms Grant’s calls form part of a campaign for change led by the Scottish Co-operative Party Parliamentary Group.
In a letter to the newly appointed First Minister Humza Yousaf, back by Ms Grant, the Scottish Co-operative are also seeking the Goverment to address the decline in high street businesses, following the closure of more than 17,500 chain store outlets in 2020.
It also pushing for the Goverment to support community-own renewables with an emphasis on cheap and green energy.
In its three-point plan for buses, the group is campaigning for strict condition to be place on public funds provided to private bus companies, a cap on bus fares, and for local buses to be under local control.
News by Adam Gordon.
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