Rhoda Grant MSP Pushes SNP/ Greens About Ferry Compensation For Island Businesses

2nd June 2023

Following the announcement on 1 June 2023 that the Lochboisdale ferry service is to be withdrawn in June 2023, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant asked Scottish Government about compensation for affected businesses for the third time.

In the Holyrood chamber during questioning on depopulation, Mrs Grant told the minister for equalities, migration and refugees, Emma Roddick:

"Depopulation is caused by people finding it too difficult to live in rural and island communities. Ferry failures are a current driver for depopulation. The South Uist ferry is being cancelled again for most of June. This follows similar cancellations in April/May due to prolonged ferry withdrawal.

“Storas Uibhist last year calculated that for each day of cancelled sailings Uist costs the local economy £46,285 a day. These Islands cannot afford to lose £3 million from their local economies in three months.

“This is criminal neglect. If businesses are not compensated, they will fold, further increasing depopulation. Will the Minister act and compensate businesses before it is too late?"

Ms Roddick described herself as “sympathetic” to the situation faced by islanders but said that is was an issue for the transport minister and told MSPs that depopulation would be tackled by the Scottish Government's forthcoming strategy.

Mrs Grant said following the session: “Only the SNP Government would be sat saying ‘let’s wait and see what our strategy in 6 months says” in response to an ongoing crisis.

“It is not a mystery why depopulation is an escalating problem - it’s blindingly obvious – people cannot make a living in the islands without reliable transport links. Islanders are desperate and Scottish Government’s answer is to wait and see what a study shows? Walk down any street in the islands and someone will tell you what the problem is.

“Scottish Government needs to stop pontificating, treating islanders like they deserve a reduced services and actually treat this like the crisis it is. We need ferries; Cal Mac needs investment and in the meantime islanders need compensation for their lifeline services which are not currently supporting their lives.”