Scottish Executive Written Answers to Scottish Parliament

These are the answers to Parliamentary Questions about whether the Executive has imposed, or intends to impose, PSOs on any of the four tenders for which it currently has responsibility under EC Maritime Cabotage and State aid rules. .

In every case the answer is in the negative. No PSOs imposed, and/or no intention to impose any PSOs on any of the CalMac routes, the Northern Isles routes, the Gourock-Dunoon route, or the Campbeltown-Ballycastle route.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the European Commission’s announcement that peninsular ferry routes, such as Tarbert to Portavadie and Gourock to Dunoon, may be treated as public service obligation island services for the purposes of the application of the 1992 European Maritime Cabotage Regulation gives the Executive power to impose restrictions and obligations on all operators in a non-discriminatory fashion in respect of fares and levels of service on such routes in order to pursue social and economic objectives.

Holding answer issued: on 7 June 2006
(S2W-26119)

Tavish Scott: The Executive is taking forward proposals for the provision of ferry services on the Tarbert to Portavadie and Gourock to Dunoon routes, and elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides network, in a non discriminatory way, in line with the Maritime Cabotage Regulation. The Executive is tendering on the basis of Public Services Contracts (PSCs). The Executive considers that a single PSC for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service and another single PSC for the rest of the network offer the certainty and security of a set service specification that will be welcomed by Cowal residents, residents served by the rest of the network and all other users of the ferry services. Public Service Obligations (PSOs) would not provide that certainty and security of service nor deliver on the Executive’s key policy objectives. Consequently there is no need to consider, nor do we intend to consider, issues arising in relation to PSOs.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it has established a Public Service Obligation in respect of the current Northern Isles ferry re-tendering process and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Holding answer issued: 2 August 2006
(S2W-27263)

Tavish Scott: The Executive concluded a Public Service Contract (PSC) on 6 July 2006 for the provision of ferry services to the Northern Isles. Provision for PSCs is made in article 4.1 of the EU Maritime Cabotage Regulation 3277/92 of 7 December 1992. The Executive tendered the subsidy for the service as a PSC rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) since it provided the means to achieve the quality standards and security of service required to meet the Executive’s objective of ensuring adequate transport services to the Northern Isles.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the content is of any Public Service Obligation (PSO) in respect of the current Northern Isles ferry re-tendering process and when such a PSO was established.

Holding answer issued: 2 August 2006
(S2W-27264)

Tavish Scott: The Executive concluded the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract on 6 July 2006 as a Public Service Contract (PSC) rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) as set out in the answer to question S2W-27263 on 3 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it has established a Public Service Obligation in respect of the re-tendering process to provide a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Holding answer issued: 2 August 2006
(S2W-27265)

Tavish Scott: The Executive is pursuing a Public Service Contract (PSC) in an effort to identify a possible operator for a subsidised ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle. Provision for PSCs is made in article 4.1 of the EU Maritime Cabotage Regulation 3277/92 of 7 December 1992. The Executive tendered the subsidy for the service as a PSC rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) since it provided the means to achieve the quality standards and security of service to meet the Executive’s objective of improving accessibility and promoting economic opportunity for the areas involved.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the content is of any Public Service Obligation (PSO) in respect of the re-tendering process to provide a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle and when such a PSO was established.

Holding answer issued: 2 August 2006
(S2W-27266)

Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently pursuing a Public Service Contract (PSC) rather than a Public Service Obligation (PSO) in seeking to identify a possible operator for a subsidised ferry service for this route, as set out in the answer to question S2W-27265 on 3 August 2006.