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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 10 July 2025
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Displaying 5973 contributions

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Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

I have a few questions, if I may ask them without hogging the limelight at the end. Dag Hole, what happens when there is disruption and a ferry breaks down? Do those four companies have the ability to respond to that by moving ships around to fill in for breakdowns?

10:45  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

That is very illuminating. If there is anything that either of you think that we have missed, I am happy to give you a couple of minutes to add anything before we bring this part of the meeting to a close. I do not normally do that but I think that it is important to hear your contributions today.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

That is interesting. Harald Høyem, do you want to say anything?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

Welcome back, everyone. I want to clarify something that I should have addressed when we were considering the statutory instrument earlier. We will have to report the outcome of the instrument in due course and I look for the committee to delegate authority to me, as convener, to finalise the report for publication. Are you all happy with that?

Members indicated agreement.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

The figure is 2,053 in this financial year, which is up from 1,100 the year before, so it is not insubstantial.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

I will mention the reasons that jump out at me and which I cannot understand. The figure for “force majeure”, which is within your control, has doubled since last year. The figure for “mechanical problems” has gone up from 498 to 1,678, which seems a huge leap. I also do not understand “Scot Government approved cancellations”, which have leapt from 485 to 1,551.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

I understand that. Roughly 1,600 cancellations were down to mechanical problems, and there were about 1,500 Scottish Government approved ones. I am confused by that. I think that the figures need a bit more clarification because, on the face of it, they are quite concerning, given the way that they have been produced. You are saying that mechanical problems and force majeure events, which effectively account for 3,600-odd cancellations, are within your control. We then have 1,500 cancellations, which is just under half of that, that were Government approved. What does the Government approve?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

Robbie Drummond, thank you for not correcting me. Of course I made a mistake when I referred to Ardrossan to Mull; I meant Ardrossan to Arran. At 10 to 1 this morning we had evidence submitted to us from Mull, which probably meant that Mull was at the forefront of my mind from the early hours, so I apologise for that and thank you for not correcting me. I have corrected myself before anyone else does.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

Sorry, I am slightly confused. Why do you employ them in Guernsey and not employ them at home? Are there tax advantages from doing that?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Ferry Services Inquiry

Meeting date: 21 February 2023

Edward Mountain

That is something for the committee to ponder on—whether it is appropriate for a Government-awarded contract to employ an organisation that dodges paying national insurance. I make no comment. The committee will have to decide on that.

Jackie Dunbar, I think that you have a question and then I will open it up to anyone else who wants any follow-ups.