Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has welcomed today’s announcement that the Scottish Government is hopeful of being able to award future ferry contracts directly to public sector operators such as Calmac.

Earlier this afternoon, the Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf MSP gave an update to the Scottish Parliament on the on-going procurement policy review for ferry contracts.

During this speech, the Minister announced that it was the Scottish Government’s preference, if legal questions can be resolved, to scrap the tendering process for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and award the contract to Calmac indefinitely.

Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“I am sure this will be widely welcomed across the islands.

“During the most recent tendering process it was clearly the wish of most islanders that these services should continue to be run by Calmac. While the Scottish Government has always been clear that its preference was not to have to tender ferry services for the west coast, the EU rules obligated this Government and the former Labour/ administration to initiate a tender exercise.

“I am glad that the Scottish Government is working to ensure a simpler situation for ferry services in the islands in future, and help us protect the huge increase in spending on ferry services that has occurred since the SNP took office.”

“Whatever happens, the views of communities should be at the heart of future decisions.”