KEEP CALMAC .. And CArry on For KEEPS
Keep CaLMaC and Carry on Transport Minister: We will only award future contracts to the public sector
SCotland is going to Keep CalMac and Carry on …forever.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf yesterday revealed the Scottish Government will only award ferry contracts to public sector operators in the future.
The news came after the Daily Record helped to win a major victory for island communities last year.
Caledonian MacBrayne won a £900million contract to continue running west coast ferries after a bitter battle against private sector rivals Serco.
It followed a year-long campaign by locals, the Daily Record and the RMT trade union.
CalMac had been at risk of losing out on the eightyear contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferries Network, which serves the Western Isles.
Since the contract was awarded in May last year, Scottish Government officials have been examining ways to get around EU rules and keep the routes in public hands.
Yousaf said that although it was a “complex” process, it seems that a direct award to in-house providers, such as CalMac, would be possible if they comply with the so-called Teckal exemption and EU state aid rules.
And Scotland leaving the European Union could also resolve the problem.
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services will continue to be operated by CalMac until 2024.
The Northern Isles ferry services contract, operated by Serco NorthLink, will be extended until October 2019.
The Government will decide on the tendering process for those routes – and whether a direct award can be made – in the spring.
And the tender process for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service will be restarted as soon as possible, which could allow a vehicle service to be reintroduced on the town centre route.
Yousaf said: “As we said at the start of this review, it is the Scottish Government’s preference to directly award ferry contracts to an in-house provider, subject to the views of local communities and stakeholders.
“I’m pleased to say that the indications so far are encouraging but Transport Scotland officials are still working on the potential impact of complex state aid requirements on making such an award.
“If I can satisfy the European Commission, it would be my intention to scrap future tendering processes for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract and directly appoint CalMac.
“Making sure our ferry services support our island and remote rural communities remains at the heart of this exercise.
“We will ensure these iconic services continue to play a vital role for the people and industries who depend on them.”