Halcro Johnston seeks assurances on Northlink contract
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston today sought assurances from the Transport Minister Humza Yousaf that the extension of the current Northlink ferry contract by 18 months would not impact on the service for those who rely on the service.
The extension, moving the end point of the current Serco Northlink contract from April 2018 to October 2019, was confirmed after previous suggestions that an extension would form part of the ferry contracts procurement review.
The Scottish Government has said that it will look into running the Northern Isles services in-house, depending on public support for the proposals and clearance around state-aid rules.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“With the Serco Northlink contract being extended by 18 months, I sought to ensure that there would be no impact on the service currently provided and that existing commitments by Serco Northlink would be upheld.
“I am pleased that the Minister was able to give these assurances and I will be looking to hold him to those commitments in the coming months and years.
“However this is only the first stage of examining whether the Scottish Government brings the Northern Isles ferries in-house rather than putting them out to tender. Ministers have given firm commitments to respect the views of local people before making changes and it is crucial that local people and businesses in Orkney and in Shetland are closely involved in any decision-making process that emerges”.