Dave Thompson MSP

I am pleased to confirm that Alex Neil, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well Being, and myself, will be visiting Ardnamurchan on Monday 28th January. We will spend the day covering as much of the area as possible, meeting Healthcare workers in Strontian at 10.30, Sunart Community Council at 11.30, Practice staff at Acharacle at 12.45 and then the Acharacle Community Council at 1.15, before heading out to Kilchoan for a presentation with the Emergency Responder unit at 3pm and finally a 3.30 meeting with West Ardnamurchan Community Council. This is a very welcome chance for local views to be put directly to the Cabinet Secretary, and I look forward to his visit.

The publication of the Ferries Plan, which sets out the way forward for the next ten years, is very welcome. It rightly recognises the huge contribution that ferries make to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our nation, and confirms the retention of the Kilchoan/ Tobermory, Lochaline/ Fishnish and Mallaig/ Armadale ferries as they are. It also confirms improvements to the Small Isles service, including an additional Sunday service, an increase to two services on more days, and a new timetable that will provide a meaningful visit to the mainland on at least one day of the week. I also note that the review will provide for a minimum of two vehicular services once a two boat solution is introduced in the future, and I would welcome your views on this. These changes not only secure the future of these vital services, but also deliver some substantial improvements which will make a positive difference to those who use them.

I was extremely disappointed to read Charles Kennedy’s attack on the Scottish Government’s use of the £50 million funding from Westminster for the sleeper service between the Highlands and London. The attack is at best misleading and at worst reveals that he doesn’t understand the investment process.

Improving the rolling stock used for the service is, unfortunately, not as simple as picking a new carriage off the shelves like a loaf of bread. A detailed specification needs to be designed, and then a competitive tendering process held to ensure that the contract is handled appropriately. Indeed, we have recently seen what happens when a Government rushes a decision such as this; witness the fiasco surrounding the UK West Coast contract and the huge waste of £100 million of public money involved.

Keith Brown has rightly requested that Westminster remove the bizarre requirement that the £50 million be spent within six months, which they agreed to, and has committed to matching this with £50 million from the Scottish Government. The money is, in the meantime, secure and I am confident that Keith will deliver an improved sleeper service as soon as possible, and without running the risk of making errors through a rushed decision.

Finally, I would like to wish readers all the best over Christmas and the New Year. I hope that you all have an enjoyable time catching up with friends and family, but that we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and, as Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself”. So, help those who are less fortunate, whether it be by checking on a vulnerable neighbour, or supporting one of the very many charities who do their best to bring a little relief at this time of year, and have a great time yourselves.