Dave Thompson MSP

I recently spoke in the Parliament’s debate on ferries, highlighting ways in which the service to the small isles can be improved. The new summer timetable for the small isles provides a very good service. The only thing that is missing is the ability for islanders to make a return trip to the mainland in the course of a normal working day—to get to the dentist or the doctor, to go shopping or to do other things that they might need to do. The ferries review suggests pretty major changes to achieve that—a new daily passenger small freight ferry with a roll-on, roll-off for just two days a week. I do not think that that would be sufficient; we need more than that. It may well be, as suggested by Councillor Allan Henderson, that the best option is to keep the current enhanced service with the MV Loch Nevis and to charter a passenger vessel, maybe fortnightly, to provide residents of the small isles with the ability to make a meaningful return trip to the mainland in the course of a normal working day.

BBC Scotland is currently showing a four part series ‘Hebrides Islands on the Edge’, which follows the wild life, scenery and other aspects of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and is narrated by Ewan Macgregor. I was disappointed to learn that this excellent programme is only being shown in Scotland, and not across the UK. This programme shows clearly why people across the UK and, hopefully, across the globe should come and visit our magical area. I am aware of how difficult life has been for hoteliers, bed and breakfast and other tourist related businesses recently, and programmes like ‘Hebrides Islands on the Edge’ can be excellent ambassadors.

I have written to Tony Hall, the BBC Director General, to make the case for the series to be shown across the whole of the UK, and, ideally, in time to have an impact on this year’s tourist season. Previously high profile documentaries have had a substantial positive impact on the tourist industry in the Highlands and Islands, and it would be a great shame if this excellent series was not shown widely.

Recently I spoke in the Electricity Market Reform debate, and highlighted the unfair practice of energy companies charging consumers a higher price in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. I was recently sent a letter from an energy supplier which included a regional breakdown of their tariffs, and the north of Scotland is consistently one of the most expensive regions; there is a difference of between 1.13p and 1.6p per unit between the unit price charged in the north and that charged in the south of Scotland and we pay 14% more on the general tariff they do in Yorkshire.

The high costs in the north come despite the fact that the North of Scotland has some of the best potential renewable resources in the European Union, as well as existing hydro power. Recently it has been announced that the world’s largest wave power project will proceed off the north-west coast of Lewis, and there are countless examples along the west coast, the Moray Firth and around Shetland and Orkney. Yet consumers in the Highlands and Islands face amongst the highest bills in the UK. The cost of fuel has risen substantially for consumers across Scotland in recent years. As the cost of heating our homes accounts for a greater part of families’ budgets, the geographic differences seem increasingly unjustifiable. Future policy must ensure a level playing field for all consumers in the UK.

Recently the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, debated Scottish Independence with the Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore. I thought Nicola’s performance in the debate was excellent, and it was clear that the arguments for Independence carried the debate. The ‘No’ side continue to struggle to explain why Scotland is better served as part of the UK, and no answer could be made to explain why Scotland was better served in a Union which meant that 50,000 Scottish children would face the brunt of welfare reforms which have been voted against by 90% of Scottish MPs and the Scottish Parliament. I was pleased to note that Moore did finally accept that Scotland would be entitled to a share of UK assets as well as liabilities. The Secretary of State recently admitted to the Scottish Affairs Committee that he was speculating in many of his responses, hopefully his belated acknowledgement that independence involves more than just liabilities will mean that he can engage more fully with the debate in future.