Professor John Robertson OBA

The Herald at the weekend had two stories on a supposedly high number of sailings cancelled by ‘technical faults.’^{1, 2}

They claimed that ‘more than 16 000 (16 039) such cancellations from 1 January 2023 to October 2025, based on a Freedom of Information request by the Lib Dem’s Jamie Greene meant islanders were being treated as ‘second class citizens.’

CalMac makes around 160 000 to 170 00 sailings per year³ so for that strange period chosen, 2 years and 10 months, they made around 450 000.

16 000 is only 3.6% of the total sailings thus 96% reliability when extreme weather does not stop sailings for safety reasons.

Sources:

1. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25725858.16-000-ferry-sailings-cancelled-technical-faults/?ref=rss
2. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/islanders-treated-second-class-citizens-142800606.html
3. calmac.co.uk/calmac-performance-data-browser

Of course, if you look at the wider picture you see that islanders have actually been treated far better than the rest of us by this government

BBC Scotland, today, in their BBC Breakfast TV insert but not on their website so just another report feed to the Pacific Quay team of a no news-value story on supposed hardship for island businesses.

What’s the problem with it?

There’s a very significant background story never told of just how much this SNP Government has done to transform life on the islands, funded by the rest of us living often in less pleasant places and with never the suggestion of compensation because of limited public transport services.

Here it is:

The above chart from the Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff [RET] on the Clyde and Hebridean Network Prepared for Transport Scotland March 2020 reveals a massive increase in ferry usage to the islands with a consequent economic boost, but increasing costs for the taxpayer in lost revenue. The comparison is based on ticket sales only and takes no account of retail revenue, which is likely to have increased as a result of the increased numbers of passengers.

What is the RET?

In October 2008, Transport Scotland introduced the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares policy as a pilot on routes to the Outer Hebrides, Coll and Tiree (and made permanent in 2012). The principle of RET is that ferry fares should be set on the basis of travelling an equivalent distance by road plus a fixed fare element aimed at cost recovery. RET was intended to reduce the cost disadvantage faced by island communities and promote the islands as places to live, work, visit, invest and conduct business. In 2012, the policy was extended to cover Colonsay, Gigha and Islay. It was then further extended to the two Arran routes and Campbelltown in 2014. Finally, in October 2015, RET was rolled-out to all remaining routes, including the high-volume routes of Oban – Craignure, Wemyss Bay – Rothesay and Largs – Cumbrae.

How much has RET cost the Scottish Government in revenue foregone?

RET is now costing the Scottish Government around £25m per annum in revenue support, around two thirds of which is supporting reductions in car fares.¹

What has the RET achieved?

Increase demand for ferry services by making ferry travel more affordable and accessible. Increase tourism and supporting existing tourism markets. Enhance local economies and the wider national economy.

Do the so-called representatives of the islanders ever recognise this?

Nope.

As well as this subsidy in the form of lost tax revenue, the Scottish Government directly subsidises CalMac, by £3.7 billion over ten years.²

What would happen without these subsidies and a privatised ferry service? Something like this:

Isle of Wight ferry prices at two to seven times CalMac rates prevent tourists coming

Sources:

1. https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/49397/evaluation-of-road-equivalent-tariff-on-the-clyde-and-hebridean-network.pdf
2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-the-proposed-subsidy-to-calmac-ferries-limited-by-transport-scotland