PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PRIVATISATION OF SCOTTISH FERRY SERVICES (15 July 2012)

That this House is concerned at the implications for ferry passenger services and the workforce of the Scottish Government's decision to award Serco the 2012-18 contract for the Northern Isles; notes that Serco will receive a 243 million public subsidy for the 351 million contract to run these lifeline ferry services for profit; further notes that the public sector provider received 162 million for the previous Northern Isles contract and that passenger and business satisfaction with North Link's service was high; is deeply concerned that the sale of the Northern Isles contract increases the threat of privatisation of Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Services (CHFS), particularly on the more profitable Oban-Craignure, Ardrossan-Brodick, Largs-Cumbrae, Pentland Firth and Wemyss-Rothesay routes when the 2013-19 CHFS contract is tendered later this year; and calls on the Scottish Government to use the Final Ferries Plan to categorically rule out privatisation on CHFS routes and to honour existing workforce protections in any new contract.

Sponsored by:
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour)