Question reference: S5W-17128
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 8 June 2018
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 June 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much was allocated in non-fuel subsidy payments to Argyll Ferries Limited for contract year 6 (July 2016 to June 2017) for the Gourock-Dunoon public service obligation, also broken down by the subsidy cost of the charter for the (a) MV Coruisk and (b) replacement bus service.
Answer
The non-fuel subsidy payment made to Argyll Ferries Limited for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service public service obligation in contract year 6 (July 2016 to June 2017) was £3,530,421.
That total figure included a sum of £958,000 for the charter of the MV Coruisk, however the net cost to Transport Scotland was £159,000. This is because the majority of the costs are for the commercial charter of the MV Coruisk, fully crewed, from CalMac Ferries Ltd. This represents additional income for CalMac, which reduces the overall grant payment made by Transport Scotland to CalMac under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract.
Financial information in relation to the replacement bus service, again included within the total figure, is commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be released.