Chamber and committees

Absolutely. That is hugely important. I am more than happy to write to officials when I have that data and clarity from the SGLD and Transport Scotland.

I read the same story and I was surprised by it. My officials are of the view that the story in question has taken the actual spend to date for the young persons scheme, which is just over £93 million, and added the forecast spend for 2023-24 that was included in the business and regulatory impact assessment, which is £189.5 million—the figure that Ms Lennon alluded to, I think. The actual spend to date figure was published back in February in a freedom of information response. We think that, in the story, they have added the two together, which is incorrect.

I heard some of the evidence on that issue at the tail end of the previous session. I reiterate what was outlined by Mr Hobbs and others. We want 30 per cent of the Scottish ferry fleet to consist of low-emission ferries by 2032. As, I think, you heard from Mr Hobbs, the small vessel replacement programme will aim to provide low-emission vessels that primarily use battery power and onshore charging technologies.

It is important to say that the new vessels for Islay will lead to a reduction in emissions. I think that that is due to the hull design, but Transport Scotland might want to say more about that.

The challenge relates to our larger vessels. Jim Anderson made the point that the technology is not quite there yet for our larger vessels. I know that CMAL is looking at a diesel-electric hybrid model for the Islay vessels and the additional two vessels for the Little Minch routes. That will allow CMAL to look at future battery technology in relation to those vessels.

I recognise that there is a challenge in getting to the target, but that absolutely remains the target. As technology moves on, we will need to keep pace with it in order to reach the target, in line with our climate change aspirations and ambitions.

I recall.

I am not necessarily sure that it is.

The committee will know well that not all island communities are the same. We need to be mindful in our policy development that they all have very different needs and that we should not try a one-size-fits-all policy, because that will not work.

CHFS3 also gives us an opportunity to do things differently, and there are definitely lessons that we will need to learn, particularly in relation to what CalMac has been able to come up with in quite recent times and how we will build things into the future contract.

The straight answer to Mr Kerr’s question is that I do not have a figure based on the impact of inflation. I think that we heard Mr Hobbs say that he was not sure what the impact of inflation would look like in relation to the costs agreed. We will have to consider that. Irrespective of portfolio, inflation has had quite a dramatic impact on what we are able to do as a Government. That has limited our potential to create investment in many different parts of the transport network.

Mr Hobbs made a point about accelerating investment. To my mind, that is how to bring down the average age of the fleet. Since May 2021, we have brought in the MV Loch Frisa on the Oban to Craignure route, we have managed to charter the MV Arrow and have made significant progress on vessels 801 and 802. Early last year, I announced the procurement of two new vessels for Islay and at the end of last year I announced an additional two new vessels, making four in total and bringing a really important level of standardisation across the fleet. Therefore, in the past financial year, we have been able to leverage additional investment, which I think is crucial to getting us to that reduction of the average age of the fleet.

However, in relation to your overall question, I make no bones about the fact that the work will be financially challenging for the Government. Of course, the Government has responded—and will respond in due course—to where we are able to prioritise those investments, in order to meet the requirements that the plan sets out.

Well, it would have to, because I am the minister.

Yes, I am. Transport Scotland is made up of civil servants, who are generic civil servants who work in lots of different Government departments, but I have two very experienced officials with me today and I am not just saying that because they are with me. I do not have a concern about the experience in Transport Scotland.

However, at the current time, the capacity within Transport Scotland is quite challenging in relation to ferries. That is because my officials spend a lot of their time responding to parliamentary inquiries, reports and the copious amounts of correspondence that we receive. That is fine, but it takes time and I sometimes think that it is a pressure that needs to be addressed. I have raised that with the permanent secretary, in relation to providing greater capacity within the ferries team, in particular, to ensure that we have the staff on board to deliver the changes and improvements that passengers expect us to.

I think that the response that you heard from Chris Wilcock was that we are not quite clear about whether that could be stipulated within the scope. I would want to clarify that with CMAL in the first instance.

I support the overall point that Mr Kerr has made about providing Scottish jobs from Government investment, but I am not clear about whether it was possible for CMAL to stipulate that within that contractual agreement. If you do not mind, convener, I will therefore seek clarity from CMAL on that point. I would be happy to write to the committee on the detail.

Chris Wilcock might want to come in on that.