Chamber and committees

I do not doubt that.

One issue that the committee is looking at is future ferry provision in Scotland. The deputy convener’s question about whether you have any plans to expand your routes was a good one. I might be wrong, but I am not sure that I heard an answer to that. Does Pentland Ferries have any plans to expand on the routes that it currently provides?

What about Western Ferries?

I understand that answer. Incidentally, I am not quite clear whether the £2.4 million is for publicity and awareness raising as well as for the process. One would have thought that the Scottish Government would be able to project the cost that is associated with the publication of proposals, consultation, the handling of representations, appointing a reporter and a process to hold a hearing. It should be able to come up with at least a ballpark figure for that. Local authorities should also be able to say that, when the measures come in, what the costs would roughly be if they had to run a full process. Am I missing something, minister?

You talked about the possibility of privatisation on some routes, and my question relates to the contracts that are offered. Given the current Clyde and Hebrides and northern isles contract structures, do you believe that services in future tenders should be unbundled into individual lots? Would that give better value to the taxpayer and the end user?

In respect of the package.

Is there a substantive difference in the figures on numbers of sailings and numbers of cancellations or is it not material?

I pose this question straight to Gordon Ross. You have both talked about the frequency and reliability of the services being important for the communities. Gordon, you talked about a decision to use what you called “simple vessels”. You have mentioned what I understand to be an almost direct competitor route next to where you operate. Will you help the committee to understand how Western Ferries’ offering compares with that of your direct competitor in terms of ability to sail in particular conditions and to deal with things such as breakdowns?

I have a question arising from Monica Lennon’s questions. In the current financial situation, local authorities will be concerned about incurring further costs. What does the Scottish Government believe to be the additional cost to local authorities of bringing in the process if it runs as fully as Elise McIntyre mentioned earlier?

I think that that might be helpful.