“Regrettably, despite my continuing passion for it, I find myself unable now to give this hugely important ministerial role everything it rightly requires and deserves.”
Scottish Transport Minister Resigns
Orkney Ferries Raised Again in Parliament & The Nordic Sea Saga
In 2020 OIC was given an extra £750,000 towards the cost of Nordic Sea which the council had bought at an estimated capital cost of £1,535,000. T
“a great victory for People Power through the use of petitions and partnerships”
“Even if HIAL has not yet formally abandoned its centralisation proposals it’s a great New Year present, and a very good start to 2022!”
Scotland’s Ferry Services Raised in the Scottish Parliament
“While CalMac’s calamities on the west coast have grabbed all the headlines, the situation in Orkney is scarcely less precarious.” Liam McArthur MSP LibDem
Scottish Transport Minister Refuses to Meet Cross Party Group on Remote Towers
“It is disappointing that the Minister is unwilling to engage constructively with this cross-party group of elected representatives.” – Liam McArthur MSP
Scottish Transport Minister Questioned Over Ferries
“We have a record of assisting our island authorities, where possible, with issues such as this. The member will remember that in 2019 we helped to fund the replacement of the MV Golden Mariana.” Graeme Dey Transport Minister
“significant unanswered questions” About HIAL’s Remote Towers: Letter to Scottish Transport Minister
“This letter, signed by local and national politicians of all parties, demonstrates the strength of feeling about HIAL’s ill-considered plans to remove high value jobs from the communities they serve.”
Scottish Transport Minister Avoiding Meeting With Air Traffic Controllers
The failure of the Scottish Government Transport Minister Graeme Dey to engage with HIAL’s air traffic controllers has been described as a ‘missed opportunity’ by the trade union representing them.
Labour Leader Calls for Halt to HIAL’s Remote Towers Plan
“”I find it shameful and astonishing that neither the Cabinet Secretary for Transport nor the Transport minister has been prepared to meet, listen and learn as I have done today”
“Given the infancy of the technology, we find it difficult to assure these communities that that service can be provided in the event of bad weather, infrastructural damage or cyber-attack.’’- HIAL’S Remote Towers
The European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) has issued a statement condemning Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) for their plans to reduce the current level of the air traffic control services at six airports in Highlands and Islands and further centralizing them remotely.
