§ 26. Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will accept the principle that ferry crossings to 1026 the Scottish islands are part of the highway system and support them accordingly.
§ Mr. MillanNo, Sir, but the Government already give substantial capital and revenue assistance towards the operation and development of shipping services to the Scottish islands.
§ Mr. StewartIs the hon. Member aware that in the very north of Norway, inside the Arctic Circle, there are communities with a reasonably prosperous developing existence based purely on the acceptance of this principle by the Norwegian Government? Since this idea is supported by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, among others, will he give attention to adopting it for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?
§ Mr. MillanThe Norwegian situation cannot be explained solely on grounds of transport. However, there are already substantial public subsidies to the transport services in the Highlands and Islands.
§ Mr. YoungerDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree with me that the Gaskin Report a year or two ago made it clear that there were areas on the mainland that had more extra costs to cope with than those on the islands? Does he not agree that in the last few years the shipping services to the islands have been transformed, with roll-on/roll-off services almost every day?
§ Mr. MillanI do not know that the transformation has been accorded an almost universal welcome, but I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, although the disabilities that the islands and other remote areas suffer in regard to transport costs present a serious problem, it should not be over-emphasised, and this was brought out in the Gaskin Report.