§ 1. Mrs. Ray Michie (Argyll and Bute)What recent discussions he has had with the European Commission about the implementation of the 1992 European regulations on maritime transport (Council Regulation 3577/92); and if he will make a statement. [126336]
§ The Minister of State, Scotland Office (Mr. Brian Wilson)I recently met representatives of the European Commission to discuss a range of issues relating to transport, including ferry services.
§ Mrs. MichieCan the Minister throw any light on why the tendering of Caledonian MacBrayne ferry routes has come up under these regulations? Why is the Commission suddenly interested? Does the Minister know who alerted the Commission? The regulations have been in place since 1992 and it appears that, when exemptions and derogations were being negotiated by France, Spain, Portugal and Greece, there was no mention of Scotland. That makes me assume that the previous Conservative Government did not send a Scottish Minister to the negotiations. I know that the Minister is concerned that we hold together the Caledonian MacBrayne services because they give a lifeline to our islands.
§ Mr. WilsonI am, indeed, very concerned, as the hon. Lady fairly points out. I am certainly of the view that the best interests of the taxpayer and of the public are served by an integrated ferry operation on the west coast of 700 Scotland, with all the flexibility and economies of scale that offers—an operation that is committed to public service and has no other reason for existence.
I cannot answer as to why the European Commission has recently escalated its interest; I can only point out to the hon. Lady that matters relating to safeguarding the services and consulting on how tendering should take place are now devolved. Certainly, everyone who supports CalMac and agrees that the company is the best answer right along the west coast should be making that case heard and well known—not least in Brussels.
§ Mr. Calum Macdonald (Western Isles)Will the Minister confirm that the Government have doubled the operating subsidy to Caledonian MacBrayne? Does he agree that allowing CalMac to bid for the routes to the northern isles would give the strongest possible vote of confidence to CalMac staying in the public sector?
§ Mr. WilsonI agree with everything that my hon. Friend said. He was, of course, a Transport Minister in the Scottish Office before devolution, when most of the increase occurred. We put a load of extra money into Caledonian MacBrayne. That is a vote of confidence. In Opposition, we long demanded for CalMac the right to bid for other routes; I am delighted that, in government, we have delivered it.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the regulations on the volume of trade and on port state control in the European Union?
§ Mr. WilsonI have made no such calculations, but I shall be delighted to write to the hon. Gentleman.