§ Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take on the application by Argyll County Council to construct a pier at Escart Bay in connection with proposed new sea services to Islay, Jura, Gigha and Colonsay.
§ Mr. RossThe proposed pier at Escart Bay is one of a series of shore works needed to serve the new vehicle ferry services to Islay and the associated islands, which I announced on 1st February, 1968 in reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Argyll (Mr. Noble).
Since that announcement a new situation has been created by the formation of the Scottish Transport Group which, sinceits acquisition of full ownership of MacBraynes in July of this year, now has at its own disposal the combined fleets of MacBraynes and the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. The group has decided that the R.M.S. "Lochiel" should not be maintained in operation on the Islay routes beyond the end of this year, but should then be replaced by a side-loading vehicle ferry from the Clyde fleet. As only slight modifications will be required to the existing piers, a considerable improvement in the MacBrayne services in this area, including the provision of car ferrying facilities, will therefore take place much sooner than would now be practicable under the proposals announced in February last year.
The group is now carrying out a comprehensive review of the pattern and operation of its sea services to the Western Islands. This may take some time to complete. In view of this, and since the urgency for the provision of new terminals for the Islay services has been reduced by the immediate availability of a vehicle ferry, I consider that it would be right to defer for the time being construction of the works needed to support the earlier proposals. This will allow time for the transport needs of Islay and the associated islands to be assessed further in the light of the 13W operation of the vehicle ferry which is about to be introduced, and in relation to the rate of growth of traffic and the total carrying capacity available on these routes.
In reaching this conclusion I have taken into account not only advice received from the Scottish Transport Group but also the view of the Highlands 14W and Islands Development Board that a decision on the major investment needed to implement the earlier proposals should be postponed for a period.
I have conveyed my views to Argyll County Council and have asked it to reconsider its application for authority to construct a pier at Escart Bay.—[Vol.757, c. 397–8.]