§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of subsidy concerning freight on ferry services to island communities in the United Kingdom since 1992.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn 1992–93 deficit grant subsidy of £6.1 million was paid to Caledonian MacBrayne to meet the operating deficit incurred in providing ferry services to the inner and outer Hebrides and islands in the Firth of Clyde. Because the subsidy paid to Caledonian MacBrayne is paid to meet the overall deficit incurred in providing ferry services for commercial vehicles, loose freight, cars and passengers, it is not possible to disaggregate the amount of subsidy paid specifically in relation to the carriage of freight.
In 1992–93 tariff rebate subsidy of £2.8 million was paid to P and O Scottish ferries in respect of carriage of freight to Orkney and Shetland in 1992–93. In addition, tariff rebate subsidy of £2.2 million was made available in 1992–93 to nine bulk shipping operators providing freight services to the northern and western isles. Subsidy paid under the tariff rebate subsidy scheme is paid in respect of different categories of traffic carried by shipping operators.
Outturn information in respect of 1993–94 is not yet available.