§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department has as yet imposed financial penalties on Loganair in respect of the number of cancelled passenger flights between Glasgow and Barra; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe level of financial support paid to Loganair for the operation of the Glasgow-Tiree-Barra air service in the current financial year has been abated to take account of the number of cancellations on the route.
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§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what feasibility studies he carried out on the passenger air link service between Glasgow and Barra before awarding it to Loganair.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe award of the contract to Loganair was made on the basis of a full evaluation of the bids received.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the terms and conditions arranged between his Department and Loganair for supplying a passenger air service between Glasgow and Barra.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe terms and conditions of contract between Loganair and the Scottish Office require the operator to provide a specified service between Glasgow and Tiree and Barra in return for the provision of financial support, up to a specified limit, based on the deficit incurred in operating the service. In general terms the operator is required to operate in accordance with the CAA regulatory regime, to advise the Scottish Office of any failure to operate the specified service, and to provide detailed financial information on the performance of the service. The contract can be terminated by either party with six months' notice and the consent of the Secretary of State is required for every change in the capacity, frequency, nature or any other attribute of the service.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current cost of the public subsidy paid to Loganair for operating a passenger air service between Glasgow and Barra.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe financial support provided by the Scottish Office is for the operation of the air service between Glasgow and Tiree and Barra. The service operates as a combined service for part of the year and the Glasgow to Barra route is not identified separately. Financial support of up to £115,000 is payable for the operation of the service for each year of the contract between Loganair and the Scottish Office.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints to date his Department had received in respect of the Loganair-Shorts 360 passenger air link service between Glasgow and Barra; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Scottish Office has received 15 letters about the reliability of the air service between Glasgow and Tiree and Barra since the introduction of the Shorts 360 aircraft in March 1994. In addition, a petition containing 147 names was received requesting the replacement of the Shorts 360 aircraft on the Barra leg of the air service. In responding to the correspondence it was emphasised that the operation of the service was being monitored closely and that discussions were underway with the operator on ways in which improvements in reliability could be achieved quickly.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reason Loganair gave his Department for suspending the De Haviland Twin Otter air link between Glasgow and Barra and replacing it with the Short 360; and what negotiations it had with his Department before implementing the change.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonLoganair's decision to dispose of its Twin Otter on the Glasgow-Tiree-Barra air service was made on the ground of the aircraft's age. The Shorts 360 aircraft was introduced with the intention686W of upgrading the service to improve passenger comfort, and increasing passenger and freight capacity. The Scottish Office, as the contractor, was consulted about the proposed change.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times the Loganair-Shorts 360 aircraft passenger service between(a) Glasgow and Barra and (b) Barra and Glasgow has been cancelled since the service first became operational; and what percentage of total services this represents.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn the period 28 March 1994 to 24 November 1994 inclusive, there were 210 scheduled rotations by the Shorts 360 on the Glasgow-Barra-Glasgow element of the GlasgowTiree-Barra air service. During this period 42 rotations, or 20 per cent. of the total, were cancelled. It is estimated that 22 rotational cancellations were linked to the operational limitations of the Shorts 360 aircraft.